Big Career Move...Need Opinions/Advice

[AftCG182]

As a relatively long time visitor to this website, I have come to realize that there are many professionals who contribute on a fairly regular basis. While I have learned alot in the last couple of years, I still find that I am in need advice.

The advice I need is from people who have been in the industry for a while. I'm going to be leaving Scenic Airlines for a job that will get me closer to the Northeast (home). Scenic is an absolutely fantastic company, I'd recommend them to anyone. However...

I have a 13 month old daughter that lives in New York state and need to spend more than one day a week with her. Right now that's the best I can do going home to ALB from LAS on my days off. Improving on that record is going to require a base that's closer to home. So far, I have interviewed with Trans States and have been offered a job, most likely to be based in Richmond. I hear Richmond is beautiful. (And it's a short commute form ALB) From what I can tell, Trans States is a solid company.

When I got home today, an e-mail was in my In Box from ExpressJet. It looks like they might be interested in having me come to Houston to interview. According to what I can find, the pay is very similar to TSA, and they offer a Newark domicile. 45 minutes, ALB-EWR. Great commute! Question: is XJT on solid ground? Solid enough to consider working there, anyway. Been to the website, read the press releases, etc...

Should I just take my offer at TSA (solid company) and eventually commute ALB-RIC?
Should I consider XJT(solid? company) and the shorter commute? If you guys/ladies were me, what would you do and why.

Thanks in advance.

Dave

 

[ratherbeflyen]

The good: I would say that xjt is a solid company, with good pay, and mangement that seems to be more interested in keeping employees happy, better than most anyway. EWR to ALB would be an easy commute and EWR is the junior base. Pay is good for 50 pax jets. They plan to hire about 200 or so more pilots this year.

The bad: The ground xjt is on might not be so solid. CAL's 25% reduction in our flying will probably happen. The question is what happens then? Rumors of flying for someone else, overseas bases, flying them under xjt colors, or layoffs for 300-700 pilots. If you do get furloughed it probably will be less than 6-9 months depending on when you get a class date. (best guess) New orders have about been filled and growth will slow moving upgrade time to about 4-5 years.

There a lot of "what if" around xjt right now, but name any airline that has always been a sure thing. I would say its a good place to work. Just know you might need a contingency plan.

 

[Motive Flow]

ALB-RIC is a two leg commute, 6-7 hours airport to airport is probably the best you could do.

Things are always up in the air here (TSA). Rumours abound that we are either expanding or reducing.

Hard to find any regional that is on solid ground these days.

 

[nimtz]

Should I just take my offer at TSA (solid company) and eventually commute ALB-RIC?
Should I consider XJT(solid? company) and the shorter commute? If you guys/ladies were me, what would you do and why.

Thanks in advance.

Dave

The 69 aircraft reduction is a problem that is not going away. The bottom line is that XJT operates a bunch of marginally economic jets for one customer. In my very humble opinon I'm fairly convinced the 69 jets won't be flown by the XJT pilot group next year. That means alot of FO's needed now will not be needed next year.

With that in mind I really would think long and hard about coming here. The good news is alot of captains are seeing the light (about f*cking time!) and getting alot more aggressive with job searching instead of thinking career at XJT. Attrition will go a long way toward keeping current new hires at XJT around next year.

As for your commute situation, anybody who two leg commutes will tell you it's a b!tch. Going from RIC to ALB means quite often going through a northeast hub on an RJ, which means frequent and painful delays. TSA has a good pilot group, but a bunch of pricks for upper management. I have no beefs with management at XJT. All around tough call. Maybe Colgan would be your best option if you want job security and a base close to ALB.

I feel for you new guys coming up today looking at the regionals. It's a tough game now. Back when I got hired it was a simple as hitching your flag to the one that called first with some consideration to upgrade time. You never had to worry about job security. Unfortunately in the 'pay to play' environment we live in today that often becomes one's first concern.

 

[Slice121]

ALB-RIC is a two leg commute, 6-7 hours airport to airport is probably the best you could do.

Things are always up in the air here (TSA). Rumours abound that we are either expanding or reducing.

Hard to find any regional that is on solid ground these days.

Your commuting estimate is based on what? Nothing worse than 5+28 on this list.

http://mm.flightlookup.com:8000/?From=ric&To=alb&Date=02%2F24%2F06&Sort=2&Hops=MORE&Dep=ANY&Interline=N&Compression=ALL&Results=40&Device=html-mm-1&Format=default&Airline=---&button=Show+Schedules

 

[Motive Flow]

Was just taking a WAG from the united.com site.

Sorry. That's why I'm not a commuter.

 

[jegermeister]

I've worked at two regionals now that only gave feed to one airline and if given the chance would not do it again.

I also commute and feel your pain. Have you given any thought Colgan (sp)? They used to fly 1900's out of ALB.

 

[Yodafly]

Try Colgan

Colgan's got a base in ALB, not going away any time soon because of the maint done there. You will be home every night for the kid, no overnights...
get PIC Fast for your next move. pay as an fo is bad like $20,000 1st yr but you can expect to make over 40,000 during year two as a capt... one yr upgrade good luck

 

[bender]

Colgan also has other NY bases in Buffalo, Jamestown, Ithaca, Rochester, White Plains, and Syracuse.

 

[dogismycopilot]

I believe Colgan has 2 SAABs and 2 1900s based out of ALB with a lot of MX activity (as previously stated)

 

[pgcfii2002]

Commutair?????

 

[AftCG182]

First, let me say thanks to all of you who took the time to give advice.

A 5 or 6 hour commute to RIC is absolutely nothing compared to what I do now. Red-eye out of LAS to either MAD or MSP, then connect to DTW. Take a breather, then a DC-9 to ALB. That's the easy part! It's getting back to Vegas that can be a challenge. It's all good fun, though, and I get a full day with my daughter. The cabin crews are a big part of making the trip easy, too.

Thanks again, I guess I owe you all a Starbucks!

Dave

p.s. By the way, I'm going to stick with the Trans States offer. I wish everyone at XJT the best of luck in your futures.