ExpressJet, Eagle, Colgan- Which?

[BaronPIC]

Hello,

I'm looking for an honest, concise assesment of these three regionals from "people in the know" or pilots working there. I'm not trying to start a debate, but I feel these three regionals are the ones I will have a shot interviewing with.

I'm a CFI about to hit the "magic" 1000/100. I have contacts at each one of these regionals and am hoping to interview with some or all three. For people in the know (working at one of these regionals, have friends working at one, etc.), please fill me in on likes/dislikes, things I should watch for, be careful of, ANY advice you can pass along, etc., I'd really appreciate it.

I know I don't have a job 'till I have the job, but I think these three regionals are my most viable options....Time will tell. Thanks for any insight you can share!!

Cheers,

Baron

 

[Tooslow]

Express is by far the best. With over 240 jets, it rules. I picked Express over Skywest. 700 new pilots next year! Alot of movement here.

 

[PudgeyDingus]

it's a no brainer - high pay, high quality of life, and the best contract out there... Mesa

 

[a-v-8er]

I'd go Xjet too, but I have no first hand info. Just from a few friends or acquaintances from the companies you mentioned. Sounds like their training is sharp.

Just make sure you drop the 1000/100 talk before you interview or go to class... There is no magic number and you are not their "magicboy". Good luck on the interview(s) though!

 

[Standby 1]

It's all going to depend on what is important to YOU. Everyone has different priorities, be it domicile, upgrade time, equipment, or whatever. Make a list. Ask specific questions based on what is important to you.

That being said, in the end, one tends to take the job with the airline that offers first. If you're lucky, you'll get two offers around the same time leading to a choice on your part, but let's face it, it would be silly to turn down a 121 job on the hope that you might get an offer from another carrier down the line.

Best of luck to you!




...

 

[chperplt]

Just keep in mind that wherever you go, you'll likely be for a while. Do you want to be in a Beech 1900 / Saab, or an RJ?

 

[Sir Humpalot]

I would say Mesa,...by far the best. Good pay, high values, great planes, fast transition into the left seat. Why would anyone want to go anywhere else?

 

[Tooslow]

Try jumpseating while working for mesa and you will quickly find out why!

 

[On Your Six]

COEX. I hear they could get E170s or E190s down the pipe.

 

[Tooslow]

We have something up our sleve? This is the place to be!

 

[wheelsup]

Try jumpseating while working for mesa and you will quickly find out why!

What's that mean? Do most pilots on other carriers not let mesa pilots jumpseat?

What's the big beef with mesa anyway? They pay better than some other carriers...Great Lakes comes to mind among others.

~wheelsup

 

[Rank&File]

If given a job offer from all three of your top picks, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you want a guaranteed position as a first officer on a jet that flies an an extensive, major airline route structure that spans four countries, or would you be content flying a turboprop in and out of a single hub?

• Do you want to fly for an airline that has or will soon have industry-leading work rules, pay, and retirement, or would you rather hope that one day your final choice will be a place that you could see yourself spending 10 plus years, maybe more?

• Where do you want to be based? Chicago, Dallas, L.A., Boston, San Juan, Miami, Houston, Newark, Cleveland, or at a small town out-station base somwhere in the Northeast?

• How stable to do you want your job to be? Do you want to fly for an airline whose number one customer may liquidate in the next few months, or would you rather have the security of knowing that the major that your airline supports will be around for the long haul?

• Do you want to upgrade fast and get PIC time so you can go...hmmm, where? Or would you rather stick it out and be a first officer for a few years for a decent company that treats you well. (Do any regionals treat their pilots well?)

I think out of all of your choices, I would choose ExpressJet. Their bases aren't that great (some people really like Houston, though), but considering all other things, they seem to be the one that offers the most given your choices.

 

[rattler]

The beef with Mesa is simple, and that subject has been exhausted. I will not continue to beat the horse.

As far as jumpseats go, I have never seen any pilot, this includes Mesa, denied a jumpseat at X-jet. Jumpseat wars never accomplish anything. Any problems jumpseating at X-jet should be directed to our jumpseat administrator, and he will get to the bottom of it.

X-jet is a good place to be, things are looking up for the first time since 9/11. The flowbacks are leaving and progress is being made on our contract. Moral has been questionable the last few years, but again, things are getting better everyday. Overall I have no complaints, and would do everything the same if I had to do it again. When I was hired I also had offers from Comair and ACA. No regrets.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Definitely Expressjet. Eagle is also good, but upgrades are much slower there than at XJT right now. As far as Colgan... well, if I'm not mistaken most of, if not all of, their flying is for US Airways. 'nuff said. At the moment I'm trying to get on with ASA, mainly because I would like the ATL domicile. It seems like a good place to work as well, although upgrades at ASA are probably a bit longer than XJT.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

Simple, Expressjet.

 

[TheBigH]

If you have contacts at each of those airlines just ask each one what it's like. PM me if you want to hear about my experience at Colgan, I won't even start to mention it in public because the bashing would start all over again.

 

[chperplt]

I won't even start to mention it in public because the bashing would start all over again.

What's wrong with a good bashing???

 

[Capn Lucky]

Thread Hijack!!!!

H.... drop the defensive stuff. If you are happy with Colgan.... Fantastic. There are many good things to say about the company and the people. Be proud of your company and feel free to tell others. People have the right to disagree and will.

For the purpose of this thread, Colgan is a great place to get good experience and then get out.

 

[TheBigH]

Ok fine !

Colgan, like any other airline is what you make of it. Going back to the original question of this post, it doesn't matter where you get hired, as long as you get hired. Like everything in life there are good and bad sides to any airline:

At Eagle you may get to fly nice equipment and have great travel benefits with AA but you'll be an FO til the cows come home.

XJet is a great place to go, you will fly those nice routes in the shiny 145XRs, if the strike works out you may get to fly after training, if it doesn't, who knows.

And at good ole' Colgan you'll get to fly the same route over and over til you can do it upside down with your eyes blindfolded, but you'll be home every night (probably a bit tired), you'll have an awesome instrument scan if you're in the Beech, if you're in the Saab you'll have an honorary degree in Electrical Engineering.

In all, anywhere you go will be fine, just talk to your "contacts" and base your decision on that, oh and not to mention on who actually wants to hire you. I know Colgan is slowing down the hiring, not sure about Eagle or XJet. Oh and by the way it will be pretty tough to get into Colgan with only 1000/100, that may be magic for Eagle and XJet but most of the guys are getting hired here with 1500/300 ....

Anyway, good luck wherever you may go .... Just don't go to Mesa ! Nothing against them but they're probably the only airline that gets bashed more than Colgan.