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First choice? regional
- Thread starter jws717
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capt. megadeth
Metal Momma!
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Superpilot92
LONGCALL KING
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jws717 said:
Unless something big happens I'm looking at at least two more years, if the fhiring and upgrades stay at the current rate. I was hired early October.
Out of those you mentioned I'd go to Comair for the bases and pay. Chitaco for fast upgrade maybe, who knows what the future holds for the companies they flt for.
XJT is a good choice for pay and job security, this seems to be a serious company and I think that as far as the regionals is concerned, we are ahead fo the game in many aspects.
Hoe this helps, best of luck makinga choice.
Don't worry about the upgrades! That should be the least of your concerns. Never go to a company just because they tell you that you will upgrade fast. I was told i would upgrade in six months but got fuloughed in 4 months. You never know! If you are choosing between Comair and CHQ there is absolutley not doubt that comair is the better choice! good luck
PSAChiefPilots
Well-known member
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More to ponder!
I assume you are basing your Airline decesions on driving to work at MCO. Some questions for you to ponder! I work for neither of your 2 choices so I can offer some other things for you to think about!
Can you hold the MCO base in a relatively quick time? Don't flame this, Just a hypothetical, but If MCO was senior and took 3 years to hold as an FO, Would you still go to either? I am a third party observer, Just trying to give you some more things to think about! As far as your questions, Here's some more things to ponder!
- Quality of life
Until you have seniority, It doesn't matter, Reserve is Reserve and yes it sucks! I do not know of one regional that has (Had) TWA's 18 hour call out.
- Upgrade time
Everyone worries about upgrade time, This again can change or kill quality of life....When you upgrade, You go to Junior Captain (read reserve, Maybe not being able to hold your base of choice, again commuting, etc.)
- Travel benies
Pretty much the same everywhere now, They had to give you something when they took other things away.
- Contract issues
It's a regional, If you think it will be Mainlines Contract's forget it, They don't even have it anymore, Every Regional has some good things and some bad things, ask around.
- Job security
Is their such a thing, Everytime you turn around, someone's cutting someone else's throat. The only real job security is someone else will hire you if and/or when you are furloughed. There are those that have been and those that will be.
With a contract carrier, These contracts come up for bid every so many years, At anytime in the negotiations, the contract can be changed or ended. Bye Bye base of Choice, Hello LGA, PHL, DTW, ETC. (Not there is anything bad with these places, Just not always easy to commute to with Weather Traffic, Etc.)
Mesa Guys loved their CLT and PHL bases and they're going away, Air Whiskey guys loved ORD and now they are going to PHL, CHQ I believe got there MCO base because of Comair strike, It all comes down to who will do it (and usually for less!)
Just remember, You're in your 20's, Make the most of it, and sit back and enjoy the ride.
Good Luck
PSACPSP
jws717 said:
I assume you are basing your Airline decesions on driving to work at MCO. Some questions for you to ponder! I work for neither of your 2 choices so I can offer some other things for you to think about!
Can you hold the MCO base in a relatively quick time? Don't flame this, Just a hypothetical, but If MCO was senior and took 3 years to hold as an FO, Would you still go to either? I am a third party observer, Just trying to give you some more things to think about! As far as your questions, Here's some more things to ponder!
- Quality of life
Until you have seniority, It doesn't matter, Reserve is Reserve and yes it sucks! I do not know of one regional that has (Had) TWA's 18 hour call out.
- Upgrade time
Everyone worries about upgrade time, This again can change or kill quality of life....When you upgrade, You go to Junior Captain (read reserve, Maybe not being able to hold your base of choice, again commuting, etc.)
- Travel benies
Pretty much the same everywhere now, They had to give you something when they took other things away.
- Contract issues
It's a regional, If you think it will be Mainlines Contract's forget it, They don't even have it anymore, Every Regional has some good things and some bad things, ask around.
- Job security
Is their such a thing, Everytime you turn around, someone's cutting someone else's throat. The only real job security is someone else will hire you if and/or when you are furloughed. There are those that have been and those that will be.
With a contract carrier, These contracts come up for bid every so many years, At anytime in the negotiations, the contract can be changed or ended. Bye Bye base of Choice, Hello LGA, PHL, DTW, ETC. (Not there is anything bad with these places, Just not always easy to commute to with Weather Traffic, Etc.)
Mesa Guys loved their CLT and PHL bases and they're going away, Air Whiskey guys loved ORD and now they are going to PHL, CHQ I believe got there MCO base because of Comair strike, It all comes down to who will do it (and usually for less!)
Just remember, You're in your 20's, Make the most of it, and sit back and enjoy the ride.
Good Luck
PSACPSP
chrisdahut24
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2002
- Posts
- 134
QOL is very much a personal issue/decision and asking a bunch of pilots on a message board which regional has the best QOL is pointless. Each person will give his/her opinion as to what is a good QOL FOR THEM and then urge you to base your decision on that.
What is most important to you? Pay or Better choice of base? How long could you stand/afford to be an FO (of course, don't forget that current upgrade time could mean little to those presently getting hired)? If that company only has one base you could choose from, could you stand living there or commuting there? These are just a few examples of the many questions you should ask yourself after looking carefully at each regional if you want to make an informed decision. What makes a great QOL for one person may make a crappy one for another.
Oh, did I mention you have to get an interview and then job offer too? This is usually the hardest part, and usually the one regional that might offer you a job will help narrow down the choice for you ;-)
Good luck!
What is most important to you? Pay or Better choice of base? How long could you stand/afford to be an FO (of course, don't forget that current upgrade time could mean little to those presently getting hired)? If that company only has one base you could choose from, could you stand living there or commuting there? These are just a few examples of the many questions you should ask yourself after looking carefully at each regional if you want to make an informed decision. What makes a great QOL for one person may make a crappy one for another.
Oh, did I mention you have to get an interview and then job offer too? This is usually the hardest part, and usually the one regional that might offer you a job will help narrow down the choice for you ;-)
Good luck!
Last edited:
jumppilot
Something in a box
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- Feb 14, 2002
- Posts
- 477
PSAChiefPilots said:
Sorry to quote this whole post, but I agree 100%. I appreciate the fact you gave non-biased info..That is what we all need! With that said...
I came to CHQ 2 years ago, upgraded quickly and am going to hold a line next month. HOWEVER, this trend will not continue. CHQ is a good company to work for, reserve is not that bad and overall you will be happy here. However, if these upgrades stop, where would you want to be? Comair has demonstrated their union is behind their pilot group 100% (heck, look at their second year pay, albeit pre-9/11) and they are getting more bases.
It all depends on where you want to live and the quality of life you want to lead. As an FO, you'll get any CHQ base within 6 months max, but as a capt forget about MCO.
I love CHQ, but I don't want to sell this company based on upgrade times. Every regional has their 'growth spurt', but it will stop. I predict (in my own opinon) that someone hired by CHQ today will upgrade in 4-5 years.
Where do you want to be?
PSAChiefPilots
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PSAChiefPilots
Well-known member
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Let me quote the last sentance for sure!
In the end the one that gives me the job is the best one.
In the end the one that gives me the job is the best one.
In the end the one that gives me the job is the best one.
Probably the best thing I have read on this website yet!
At Air, Inc this past weekend had an attendee tell my business associate that he planned on being at a regional for 10 years, I wanted to hire him on the spot....Not that he was selling himself short, but because he was being realistic!
PSACPSP
jws717 said:
In the end the one that gives me the job is the best one.
In the end the one that gives me the job is the best one.
In the end the one that gives me the job is the best one.
Probably the best thing I have read on this website yet!
At Air, Inc this past weekend had an attendee tell my business associate that he planned on being at a regional for 10 years, I wanted to hire him on the spot....Not that he was selling himself short, but because he was being realistic!
PSACPSP
Mookie
luckiest man alive
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- 879
10 years at PSA and I'd kill myself. I did almost two there, and was walking towards the ledge when I got parolled. I would have checked his mental records, or at the least the bs meter.
In the end, take what you can get initially...but ALWAYS try and improve your situation. For me, it was to eventually get to a company that was stable, bases on the west coast, and one that wasn't tied to certain other companies. but hey, that's just me.
Mookie
In the end, take what you can get initially...but ALWAYS try and improve your situation. For me, it was to eventually get to a company that was stable, bases on the west coast, and one that wasn't tied to certain other companies. but hey, that's just me.
Mookie
Guitar Guy
Charvel - San Dimas
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Another thought on the reserve issue is that some companies have "hot reserve" or "hot standby", where you are required to be at the airport, in uniform and ready to launch almost immediately. Given that these reserve assignments can often start early and/or end late in the day, it can be very difficult to commute for them, requiring one to have a crash pad or pay for a hotel if you don't actually live at your domicile.
JetPilot_Mike
UAL Furlough Fodder
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Gator1999
WAR KITTENS!?!
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I would suggest going to work at a company that is close to where you live so you wouldn't have to commute. I jumped on the first carrier to hire me and commuted to work for the first 5 years, but now I work just an hour drive from my house and my quality of life has been so much better. I have more time to spend with family and friends, instead of stressing the commute and finding myself in an airport and sitting on a jumpseat on my day off. Both are good companies to work for, but if you are living in Florida, I would go to Chautauqua. Comair has a ton of people that live in Florida and commute to CVG. MCO at Comair is such a senior base, you can forget ever holding it. Chautauqua has more of a presence in Florida, since they took over most of the Comair ops in Orlando several years ago.
spitfire1500
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PSAChiefPilots
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To Mookie
"10 years at PSA and I'd kill myself. I did almost two there, and was walking towards the ledge when I got parolled."
Considering the avaition job where I came from, This place is a Holiday, Trust me, Sorry you didn't make it to the edge, Maybe if you looked over, You would have realized the grass is not always greener..... I hope you upgraded on the RJ over there, Yeah, you left the Do-328 to fly the Brasilia, We had those, NO THANKS. For where I lived, This was a good choice. I look like a Darn genius now (Remember, I do need my Mental records checked).
As far as my mental records, The director of Ground Training once called me a Crazy MF when I was a Line Pilot, And now that I'm in Management, I am probably certifiable. That's no BS on your "BS Meter". It's been an uphill battle trying to make changes but we have made progress, I remember the good old days, Before you were here, Trust me it was not that bad, then it went down hill, and now it's gotten better, In my opinion, because the management personel changes that have come and gone. You probably came and learned the "wind T" or was part of the Dir. of Training, was smarter than the Aircraft Manufacturer, They are both gone. Since you didn't have the Jetstream on your A/C list, I guess you missed the first Chief Pilot I worked for that would actually take the pilots side if he was right. Those days were gone by your arrival. We felt like the redheaded step child for the longest, Then we felt like the Golden Child (Nice Shiny Airplanes) now we are at least treated somewhat equal.
"For me, it was to eventually get to a company that was stable, bases on the west coast, and one that wasn't tied to certain other companies. but hey, that's just me."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OPINIONS! I am glad you "Bettered" yourself and I am probably better off for it (you'd probably still be whining about your commute.) If I was based on the Left Coast, I would have gave my Left one to get back to the Right one. As far as Stability, As long as you are in this Industry their is no Stability, You keep telling yourself that you have job stability.
Check out another Post about "Hard Landings", Great Book, Maybe we could all learn something from it, As long as you work for "the Man", you are never going to have control of your destiny.
As far as "having ties to a certain other Company", Last I checked, Southwest has no commuters, so anyone else you could be flying for is in a close situation no matter which major you feed ( Fed Ex and UPS excluded), That's if you work for a commuter Airline. Corporate isn't any different...And Yes, I did that too. I loved flying Boxes the most, and would like to get back to that eventually. Just remember, You are either part of the solution, or part of the Problem. I now have the ability to fix the problems (or at least attempt to). And yourself...What have you done, after going where you did to leave PSA, to better yourself? I know plenty of other guys that did what you did, But then what???
You probably didn't expect a reply like this but your arguments, in my opinion, were like calling my wife a beeYAtch....Whether she is or she isn't, I would never let you get away with calling her that, Now me calling her that, That's a different story.
Buen Suerte (Good Luck),
PSACPSP
Mookie said:
"10 years at PSA and I'd kill myself. I did almost two there, and was walking towards the ledge when I got parolled."
Considering the avaition job where I came from, This place is a Holiday, Trust me, Sorry you didn't make it to the edge, Maybe if you looked over, You would have realized the grass is not always greener..... I hope you upgraded on the RJ over there, Yeah, you left the Do-328 to fly the Brasilia, We had those, NO THANKS. For where I lived, This was a good choice. I look like a Darn genius now (Remember, I do need my Mental records checked).
As far as my mental records, The director of Ground Training once called me a Crazy MF when I was a Line Pilot, And now that I'm in Management, I am probably certifiable. That's no BS on your "BS Meter". It's been an uphill battle trying to make changes but we have made progress, I remember the good old days, Before you were here, Trust me it was not that bad, then it went down hill, and now it's gotten better, In my opinion, because the management personel changes that have come and gone. You probably came and learned the "wind T" or was part of the Dir. of Training, was smarter than the Aircraft Manufacturer, They are both gone. Since you didn't have the Jetstream on your A/C list, I guess you missed the first Chief Pilot I worked for that would actually take the pilots side if he was right. Those days were gone by your arrival. We felt like the redheaded step child for the longest, Then we felt like the Golden Child (Nice Shiny Airplanes) now we are at least treated somewhat equal.
"For me, it was to eventually get to a company that was stable, bases on the west coast, and one that wasn't tied to certain other companies. but hey, that's just me."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OPINIONS! I am glad you "Bettered" yourself and I am probably better off for it (you'd probably still be whining about your commute.) If I was based on the Left Coast, I would have gave my Left one to get back to the Right one. As far as Stability, As long as you are in this Industry their is no Stability, You keep telling yourself that you have job stability.
Check out another Post about "Hard Landings", Great Book, Maybe we could all learn something from it, As long as you work for "the Man", you are never going to have control of your destiny.
As far as "having ties to a certain other Company", Last I checked, Southwest has no commuters, so anyone else you could be flying for is in a close situation no matter which major you feed ( Fed Ex and UPS excluded), That's if you work for a commuter Airline. Corporate isn't any different...And Yes, I did that too. I loved flying Boxes the most, and would like to get back to that eventually. Just remember, You are either part of the solution, or part of the Problem. I now have the ability to fix the problems (or at least attempt to). And yourself...What have you done, after going where you did to leave PSA, to better yourself? I know plenty of other guys that did what you did, But then what???
You probably didn't expect a reply like this but your arguments, in my opinion, were like calling my wife a beeYAtch....Whether she is or she isn't, I would never let you get away with calling her that, Now me calling her that, That's a different story.
Buen Suerte (Good Luck),
PSACPSP
I Hate Freight
Well-known member
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- 494
NoJoy
LAMA/400
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- 529
Its hard to speculate if Airline "A" or "B" will be the right choice. After the honeymoon is over, 2-3 months, you will know if you made the right decision. But wherever you end up you will be flying with mostly good people and will have the opportuntiy to learn things you hadn't as a CFI.
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