Q400 or CRJ?

[sdlehodges]

Had an interview in PDX with Horizon on the 17th. Awesome company, great people. Six of us interviewed, only 2 got the job, I think (one for sure). The sim ride was the toughest, but I guess I did alright. Got offered the Q400 in PDX or the CRJ in DEN. Where should I go? Big decision!

 

[splitwheel]

Congrats!!

Good job!!!

You should definitely take PDX!

Good Luck.

 

[Q200_FO]

Wow...

They gave you a choice?? That's a first.

 

[tomdav]

den or pdx

I might take the jet. You can always bid to Pdx at a later date if Den is not your first choice. The schedules will be better in the jet due to longer stage lengths(high block). So in theory you should have fewer legs and more days off. The pay is based on sen. and not equipment so no worries there. Anyway congrats and welcome aboard.


Tom D
d-8
pdx

 

[Southbound]

Congrats on the job.
IMHO, if you don't have some connection to one city or the other and the decision is based on aircraft, you'd be crazy to choose the 400. I'd choose the jet for many reasons. You will have plenty of time to fly around at FL250 in the Dash when you upgrade in 4 years. The trips seem to be slightly better in the jet than the -400 or the -200, few 5+ leg days because jet stage lengths are longer. As far as growth, there will be 2 new "Q"400's next year, then 2 jets per year starting in '05 and beyond subject to change. QXwill be hiring into both airplanes in the future so I would think your relative seniority in each aircraft would be about the same. I don't know much about the -400 but my buddies who were forced into it would all much rather fly the CRJ700 and most of the FA's seem to agree jet trips are a bit easier. Good luck.

 

[General Lee]

Pick the jet. The CRJ-700 is really nice and the ability to move back to PDX or SEA eventually on the jet should be there someday. Also, DEN is a nice area (not that PDX is not), and not very expensive. ( I have friends there....) Go for the jet.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Southbound]

The General is right about the jet. However, Denver is anything but cheap. Maybe compared to Boston, DC, NY or Orange County it is cheaper but Denver has a slightly higher cost of living index than Portland/Vancouver. The little extra cost of Colorado is worth it just to see the sun all winter!

 

[House_X]

The Q400 is a sweet machine and I think it looks cool as #ell. The glass is true 3rd gen. Honeywell Primus..unlike the Atari 2600 Collins on the CRJ. The Q-400 is a more advanced airplane.
Everybody makes a big deal about the 700...it's all hype. Speed doesn't mean anything when you get paid by the hour. When you land at an airport in the Q4 you get attention...when a CRJ lands "yaaaaaawn".

Also, the Q4 has 5000+ horses per engine...it's fast for a prop (like the Saab 2000)

I really like Portland...it's the west coast and it has a good vibe. If it were me, I would go with the Q400 for upgrade and quality of life, plus, Horizon is the only one flying the Q4 in the United States...so it's a unique experience.

 

[Heavy Set]

Upgrades at Horizon will take you forever and a day. That being said, take the jet - get some good jet time. If you were offered the Q200 vs. the Q400 I would say quickly take the Q400 in a heartbeat - it is a great looking and FAST turboprop.

Congrats - better to log the jet time - take the jet!

 

[been-there]

PDX all the way!

Anywhere a first year FO will live in Denver will likely be a few hours from the airport. If you have never been to KDEN, it is quite a hike from downtown. Like in Kansas or something, I am not sh1tting you. You have to think about the months and months of reserve and that long drive to the airport.

In Portland the airport is close to downtown. You can live in WA with no income tax and do all your shoping in OR with no sales tax. The strip clubs are better and as previously mentioned lap dances will cost you less in Portland than Denver.

Jet vs Turboprop: WHO CARES!

It is SIC time dude. Even if it was PIC time the majors didn't care one bit during the boom times. By the way, turboprops are harder to fly than jets. The pay is the same, the uniform is the same, so its all lifestyle my friend.

Remember there are 2 flight attendants on each of those planes. So no matter what, your odds of hooking up are better.

Great Job in getting hired. Remember we are all counting on YOU!

 

[DoubleDown]

I would definitly take the Q400, and in fact, I did. I have a class date on the 29th of Jan. Horizon pays you on what airplane you could hold so you'll get q200 pay either way. Plus, you'll have all the time in the world to fly a jet and the q400 sounds cooler when you start it.

 

[sdlehodges]

Decided!

It has been decided.

The Q400 in PDX.

Thanks for the input.

PDX here I come!

 

[General Lee]

Dumb move MAV. The jet is nicer. To each his own I guess.....

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[w4mch]

Congrats on landing a good job!

Dash or CRJ. Well I've flown both (Dash 8 100/300 & CRJ 200 though) and even though I like zipping along at 330 a lot, there are times that I wish I was back in the ole dash bird, like heavy snow and short runways.

You chose wisely grasshopper, go for the better city. DEN is a big pit compared to PDX.

Again, good job landing a gig with a good airline!

 

[General Lee]

He won't be upgrading for 4-5 years, and he could probably move to PDX from DEN and still stay on the nicer plane in 2-3 years. Whatever....atleast he did get a pretty good job----congrats....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

Can you transition to the CRJ-700 at a later date or are you equipment locked till you upgrade?

 

[Singlecoil]

Can you transition to the CRJ-700 at a later date or are you equipment locked till you upgrade?

I was waiting for that question. He "can" transition but he takes a pay cut if he does.
They pay based on seniority. If you are hired into the jet, you get Q200 pay until your seniority would hold the Q400, then you get Q400 pay until you can hold the CRJ which is when you get CRJ pay.
But what if you are hired into the Q200? Your pay would mirror any other FO in that you are paid not on what you fly, but what your seniority can hold.

Ahhh, Grasshopper, but what if a Q200 FO bids the jet when they could hold the jet? Get this. Now instead of CRJ pay, you get a pay cut to the lowest pay scale for two years as a penalty for making the company train you. How many people do you think would do that? Not a lot.

 

[Q200_FO]

You can live in WA with no income tax and do all your shoping in OR with no sales tax.

Exactly what I'm doing, and loving it. Telling the tax man in Olympia to kiss my shiny a$$ is a beautiful thing!

 

[taloft]

Congrats hodges. I've been trying to get on for a year now and just wondering how you you scored the interview.

 

[Navin R Johnson]

Congtrats.

Belated I know, but I hope to see you around soon.