Trying to decide....

[mcjohn]

who I should be lining up my resumes for. First option would be commutable regionals I could work for. My permanent home is AVL (Asheville, NC). Off hand I know ExpressJet, Air Wisconsin, Piedmont, Comair, ASA and Pinnacle all go through AVL. I think Piedmont and Comair have the most flights through AVL each day but I'm only guessing.

Next option would be Regionals that have bases/domiciles close to home. ATL, CLT, TRI, etc.

So, who else should I be looking at? I've only put in a resume at ASA so far but I'm about to make the leap with as many as I can even though I'm a little under-qualified:

I currently have about 970 tt, 30 me, and 18 jet SIC.

Don't bother with the "Run very far away!" stuff. I've seen it all before. Also, I'd like to go with a regional I wouldn't mind being stuck with for 5-7 years but I know that's wishful thinking. Thanks in advance.

 

[twighead]

Also, I'd like to go with a regional I wouldn't mind being stuck with for 5-7 years but I know that's wishful thinking. Thanks in advance.

If you choose PDT you'll still be an FO in 5-7 years.

Also, you definitely need some more ME time.

 

[Master Shake]

Not that you don't know this already, but you really need to turn that 30ME into 100+ before anyone would even look at your stuff. That said...

Things could dramatically change between now and the time you become marketable, so shotgun it. If you happen to get a call for an interview, worry about it then. Otherwise, send your stuff to everyone (except GOjerks & Mesa) and see what happens.

 

[Goose Egg]

Wow, someone who actually has less multi time than I do!

Anyway, I'm trying to make this very decision. From my own research and within the context of my own personal goals and situation:

-PDT is out because of a loooooong upgrade and FO pay. Not necessarily the 1st year, that's actually ok. It's year 2,3,4,5 that I worry about. FOs at other airlines are making generally $10k per year more... and that is if they haven't upgraded already.
-Pinnacle is out because they don't pay for housing during training. (They aren't they only show in town, and there are plenty of other places that will pay for housing.)
-Air Whiskey is out because I don't have enough multi to meet their mins, and won't within the timeframe that I'm looking to apply.
-Comair could be good, but everything is still kind of 'up in the air,' and I'm waiting for things to stabilize before I can seriously look at them as anything more than a plan E or F.
-ASA is out because I can't afford to be a 1st year FO for them. Upgrade time isn't exactly spectacular either.
-ExpressJet seems pretty good. I say seems becuase it's all relative. Now let's hope it stays that way. I actually think their expansion into ONT is a good move, and it also shows me that they've got heads-up, proactive management team. I like that, and I think they'll be successful.

One question: Is there a reason that you are so attached to AVL? When I decided to be an airline pilot, I pretty much knew that it would take me all over the country, and have bases far away from my home town. But then again, I'm trying to commute as little as possible.

Anyway, hope this helps.

-Goose

 

[Grinder10]

a small correction on pinnacle: they do provide a hotel room during training, but don't give money for housing

 

[Goose Egg]

a small correction on pinnacle: they do provide a hotel room during training, but don't give money for housing

I stand corrected. Thanks!

-Goose

 

[mcjohn]

One question: Is there a reason that you are so attached to AVL? When I decided to be an airline pilot, I pretty much knew that it would take me all over the country, and have bases far away from my home town. But then again, I'm trying to commute as little as possible.

Thanks Goose. Was insightful. I'm only attached to AVL because that's where I own a home and there seem to be many regionals through there that I could commute with.

Also, being the southern boy that I am, I have 4 cars in the driveway/backyard at my house and 2 are broken down of course.......aaand my wife is pregnant so I need to move quickly to secure a somewhat worthy aviation career with benefits etc...

I'll move soon but I'll have to get rid of a barn full of useless crap, broken down vehicles, my chickens! J/K....I wish I had some chickens though. The wife is only a couple months pregnant so I have a little time but I'm trying not to waste any of it.

Bring it on folks! I can handle all the advice or pickin' you can (will) throw at me.

 

[mcjohn]

Not that you don't know this already, but you really need to turn that 30ME into 100+ before anyone would even look at your stuff. That said...

Things could dramatically change between now and the time you become marketable, so shotgun it. If you happen to get a call for an interview, worry about it then. Otherwise, send your stuff to everyone (except GOjerks & Mesa) and see what happens.

Yeah, no doubt! My plan was to go home in April with the 135 mins and work for Ram Air but I'm wondering if that's the wisest thing for me to do with a pregnant wife and all. Seems like IF I could get on with anyone it may be better.

Oh, and rest assured, GoJ. and Mesa are off the list.

 

[Rekks Inbound]

Don't rule out AWAC, just 'cause your times are low. They are known to hire under mins, if they like you. And it doesn't hurt to apply anywhere and everywhere, it's a numbers game.

Plus, with winning our arbitration, the pay will be excellent for a regional, the work rules will dramatically improve, and we will have to hire alot, due to the return of those rules.

Peace.

Rekks

 

[mcjohn]

I also have some interest in any of the RAH branches. Seems like they're showing some growth and have some good south eastern bases.

Thanks for the tip Rekks.

 

[Goose Egg]

Gotcha. It sounds like you are a lot more "settled" than I am. (No wife, no kids, no mortgage, and only one car which operates and sits in a parking space at my apartment complex--not that I'm livin' it up--I'd get married in a hearbeat if I could find the right woman, but I digress.) There's probably worse places to be "attached" to than AVL. From what I hear, NC is a really nice place. Anyway, I hope you find something that works well for you. I guess PDT could be really good if you went in planning on a "lateral move" to something better: CHQ, AWC or something. But they list their mins on airlinepilotcentral as "1500/500," which doesn't seem right because I personally know guys who went down there with <500/50 and got hired. Anyway, best of luck.

-Goose

Thanks Goose. Was insightful. I'm only attached to AVL because that's where I own a home and there seem to be many regionals through there that I could commute with.

 

[mcjohn]

I know a handful of folks at PDT and know that I could probably get on there. Most do make lateral moves away from there but I'd rather not have to do that. I'll have a 2 or 3 year old kid to fend for and going back down to 1st year pay at another regional would be a miserable situation. I want to get on with someone and stay there.

 

[Goose Egg]

Don't rule out AWAC, just 'cause your times are low. They are known to hire under mins, if they like you. And it doesn't hurt to apply anywhere and everywhere, it's a numbers game.

Plus, with winning our arbitration, the pay will be excellent for a regional, the work rules will dramatically improve, and we will have to hire alot, due to the return of those rules.

Peace.

Rekks

AWAC would be sweet! I love their bases, particularly DCA. I'll definitely check it out.

-Goose

 

[dooork]

Yeah, no doubt! My plan was to go home in April with the 135 mins and work for Ram Air but I'm wondering if that's the wisest thing for me to do with a pregnant wife and all. Seems like IF I could get on with anyone it may be better.

Oh, and rest assured, GoJ. and Mesa are off the list.

Just wondering....why is it that you have put MESA off the list?

 

[Master Shake]

Just wondering....why is it that you have put MESA off the list?

Probably because he doesn't want to have that "Awkward" feeling the morning after. :blush:

 

[BIGGOAT]

mcjohn,

There is another thread about AE and their plans on hiring 700 pilots this year. If you can meet the mins and get on in the first half of that boom then it would be a good place. I used to fly for AE and there some great pilots there and plenty of bases to choose from.


Goat

 

[chucknorris]

I would say try to avoid the Blue Cool Aid, look at Skywest , maybe soon they will open an ATL base

 

[Beantown]

who I should be lining up my resumes for. First option would be commutable regionals I could work for. My permanent home is AVL (Asheville, NC). Off hand I know ExpressJet, Air Wisconsin, Piedmont, Comair, ASA and Pinnacle all go through AVL. I think Piedmont and Comair have the most flights through AVL each day but I'm only guessing.

Next option would be Regionals that have bases/domiciles close to home. ATL, CLT, TRI, etc.

So, who else should I be looking at? I've only put in a resume at ASA so far but I'm about to make the leap with as many as I can even though I'm a little under-qualified:

I currently have about 970 tt, 30 me, and 18 jet SIC.

Don't bother with the "Run very far away!" stuff. I've seen it all before. Also, I'd like to go with a regional I wouldn't mind being stuck with for 5-7 years but I know that's wishful thinking. Thanks in advance.

You need to not worry so much what carrier flys in to AVL but what citys fly direct from AVL. You can commute on almost any carrier but you want to make sure that it is a one leg commute. PDT flys lots of flights into CLT from AVL but they don't have a CLT base. You'd have to go through CLT to get to one of their other bases. One leg commutes SUCK but two leg commutes are family killers.
So find what citys have bases that you can fly directly to from AVL (example CVG, CLT, DTW ect.) and don't worry what carrier actually flys that route but what carrier has a base in that city. Example: PDT flys AVL-CLT but PSA has a CLT base. Look at PSA. (just an example, you probably don't want to work at PSA from what their pilots tell me)

As for Mesa, I work there, your making the right choice. Stay far away.

Good luck, -Bean

 

[RP170]

-ExpressJet seems pretty good. I say seems becuase it's all relative. Now let's hope it stays that way. I actually think their expansion into ONT is a good move, and it also shows me that they've got heads-up, proactive management team. I like that, and I think they'll be successful.
-Goose

Think ACA/Independence before you consider this option. Many guys at ACA thought Indy sounded like a good idea too. Personally, I would put XJet at the bottom of your list speaking from my past experience. There is way too much uncertainty with a business decision like that.

 

[Goose Egg]

Think ACA/Independence before you consider this option. Many guys at ACA thought Indy sounded like a good idea too. Personally, I would put XJet at the bottom of your list speaking from my past experience. There is way too much uncertainty with a business decision like that.

Thanks for the input. Fortunately I've got a little bit of time to wait and see what happens with Xjet before I jump in with both feet. You are right, there is some uncertainty with a decision like that, but I think Xjet is in a little better position than Indy. And Xjet isn't trying to fly Airbuses either.

But the point is taken. There's like a butt-load of airlines out there, and they are all hiring. I want to go about things in a more focused manner than just spraying resumes everywhere. I'm trying to narrow it down to 5 or 6 that I could possibly get hired at and could enjoy working there, and then just seeing what works out. Xjet is just one.

But this is good; If an airline is better than I thought it was, I want to know. If an airline is worse than I thought, I want to know about that too. This is why I'm posting.

-Goose

 

[Goose Egg]

Just wondering....why is it that you have put MESA off the list?

The term "camping out" comes to mind. At least that's why they're off my list... among other reasons.

-Goose

 

[Beantown]

The term "camping out" comes to mind. At least that's why they're off my list... among other reasons.

-Goose

The camping trips are Way overblown on this site. They only happen out of the PHX system (LAS). I've been at Mesa since 2003 and never have had to do a camping trip. I do standups all the time and they are just like they are at any other airline.

That all said, Don't come to Mesa for the "other reasons". -Bean

 

[mcjohn]

Is airlineapps.com worth the money ($60 a year ?) Hell, that's just too expensive. I don't have the money anyhow. What's the best route to applying to many regionals at once? Seeing as how I'm not going to have the multi-engine minimums for any of them anytime soon I don't mind, how'd goose put it?..."spraying" my application out there to see what happens.

 

[Thermocouple]

You don't have to spend the $60 to apply using airline apps.

You get one application free per account.

You can apply to one airline, then make another account and apply to another. It will take more time to reenter your info for every airline you want to apply to, but it won't cost anything. The $60 is for the convenience being able to apply everyone at once.

 

[mcjohn]

You need to not worry so much what carrier flys in to AVL but what citys fly direct from AVL. You can commute on almost any carrier but you want to make sure that it is a one leg commute. PDT flys lots of flights into CLT from AVL but they don't have a CLT base. You'd have to go through CLT to get to one of their other bases. One leg commutes SUCK but two leg commutes are family killers.
So find what citys have bases that you can fly directly to from AVL (example CVG, CLT, DTW ect.) and don't worry what carrier actually flys that route but what carrier has a base in that city. Example: PDT flys AVL-CLT but PSA has a CLT base. Look at PSA. (just an example, you probably don't want to work at PSA from what their pilots tell me)

As for Mesa, I work there, your making the right choice. Stay far away.

Good luck, -Bean

Good point. Off hand the folks who fly directly from a base to AVL Asheville: ASA, Comair, Expressjet, PSA (not sure if they come to AVL or not), Pinnacle.

What's the big deal with PSA. It's just the same old upgrade issue as PDT right? What is the Blue Coolaid BTW? Would that be ANY USAir Express?

GSP (Greenville SC area) would be a fine option for relocation from AVL. What airlines are easily commutable from GSP? Do any have bases there?

 

[Goose Egg]

...I don't mind, how'd goose put it?..."spraying" my application out there to see what happens.

There is something to be said about spraying. You might discover options you hadn't previously considered. I guess I'm thinking that I don't want to waste time/effort applying and interviewing at companies that I have no intention of going to. Either that, or I am just overly averse to saying no. One of the two.

-Goose

 

[Salty Pirate]

who I should be lining up my resumes for. First option would be commutable regionals I could work for. My permanent home is AVL (Asheville, NC). Off hand I know ExpressJet, Air Wisconsin, Piedmont, Comair, ASA and Pinnacle all go through AVL. I think Piedmont and Comair have the most flights through AVL each day but I'm only guessing.

Next option would be Regionals that have bases/domiciles close to home. ATL, CLT, TRI, etc.

So, who else should I be looking at? I've only put in a resume at ASA so far but I'm about to make the leap with as many as I can even though I'm a little under-qualified:

I currently have about 970 tt, 30 me, and 18 jet SIC.

Don't bother with the "Run very far away!" stuff. I've seen it all before. Also, I'd like to go with a regional I wouldn't mind being stuck with for 5-7 years but I know that's wishful thinking. Thanks in advance.

Run far,far away. They all become jobs in the end and the only thing that matters is pay, and if there aren't 5 zero's at the end of your W2's the pay sucks. Just remember, after 20 years a porn star doesn't want to screw anymore. I promise the job will eventually get old. Commuting sucks, the pay sucks, working on Christmas sucks, missing your family sucks, ugly flight attendants suck, working thanksgiving sucks, gay flight attendants suck, airplane coffee sucks, toilets w/out water suck, living of biscoff cookies and peanuts sucks, no job security sucks, pilot hats suck, hotels suck, listening to guys talk about how its not so bad sucks, after you bust your a$$ for your whole life to have them rip half your pay and all your pension sucks, imposing paycuts and then ordering a billion dollars in jets sucks, having almost every other employee make more than what you do when your job has all the responsibility sucks,
having everyone think your rolling in it when you don't even make 30K sucks, its all sucks, putting friends in the ground because they gave their lives to fly freight sucks, having to many beers on Friday night an lose your career when it had nothing to do with work sucks, spending half your life away from home sucks.

 

[Mercury]

Mcjohn and Gooseegg,

Q: How can you tell you spend too much time on FI????




A: You have more posts than total time in your profile!!!!!!!!

Sorry guys, I just couldnt help myself...its been a long, boring day

 

[mcjohn]

Salty pilot, you poor miserable thing! Lighten up man. Going back to my job as a bellman in a hotel sucks, flipping burgers at McDonald's sucks, paying some dues with a regional sucks, living in a closet down by Miami trying to fly full time sucks. I'm over it! It all sucks. No one needs to explain any of this. I'm still in the game for good bro. I will fly and try to make a living. I need some job stability for a family on the way aside from what I've been doing the last two years to build my time.

Aaaanyway, Mercury, I'm with you on your concept. I tend to stay at Pro Pilot for the most part but I'm back at FI for the regional threads. I began posting here as a student pilot long ago with around 30 hours.

Would someone mind giving some input on some questions I had earlier:

What's the big deal with PSA. It's just the same old upgrade issue as PDT right? What is the Blue Coolaid BTW? Would that be ANY USAir Express?

GSP (Greenville SC area) would be a fine option for relocation from AVL. What airlines are easily commutable from GSP? Do any have bases there?

 

[captainv]

first of all, interview with everyone who will look at you, see who offers to hire you, and THEN look at the airlines in question with a magnifying glass. that way, you'll have your own observations to help formulate your opinions. I turned down the first offer I received based on my treatment at the interview.

also, keep in mind that the "hot" airlines now likely won't be a few years down the line. In 2002, when I was interviewing, ASA, ACA and CMR were the places to be. Now, not so much.

And always remember, no matter what you decide, at some point in your career your will realize that your choice was horribly, horribly wrong.