airborne42

Hey everyone. I'm glad to have just joined this forum.

I'm an airline pilot flying an ATR 42 in a country outside the U.S and hold an ATR 42/72 rating current with approx 500 hours on type and total time not including simulator time stands at roughly about 800 hours. My instrument time is no problem and my multi is just on the ATR type so approx 500 hours as well.

I just wanted to explore my opportunities here first with you guys to see how the QOL at the regionals is. I'm interested in a couple such as American Eagle since they fly a fleet of ATR 72's and are actively hiring. Also interested in Skywest primarily because of them having a CRJ base in Denver, CO (and I would prefer Denver). And lastly, I noticed that Air Wisconsin is also hiring and maybe their pay is a little bit more for first year and second year pay at least.

So I just wanted to hear from some of you guys out there as to which airline of these three or even any others I should most be interested towards keeping in mind, work rules, upgrades, length of time on reserve and of course take home pay.

Would guys from Air Wisconsin and Skywest, and even American Eagle if possible, kindly share what first year pay is at your airline. I'm looking for a number which would potentially be my take home salary per month after taxes and counting average per diem per month. Thanks a lot since your help and guidance can possibly help me make a more educated decision about whether to apply or not and if so then at which regional.

appreciate it.

newarkblows

I think they are all relatively equal in take home pay. It is hard to judge airlines on the hourly pay rate because of the completely different work rules, line construction/trip trading, and different pilot groups ability to maximize pay. I believe they are all good companies. I think Skywest's Denver base is going to be the next base to be messed with due to this ASA/SKW fiasco. XJT has been hearing of a Denver base for the past few months from our management but they are waiting to see if the flying is long term. If it comes true then i would expect to see (edit: SOME) SKW flying moved somewhere in the system. SKW moved United planes to IAH from ORD and XJT moved planes from IAH to ORD disrupting hundreds of peoples lives and incurring moving costs out the whazoo for ???

No one knows the future for DEN but we are definitely at the whim of very finicky and temperamental mainline management. Any airline is a gamble but living in base is such a huge boost to QOL that it is worth the risk IMO.

Good luck.

airborne42

thanks.

but would you be able to guide me what exactly i can expect take home pay to be during the first year?

secondly, any idea about upgrade times and time on reserve? or does that depend mostly on your base.

and third, what are my chances with those flight times? how does atr experience count for? valuable? and would eagle be a better bet for me since they fly that type and may be more interested in hiring me since training on the aircraft and getting a hold of it and its systems wont hopefully be a biggie.

saab2000

Details of the contract are here. Go to the bottom of this page and click on Airline Pilot Central. Go to "Regional" for AWAC. I don't know where the others are situated in the grand scheme of things.

You'll find out about payrates.

That should only be a fraction of what makes you decide where you want to go.

Other things to consider are where you wish to live. Where does the company have domiciles? What about the health insurance? What about 401k options? Etc.

Hourly pay is only part of the the equation.

newarkblows

You are definitely more hire-able because you have proven that you can pass a training program. The multi-time and airline experience put you above most flight instructors. I would definitely throw your apps out and I would go to any interview you are given. Even if it is for a junk airline you dont want to work for it is valuable airline interview experience that should relax your nerves for the the interview at the company you want to get picked up by.

I cant help you out with pay guesstimates but most places are expecting big movement in the next year (give or take) due to retirements. If things start to move they will move quick and it is better to be in the beginning of a wave of hiring then the tail end. A few weeks of seniority could mean the difference between moving on and being stuck at a regional for a few more years.

Eagle flies the ATR but regionals just want people that are trainable plain and simple. There is a decent chance that if you get hired by eagle you wont even get the ATR so sure it counts that you know the ATR but you are also opening yourself up to all kinds of advanced system questions during the interview. At eagle they know the ATR and will probably dig into systems on the interview. If you know it great but if not... ruh row.