Regionals as endgame?
#1
New Hire
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Joined APC: Jul 2022
Posts: 9
Regionals as endgame?
is there a single regional airline out there that is good enough to sit on? one that doesn't nuke your work/life balance, QOL and drive to even bother with this career?
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2015
Position: MD-88 FO
Posts: 1,571
is there a single regional airline out there that is good enough to sit on? one that doesn't nuke your work/life balance, QOL and drive to even bother with this career?
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
#3
is there a single regional airline out there that is good enough to sit on? one that doesn't nuke your work/life balance, QOL and drive to even bother with this career?
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
2. “The ridiculous flight training costs”… you have to have the same 1,500 hours before you can go to work for a major, just the same 1,500 hours that is required for a regional. The difference is most majors hire pilots who have some regional experience and additional hours with the regionals. You get paid while working as a regional pilot. There is no additional flight training cost out of your pocket.
#4
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Joined APC: Jul 2022
Posts: 9
1. Several of the majors (the big 6) are hiring pilots without a bachelor’s degree. Read these threads and see which ones those are.
2. “The ridiculous flight training costs”… you have to have the same 1,500 hours before you can go to work for a major, just the same 1,500 hours that is required for a regional. The difference is most majors hire pilots who have some regional experience and additional hours with the regionals. You get paid while working as a regional pilot. There is no additional flight training cost out of your pocket.
2. “The ridiculous flight training costs”… you have to have the same 1,500 hours before you can go to work for a major, just the same 1,500 hours that is required for a regional. The difference is most majors hire pilots who have some regional experience and additional hours with the regionals. You get paid while working as a regional pilot. There is no additional flight training cost out of your pocket.
#5
You need to provide a little additional information to get any useful advice here. Your question is quite broad and sounds a bit naive as well, which is why you're here asking questions, right?
How old are you? Are you still in high school, with little income and just looking for options about what to do with your life? Or are you under 30, just starting a career you're not happy in? Or are you over 30, in an established career and potentially looking at a career change? These factors can change what advice you may receive and options available to you.
As mentioned above, training costs are sorta "pre-set" to get to a point where you are hirable. The biggest variable comes with the attachment of a college degree along with your pilot certificates. There are many ways to cut costs and trim the fat throughout the process which you can search for on here or google.
If you are young, or even looking for a career change, there is no need to complete the degree AND pilot certificates at the same time. The degree can be completed while working at a part 135 operator or while at a regional airline if you still feel the desire to complete it prior to going to a major. However, all majors have removed this requirement to apply, even if you loose some points for not having it.
You ask about best balance between work & homelife yet mention eyeing Atlas... Are you aware they utilize a schedule that typically has you gone 2 weeks at a time? Maybe that's appealing to you, I don't know. Building seniority at a regional will typically come fast, which will vastly improve your QOL should you choose to stick it out there. The biggest variable with that would be choosing a base to "settle down" in as they can change, and at times without notice.
How old are you? Are you still in high school, with little income and just looking for options about what to do with your life? Or are you under 30, just starting a career you're not happy in? Or are you over 30, in an established career and potentially looking at a career change? These factors can change what advice you may receive and options available to you.
As mentioned above, training costs are sorta "pre-set" to get to a point where you are hirable. The biggest variable comes with the attachment of a college degree along with your pilot certificates. There are many ways to cut costs and trim the fat throughout the process which you can search for on here or google.
If you are young, or even looking for a career change, there is no need to complete the degree AND pilot certificates at the same time. The degree can be completed while working at a part 135 operator or while at a regional airline if you still feel the desire to complete it prior to going to a major. However, all majors have removed this requirement to apply, even if you loose some points for not having it.
You ask about best balance between work & homelife yet mention eyeing Atlas... Are you aware they utilize a schedule that typically has you gone 2 weeks at a time? Maybe that's appealing to you, I don't know. Building seniority at a regional will typically come fast, which will vastly improve your QOL should you choose to stick it out there. The biggest variable with that would be choosing a base to "settle down" in as they can change, and at times without notice.
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2017
Posts: 463
I'm comfortable at my regional. I drive to work, make good money, fly a nice airplane, enjoy our overnights and generally like going to work. It's a good job.
The thing is that I know I can do better. The compensation, quality of life, career progression, variety, options that come with a job somewhere else are too good to ignore.
So yeah, you could stay at a regional. I dare say you could be happy there and you certainly wouldn't be the first to make a career out of it. But why?
The thing is that I know I can do better. The compensation, quality of life, career progression, variety, options that come with a job somewhere else are too good to ignore.
So yeah, you could stay at a regional. I dare say you could be happy there and you certainly wouldn't be the first to make a career out of it. But why?
#7
You can post on their threads and ask those that fly with Atlas, directly. They are listed under the Cargo folder.
#8
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,260
QOL, meaning "quality of life?" That's subjective: what do you mean by quality of life, or more appropriately, what does it mean to you?
When you say "bother with this career," to what career do you refer? Specifically regional airlines? Career as a pilot? Career in aviation? You indicate later that Atlas is your target airline. Atlas is not a regional. What do you mean by "this career?"
You're seriously considering regional airlines because you don't want to bother obtaining a bachelor degree, and because you don't like the cost of flight training? How will obtaining employment with a regional change the costs of your flight training?
#9
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Joined APC: Jul 2022
Posts: 9
"You indicate later that Atlas is your target airline. Atlas is not a regional."
with a simple reading comprehension that you supposedly should have attained through your oh-so important bachelor's degree, you would have seen that i referred to atlas as "one of the large airlines" and a "big one" [obviously not regional]
already gave you a response in the other thread but i guess it's up to the mods whether or not the post will even show up (it likely won't)
with a simple reading comprehension that you supposedly should have attained through your oh-so important bachelor's degree, you would have seen that i referred to atlas as "one of the large airlines" and a "big one" [obviously not regional]
already gave you a response in the other thread but i guess it's up to the mods whether or not the post will even show up (it likely won't)
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: Gear slinger
Posts: 2,958
is there a single regional airline out there that is good enough to sit on? one that doesn't nuke your work/life balance, QOL and drive to even bother with this career?
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
i'm seriously considering it because i don't feel like dealing with the financials of both a bachelor's and the ridiculous flight training costs.
You don’t need a bachelors for most airlines anymore, even legacies.
You’re going to be better off working for a company that flies it’s own passengers or cargo, not one where the flight is “operated by” your company.
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