1Wingnut

I'm working at a 121 cargo airline, and things are going downhill with the company. For numerous reasons, I'm looking for a change - either back to 135 or to another 121 carrier. I don't have a degree, so the phone is not exactly ringing off the wall with calls from the majors. I'm seriously thinking about going to a regional.

I have almost 600 hours 121 time and more than 6000 total and a lot of PIC. As I mentioned, I don't have a degree so a regional like Endeavor with a "guaranteed" interview at Delta may not get me much unless Delta eventually drops their degree requirement. I've read the threads, and know people usually say to pick the one where you will not need to commute. I live near KLIT, so that is not a base for anyone, and a commute to DFW, ORD, or even LGA/JFK is not that big a difference to me.

So that is my situation. Where should I go? Endeavor just got a new payscale going into effect in a couple months, Delta is one of the benefits there, and I have no degree. Envoy? DFW is not a bad commute, and they flow to American, but I hear QOL is not great there, and I'm likely to get sent to LGA base to captain a 145. The upgrade is fine, but LGA reserve for maybe 2 years? Meh..Piedmont? PSA? American flow there too.

So, all you pilots out there who know a lot more about regionals than I do, what do you recommend? Best combination of QOL, Days off/month, good bidding system, shortest reserve, upgrade with my 600 hours 121, trip rig/duty rig, etc...? Is it a 6 of one , half dozen of the other situation? I'm leaning towards Envoy, and from their website it looks like with previous 121 time, I can just about get hired with a phone call and background check. Anything I'm missing here? Is there a better option than that? Thanks for any informed advice you can offer.

Otterbox

As long as Delta has the large military influence they won’t be waiving their 4 year degree requirements. You’d end up as a lifer at Endeavor...

AA Wholly Owneds are your answer to get to a legacy as no degree is required to flow to AA. Folks at the WOs expect pay to raise to the new Endeavor ballpark within the next 18months.

Best schedule flexibility/QOL: PSA
No reserve for FOs or CAs: Piedmont (PHL base)
Fastest Flow: Piedmont
Most commutable bases (from where you Identified): Envoy

RubberFactory

Look into SAP at PSA:

Scheduling & SAP - Schedule Adjustment Period

1Wingnut

SAP seems like a huge boost to QOL. I like to work more days in a row, and then get more days off together as well, especially if I have to commute. Do you (or does anyone) know :

Endeavor is getting a raise, and rumor is Envoy will soon as well. Is this also rumored to the the case at PSA?

Will PSA potentially upgrade me when I hit 1000 hours 121, or do they have lots of qualified First Officers already waiting for their turn?

If they do offer quick upgrades, what is the junior captain base, and how long would be expected on reserve?

Thanks for all the answers, people.

RubberFactory

Raises are definitely rumored but I doubt they would be accepted at the expense of QOL tools like SAP. I would also expect pay at Envoy and PSA to always remain pretty similar to each other. I can't speak for sure to forced captain upgrades but I do know qualified FOs at the company who have continued to bypass it at no penalty, and the captain situation is not as bad as it is as Envoy (the other poster did a good job comparing the WOs). As for base seniority, you'll find this helpful:

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/a...achmentid=3429

It illustrates time from date of hire to hold a line (R1, when you can SAP) at each base for captains and FOs. Not sure how applicable that will be to your coming in with 121 time, but it's something.

CLT and Knoxville are the most senior.

Really though I'm just a Part 91 loser who spent the last few months doing a ton of research and interviewing everywhere, and I decided on PSA, and I feel good about it. By no means am I an expert. If you want the authentic, jaded perspective I'd recommend digging into the PSA threads. There is a highly active recruiter on there who's pretty helpful.

jonnyjetprop

For what it's worth, I went to Piedmont after 23 years flying 121 Supplemental. Finished my degree last year. I'll flow and still have a reasonable career at American. I know you don't want to hear this but I'd move to your base no matter where you go. Your quality of life will be so much better.

For me, I wrote down all the base cities of the 3 AA WO and had my wife pick a city. She chose PHL and I then applied to PDT. I figure that I'll try to stay in PHL when I flow.

1Wingnut

That sounds like good advice. As much as I like the scheduling system at PSA, it seems like I wouldn't get the benefit of it until more than 2 years after upgrade, due to how long captains sit reserve. And the PSA bases don't get me too excited either. I'm leaning towards Envoy at the moment.

cow0man

Get an online degree in underwater basket weaving and that will solve the problem with no degree, and you can choose where you want to live and pick the regional that is good for you. You do not want to rely on the flow. Use the flow for an insurance policy.