Pilotpip

I jumped from TSA to Shuttle America. I just took my oral today and so far I'm happy I made the jump.

A lot of people gave me crap about doing it. Most were about to upgrade, or did recently. Anybody that's been there for a while said they'd bail if they were in my shoes. There were a number of things I based my decision on and it took quite a while to decide. It was made even more difficult by the fact that I really enjoyed the flying and the job. There are some really good people out on the line at TSA including a ton of good friends. Basically it came down to a few factors:

1) Management. They don't look past tomorrow there. Everything is knee-jerk and very short-sighted.

2) Upgrades were only for attrition. Yes, the upgrade is currently down to one year. However there are now quite a few captains there without enough PIC to go anywhere. I have this crazy theory that upgrades are about to come to a fast stop there. Throw in a merger and a bankruptcy or two and it will stop real fast.

3) Growth. 70 seaters are the future. I don't like that I fly the jet I fly for the money I make. I have every intention of doing what I can to raise the bar when I get off probation and have a say. I didn't like flying the 50 seater for the same amount. However, you will never see anything larger than 50 seats at TSA because you all know where Hulas will send the bigger jets.

Because of these three primary reasons, I decided to move on before I was entrenched in the seniority list to somewhere that I wanted to stay for a while. I did lots of homework on RAH and came to the conclusion that it would be a place I would like to work for a while. I have no desire to make a career out of the regionals but I'm also not dillusional about the prospects of going up the ladder fast. There are tons of people that have much better qualifications than I do who aren't getting jobs at the majors.

ExperimentalAB

Pilotpip - those were the exact same reasons I left Trans States as well. I'm glad you made that choice - you'll be far better off in the long-run!

To the OP, don't worry too much about leaving PDT - just speak the truth in your next interview and it'll be cake. Just be sure that if you do come back, it's for a very good gig - I'd warn you against leaving PDT to instruct and coming back to the Airlines at a place like TSA/Mesa, etc...

btwissel

same here, except TSA didn't drop the mins to ATP until a week after i put in my i quit letter. i too ended up at S5.

to anyone thinking of jumping ship to a "better" regional, come on in, the koolaid's fine

HSLD

We've been following this phenomenon of pilot hiring for the past several years and don't agree with your assumption of a 17% growth in required pilot labor. Based on age 65 stopping attrition at the top of the labor food chain, energy costs curbing route expansion, and proposed mergers creating labor redundancy - we don't anticipate growth for pilot jobs in the US any time soon.

There will be some hiring in niche markets, FedEx and Delta for example, but nothing on the order of 33,000 pilots. In fact, we feel that $100/barrel oil has the very real potential to cause network carriers to significantly pare pay for departure relationships with small narrowbody operators.

I hope you're right about the hiring, but it's completely at odds with what we expect. What are your sources? Pardon me for saying it, but it sounds like a flight academy brochure.

flynavyj

Best of luck to you in your decision. For myself, chasing an upgrade just doesn't seem like a smart move, as we've all said that changes quickly, and the reason i stuck out TSA was because my lateral move would have been even more lateral than some others who got back "home" as being from STL, i would have been trying for Chautauqua as opposed to Shuttle/Republic which for the same equipment, better management, but less pay, just didn't make a lot of sense.

And for what it's worth, most junior CA in the March upgrade class was a Sept. 06 new hire, putting upgrade at 18 months right now, not exactly a year anymore.

Pilotpip

Navy, I'm not chasing the fast upgrade. My decision was strictly based on going to a company I would want to stay at for a while. I don't see the movement staying anywhere near what it is in the industry right now and TSA was never a place I really wanted to work. I got to deal with them enough while I was working at an FBO that used to be home for mx and management before they went to the old TWA building. I've lived in STL all my life. I'm single and not really attached to this city. Moving isn't out of the question and I'm actually looking forward to it.

Tried to get the 145, they offered me shuttle. I took it. I've never talked to anybody, on any certificate at RAH that doesn't like it here. The Koolaid must be strong

flynavyj

wasn't saying you were chasing the upgrade pip, theres no hard feelings here. How's the 170 treatin ya? i keep hearing that it's tons more automated than the 145, but haven't gotten to jumpseat on one to see, really just wanting to get the chance so i can enjoy a nice cozy, large cabin to relax in as opposed to the hunkered down approach you get in the RJ.

matlok

I just left a little over a year of seniority at AE (if you want to call it that; it was more like "juniority") to go to CP. In my case, the move made sense. The whole "should I stay or should I go" question is different for different people... and so is it's answer. You have to weigh your situation, your choices, the possible outcomes, and any opportunity cost. If you are able to and it drastically betters your life and/or drastically advances your career, do it.

I had one or two folks give me the old, "You shouldn't make a LATERAL move" thing. Lateral?!? How the hell is going to more pay+bigger airplanes+better schedules+better QOL+faster upgrade+better opportunity a "lateral" move?!?! Sounds like moving UP to me.....

Good luck in whatever you decide!

matlok

Did the parser just let me say "hell"? Kinda figured it'd drop that...

btwissel

its everything the 145 should have been. and you can take off your headset at cruise!