KiloAlpha

Senior for captains, not so senior for first officers any more

groovinaviator

1. Yes it does. HK created an alter-ego once and he'll do it again. HK is no different than JO at MESA... they both worship Frank Lorenzo. Don't know who that is? Go ask any old guy at a major how much Frank Lorenzo helped this profession. If he doesn't punch you in the face for saying that name you'll soon understand. HK and JO are the Frank Lorenzo of today! So yes... TSA is bringing down the industry. Quick upgrades won't last forever. Remember quick upgrades and being understaffed indicate one of two things... huge growth or people aren't willing to work there. Acquiring 2 emb145's from MESA is not huge growth!

2. Yes it is. Right now schedules aren't bad because they are understaffed therefore schedules have to be efficient for the flying to be covered. What if things were properly staffed... I promise that you would spend a lot of time sitting around hotels. Also they can now sit you on reserve out of base... enjoy sitting reserve in a hotel on a less than normal call out time when you could just be sitting from base. Being a commuter this may actually be better for you.

3. FYI... There are 3 direct flights a day to STL from PIT. This is a post USAirways PIT reduction number. There were 4 before the cutback.

4. True, us at the "better" regionals aren't expanding at the moment, but I will make approximately $12,000 more this year as an FO at AWAC then my buddies at TSA will. This number is based off not only hourly rate but also the vastly superior work rules... If things continue as they are I should upgrade at 2.5 years.

A snapshot of the moment (i.e. upgrades, reserve time) is not what you base your choice on. What if hiring stops again (and it will) at the majors... where would you rather be stuck?

flyinaway411

the guy asked for advice, and once again, everyone turned it into a "my ___ is bigger than yours" contest. stop attacking each others airlines. you will not be bringing down the industry if you go to tsa. just like EVERY regional, you would be joining the fight for a better contract. you guys who slam your brothers and sisters are the ones bringing everyone down. you should be supporting them instead of bashing them. thats just a testament to what kind of people you are. yes, you would be better off looking elsewhere right now, as QOL of life at other regionals is better. especially if your going to be there a while. but i've had friends leave here for other regionals, and come back and tell me a regional is a regional. i've also seen someone be very happy at the regional they left for. you never know, everyone is different. schedules are efficient. when attrition was really high last year i moved up very fast, and i am upgrading next month at the 1.5 year mark. so if guys want to say "i make 12,000 more than a tsa fo in my 2nd yr," well thats not exactly true if upgrades were to stay at that 1.5 year mark. but i dont think they will. i don't know how the commute would be from pit, i wouldn't think too bad. if you have a somewhat respectable amount of flight time i think they would call you back within a few days of putting your stuff in. if you know someone here, then they definitely will. tsa isn't as bad as some people make it sound. you will hear some guys on here that may have left tsa and say the schedules suck, but they were here a while ago and all they sat was reserve. lineholders schedules are actually pretty efficient, especially in STL. anyway, good luck with your choice, let us know what you decide to do.

groovinaviator

This is a pretty weak defense of TSA. Upgrades are good and it is true that a 2 year captain at TSA does make more money than a 2 year FO at AWAC, but what all you newbies don't seem to realize is that an upgrade times are only a snapshot of the MOMENT!

Best of luck to you. Be careful and look for the big picture... it is not easily seen most of the time. I commute from STL so maybe I'll see ya around there sometime. If you need a crashpad let me know... I can probably help you out.

Killer51883

honestly take a shot at republic. if you dont get the republic certificate you can drive to cmh on shuttle or cle on the 145. if you dont have the times go to colgan and get the q400 out of pit. I know colgan might not be the best place but its alot better than commuting to some where.

flyinaway411

i will agree about the snapshot. thats why i said i didn't expect upgrades to stay that way. maybe you should read the whole post. i don't sit here and defend the company btw, but its moronic of you to say the pilot group is bringing down the industry. especially when the original poster asked nothing about that. as i said, look elsewhere that may suit your needs. and if you don't like what you see, life at tsa is not as bad as some other ignorant posters may make it sound.

PittsburghDude

thanks for the input guys, i seriously appreciate it. flyinaway411 and groovinaviator, you guys have AIM or an email address i could BS with you a little bit at?

flyinaway411

yeah, my aim is under my avatar.

grossole

So all of us at TSA are newbies? 1.5 years is a newbie?

groovinaviator

Nope not at all, but quoting me out of context is a rookie thing to do. It was a generalization. Sorry I offended you.