wwings

I am among the many CFI's who is looking to get into a regional airline in the coming year. I have instructed for several years now, and should have no problem meeting the minimum time required for most of the regionals if/when they hire in the coming year.

My question is this: what is a good way to evaluate quality of life between different carriers? This is beyond "do not commute if you can help it" and "don't fly for Mesa" (I can do a search of the forums). I am thinking along the lines of work rules, days off, travel benefits.

I have a good CFI job for now, and don't mind waiting for a few extra months to get a good job rather than jumping for the first airline that hires. Since I am married QOL is arguably more important to me than a fast upgrade or building the most time possible, although these are considerations as well.

flynavyj

As you said, your married, probably don't want to stress the family with moving around the country time and time again for different jobs in different places. Regionals (as you know) have historically been stepping stones. If you go to a regional with the thought of it being a possible "career" airline, then you'll probably be able to enjoy the "fruits" of your flying career with a decent schedule, and moderate pay. Quick upgrades are only really important for getting out, or making some $$ in the meantime.

The regionals with better reputations will most likely yield you the better QOL. Look for Expressjet, and Skywest. On the contrary, i know it wasn't what you wanted, but, living in base can make a heck of a difference as well. An individual at a lower tier regional who lives in domicile, might experience a better QOL that an individual at a upper tier regional who commutes. I wouldn't go moving for the sake of commuting, but if there's something available around you, it might be worth considering.

wwings

I am 90% sure commuting is out of the question...although I don't mind temporarily commuting while waiting on seniority to get a base in my city (Chicago) Moving is not an option due to the wife's job.

I don't mind keeping the option open of making a career out of a regional... although I am not interested in "Lateral Moves" i.e. getting hired by Mesa and jumping into SKW when the opportunity presents itself.

I am just looking for a way for an outsider to access work rules, contracts and other such QOL things beyond what is available on Airlinepilotcentral.

powrful1

With most of the Higher Tier Regionals (you choose your own for that designation) not hiring....most contracts for regionals don't have soft money and few min days off....it all depends on where you live now, where you want to live and where the carrier flies! IE are you going to be delayed in LGA for 5 hours and screw up dinner with the wife?

No one can tell you what makes a #1,2,3...etc airline for YOU! You can get this sort of information by digging here, and the carrier's own websites, how are they doing financially is important too. Will they be here for 5 years or so until you move on, or make a career out of a regional.

These are the sort of things you search out on the interwebnet and sit down with HomeRaiser6 to tell you where you will go to apply when the well starts collecting water again for the pools that have dried up. Then is when you put your line in the water to try and catch that mythical Higher Tier Regional!

higney85

QOL is all about what is quality FOR YOU. Some want big money, others want the minimum time away from home, some want long overnights to "see the world". Commuting is the biggest factor to me- the QOL hit to catch an extra flight an either end of a trip is a major PITA. If you are single it may not matter, if you are young you may get a crashpad and go out with fellow pilots the night before/after a trip, if you have a wife/kids/dog/family/mistress/etc at home you may want to look at which carriers either could base you at home, or give you the best options from home. You need to evaluate the contracts in the area of when they are amendable. A carrier that just signed a new contract may have the best rules/pay, but its apples and oranges to a carrier in negotiations because the new contract could change the comparison. Growth/movement could be a consideration- while there is minimal movement at the moment reserve life and the top end are important. At places such as American Eagle the top end is many years senior to many other carriers, that will start to matter when the industry reverses itself because at many places the folks on the top will not be leaving regardless of the industry. Talk to friends that are pilots at various regionals. There will be hundreds of opinions on here but what I am interested in and enjoy may be totally different than you. Pilots are a solid group but the personalities within the group are different from place to place. If your friends are somewhere and like it, chances are you will too. I happen to work somewhere that has the lowest pay, worst rules (we are in negotiations) but have amazing QOL since I am home 18+ days a month and never miss any of my family's or my wife's family events since my base is where I grew up and my wife/my family lives. Pay, bases, and days off are typically where people look in the "QOL" department but there is much more to it because each person is looking for something different.

higney85

In the 5 minutes it took me to type my post I see many factors have already been taken off the table.... Good luck, whatever you do- INCLUDE THE WIFE in the decision... or at least make her feel like she's included...

wwings

Is there a source for current pilot contracts for regional carriers?

DLAJ77

wisky has a solid contract. I dont know where you could view it. ASA also has a good one from what i hear. At least shoot for one with rigs, pay protection and a decent second year pay rate. Express jet is good if they ever hire again.

Nevets

Air Inc...

rickair7777

You would not be able to read and understand contracts (or crew policy in the case of SKW) in such a manner as to compare apples to apples. They are far too complicated and interpretation dependent.

Most folks flunk at least one interview in their career, so do not automatically assume that you can pick and chose a specific regional. What you probably want to do is select a few that would work for you, rule out a few bottom-feeders, and the start networking like crazy. Networking will get you the interview, not your CFI resume. Also the expansion and boom hiring days at the regionals are over for good...you might well need some 135 and/or turbine time to be competitive in the future (unless you want to wait for age 65 in 2013).

Philosophically, it is worth holding out for FDX/UPS instead of CAL, USA, UAL, etc...there is a large career difference in compensation. This is not so much the case at the regionals...your choices now can affect your future QOL far more than your pay.

QOL is a factor of workrules and location. Sounds like you need to live in ORD, so start with regionals based there and rank them. Word-of mouth reputation is what you will need to go on...like I said the contracts are too hard to read, plus they may not be applied verbatim.

Commuting is a big QOL factor, but it might be better to commute than work for a bottom feeder in domicile. Bases and contracts get changed...you could end up faced with either commuting for a bottom-feeder or doing a lateral move.

I would also look at regionals with commutable bases within 2-3 hours flight time of ORD. Look at flight schedules, you want multiple nonstops on company or codeshare plus hopefully one other airline.

My A-list would be SKW, ASA, AWAC, CHQ, XJT in no particular order, I probably forgot someone, apologies in advance. Avoid gojet unless you want industry-wide disrespect and possible career repercussions down the road.

If you plan on being a lifer and don't care about upgrade QX and AE would be OK too...but there are no guarantees on upgrade anywhere right now. It's possible that as the regionals stagnate and decline going forward, today's new hires will not have a reasonable upgrade expectation unless you go to a bottom feeder. I would almost say try to get your 1500 turbine PIC in 91/135 first, THEN go to a regional to hang out until the big boys hire.