Where to go?
06-17-2016, 01:46 PM
#1
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2015
Posts: 28
Where to go?
Hey everyone!
I'm hear to ask the question that has been asked hundreds of times, I'm sure. "What regional carrier should I go to?"
I know some of the answers such as, "whichever will hire you", "the one with the shortest commute", and "whichever has the best QOL". However, from what I have understood from reading these forums, pretty much the world is my oyster as far as where I want to go. I am about to turn 28 and currently have about 700 hours and will get the remaining to qualify for the R-ATP minimums in a few months. I want to be at a major in 5-7 years, or as soon as possible. I live in Shreveport, LA; a decent size city in NW Louisiana. DFW is only a 3 hour drive away. I'm married and have 2 kids and my wife has a business set up here in town but can relocate anywhere in the CONUS. We aren't afraid to move to base, but prefer to be on a coast if possible OR live one the coast and I can have an easy commute to the base (where can I look up how to commute with each regional?). We wouldn't mind Chicago either.
Here are some of my questions: Should I look at ExpressJet and Envoy sense they are both in DFW? Everything contractually seems okay but with the long upgrade time, is it feasible? Does the PIC time matter that much with the current environment and the projected environment in my 5-7 year time frame? I know things change and that all the majors are going to loose a lot of pilots in the coming decade due to age.
What about other smaller carriers such as Republic, GoJet, Compass, etc.? If those offer a good QOL, decent pay, and fast upgrade times (if PIC is indeed a big deal), which one would be a safe bet?
I am not very well educated yet as to the jargon of the airlines, so please keep the acronyms to a minimum if possible. (Or even better, use the acronym and what is stands for so that I can learn them). Also, any sources that you can give me to self-educate about all this is greatly appreciated.
I appreciate any answers and patience with this question, as this is affecting the future of not only myself, but my wife and kids.
Thank you!
I'm hear to ask the question that has been asked hundreds of times, I'm sure. "What regional carrier should I go to?"
I know some of the answers such as, "whichever will hire you", "the one with the shortest commute", and "whichever has the best QOL". However, from what I have understood from reading these forums, pretty much the world is my oyster as far as where I want to go. I am about to turn 28 and currently have about 700 hours and will get the remaining to qualify for the R-ATP minimums in a few months. I want to be at a major in 5-7 years, or as soon as possible. I live in Shreveport, LA; a decent size city in NW Louisiana. DFW is only a 3 hour drive away. I'm married and have 2 kids and my wife has a business set up here in town but can relocate anywhere in the CONUS. We aren't afraid to move to base, but prefer to be on a coast if possible OR live one the coast and I can have an easy commute to the base (where can I look up how to commute with each regional?). We wouldn't mind Chicago either.
Here are some of my questions: Should I look at ExpressJet and Envoy sense they are both in DFW? Everything contractually seems okay but with the long upgrade time, is it feasible? Does the PIC time matter that much with the current environment and the projected environment in my 5-7 year time frame? I know things change and that all the majors are going to loose a lot of pilots in the coming decade due to age.
What about other smaller carriers such as Republic, GoJet, Compass, etc.? If those offer a good QOL, decent pay, and fast upgrade times (if PIC is indeed a big deal), which one would be a safe bet?
I am not very well educated yet as to the jargon of the airlines, so please keep the acronyms to a minimum if possible. (Or even better, use the acronym and what is stands for so that I can learn them). Also, any sources that you can give me to self-educate about all this is greatly appreciated.
I appreciate any answers and patience with this question, as this is affecting the future of not only myself, but my wife and kids.
Thank you!
06-17-2016, 02:01 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 439
Yes, try to live as close to base as possible. Mesa is also DFW.
PIC time is meaning less these days, but on a personal level PIC time is valuable.
Everyone has a different opinion on which regional is best, and in my honest opinion go where the money is. The rest is ever changing.
In fact by the time you hit 1500 a lot will be different.
PIC time is meaning less these days, but on a personal level PIC time is valuable.
Everyone has a different opinion on which regional is best, and in my honest opinion go where the money is. The rest is ever changing.
In fact by the time you hit 1500 a lot will be different.
06-17-2016, 02:06 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Admiral
Posts: 729
Explain to me how PIC time is meaningless? If on paper two candidates have the exact same qualifications except for the PIC time, who do you think gets the nod from mainline first? Sure, it might matter less that it used to, but in such a dynamic environment, why wouldn't you do everything you could to hedge your bets. Besides, there is still the 1000 PIC turbine glass ceiling outside of the 121 airline world.
06-17-2016, 02:06 PM
#4
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2015
Posts: 28
Thanks Dilson.
I will qualify for the reduced ATP minimums because I have a BS in aviation and will have 1000hrs in 3 or 4 months. That's why I'm trying to gather as much Intel as possible. Is the 3 hour drive okay for a new hire or should I move? If I have to move, I will get an apartment and my family will stay back home, which would suck. But it is what it is.
I will qualify for the reduced ATP minimums because I have a BS in aviation and will have 1000hrs in 3 or 4 months. That's why I'm trying to gather as much Intel as possible. Is the 3 hour drive okay for a new hire or should I move? If I have to move, I will get an apartment and my family will stay back home, which would suck. But it is what it is.
06-17-2016, 02:10 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 439
Explain to me how PIC time is meaningless? If on paper two candidates have the exact same qualifications except for the PIC time, who do you think gets the nod from mainline first? Sure, it might matter less that it used to, but in such a dynamic environment, why wouldn't you do everything you could to hedge your bets. Besides, there is still the 1000 PIC turbine glass ceiling outside of the 121 airline world.
Otherwise I agree with you.
06-17-2016, 02:12 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 439
Thanks Dilson.
I will qualify for the reduced ATP minimums because I have a BS in aviation and will have 1000hrs in 3 or 4 months. That's why I'm trying to gather as much Intel as possible. Is the 3 hour drive okay for a new hire or should I move? If I have to move, I will get an apartment and my family will stay back home, which would suck. But it is what it is.
I will qualify for the reduced ATP minimums because I have a BS in aviation and will have 1000hrs in 3 or 4 months. That's why I'm trying to gather as much Intel as possible. Is the 3 hour drive okay for a new hire or should I move? If I have to move, I will get an apartment and my family will stay back home, which would suck. But it is what it is.
has a support system where you are, commute. 3 hour drive is ify at envoy, can't speak for the others in DFW.But once you're line holder, 3 hour drive is better than relying on a commute flight.
06-17-2016, 02:17 PM
#7
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Position: CA: A321/A320/A319
Posts: 96
I expected to be at Delta, American, United, Fed Ex, or UPS 8 years ago, but since the lastest economic recession slowed everything down it didn't quite happen. I'm in the left seat at Spirit in the top 22% on the whole seniority list.
Wasn't my "dream" but hey I do good.
To answer your question, apply to all regionals and see what happens. Research on here for some of the airline profiles and see what works for you. Some will call and some will not.
Once you get into a regional, apply everywhere, Delta, American, United, FedEx, UPS, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest. Some will call some will not.
If you get on at JetBlue, Spirit, or Frontier I would still keep possibly pursuing Delta, United, American, FedEx, or UPS depending on your situation at that time.
A lot of carriers go to Job fairs and at this time Turbine PIC at least 1000 and about 5000tt will make you marketable at a major in a competitive sense, but that's today and in 5 years it will be different depending on economy. This industry is like riding a wave and going for the ride.
It's possible you won't see a major at all depending on personal circumstances.
Keep that in mind.
Wasn't my "dream" but hey I do good.
To answer your question, apply to all regionals and see what happens. Research on here for some of the airline profiles and see what works for you. Some will call and some will not.
Once you get into a regional, apply everywhere, Delta, American, United, FedEx, UPS, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest. Some will call some will not.
If you get on at JetBlue, Spirit, or Frontier I would still keep possibly pursuing Delta, United, American, FedEx, or UPS depending on your situation at that time.
A lot of carriers go to Job fairs and at this time Turbine PIC at least 1000 and about 5000tt will make you marketable at a major in a competitive sense, but that's today and in 5 years it will be different depending on economy. This industry is like riding a wave and going for the ride.
It's possible you won't see a major at all depending on personal circumstances.
Keep that in mind.
06-17-2016, 03:00 PM
#8
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2015
Posts: 28
I expected to be at Delta, American, United, Fed Ex, or UPS 8 years ago, but since the lastest economic recession slowed everything down it didn't quite happen. I'm in the left seat at Spirit in the top 22% on the whole seniority list.
Wasn't my "dream" but hey I do good.
To answer your question, apply to all regionals and see what happens. Research on here for some of the airline profiles and see what works for you. Some will call and some will not.
Once you get into a regional, apply everywhere, Delta, American, United, FedEx, UPS, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest. Some will call some will not.
If you get on at JetBlue, Spirit, or Frontier I would still keep possibly pursuing Delta, United, American, FedEx, or UPS depending on your situation at that time.
A lot of carriers go to Job fairs and at this time Turbine PIC at least 1000 and about 5000tt will make you marketable at a major in a competitive sense, but that's today and in 5 years it will be different depending on economy. This industry is like riding a wave and going for the ride.
It's possible you won't see a major at all depending on personal circumstances.
Keep that in mind.
Wasn't my "dream" but hey I do good.
To answer your question, apply to all regionals and see what happens. Research on here for some of the airline profiles and see what works for you. Some will call and some will not.
Once you get into a regional, apply everywhere, Delta, American, United, FedEx, UPS, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest. Some will call some will not.
If you get on at JetBlue, Spirit, or Frontier I would still keep possibly pursuing Delta, United, American, FedEx, or UPS depending on your situation at that time.
A lot of carriers go to Job fairs and at this time Turbine PIC at least 1000 and about 5000tt will make you marketable at a major in a competitive sense, but that's today and in 5 years it will be different depending on economy. This industry is like riding a wave and going for the ride.
It's possible you won't see a major at all depending on personal circumstances.
Keep that in mind.
