stringandrudder

Hello all!

First of all, thanks in advance for any replies.

My background,
I went to a 4 year, AABI accredited University with a part 141 program and great training with a well-respected flight school. Unfortunately, even though I had a great college experience, the school did not prepare me as well as it could have for the job that I was seeking. The school did not get approved for restricted ATP minimums, forcing me to look elsewhere to build extra flight time instead of getting to the regional job that I have been seeking. I try not to regret things in my life, but I keep thinking "man I should have gone to ____ (riddle, UND, etc.)," because this would've never happened to them. Instead I went to ___ (no name, yet good, school) and a paperwork snafu has left me a bit delayed in my career. WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS?

Well, it's time for me to actually choose a regional to go to. A lot of people have told me, and I've heard, that the regional you choose DOES matter in terms of landing a job at a major. My question is, how much weight should I put on that when choosing a regional for myself? I deeply value my base choice because I'd like to live in-base (which is NY for me). But if going to _____ (ExpressJet?) will help me to potentially advance my career further and faster, I am willing to suck it up a while longer.

I know that no company is perfect, but as an outsider, it's extremely difficult to see the differences in training, company culture, etc., much like it was before choosing a college.

I hope I'm making sense!

chrisreedrules

If you want to go to American, go work for Piedmont, PSA, or Envoy.

If you want to fly for Delta, go to Endeavor.

If you want to fly for United, go to CommutAir, ExpressJet, or maybe SlyWest?

While pilots from every regional get hired all over the place, look at the regionals who either have or are developing partnerships for moving their pilots up to mainline.

prex8390

#allregionalsmatter

272922

You're way overthinking this. The first question to ask when chosing a regional is where do you live, or where do you want to live?

If you want to live in NY (or NYC) go to Endeavor.

Geardownflaps30

It simply doesn't matter. In spite of what you read on here. Period.



(Well, with the exception of GauxJetsss of course......<---sarcasm alert for those of you who have your detector deferred.)

Lvlng4Spd

Just choose a regional that you would be content being stuck at. It's not likely it will happen soon but just in case. In my experience, I would be fine getting stuck at PDT. The contract and benefits are decent, I'm living where I want to (good travel benefits/commuter clause), and I can still keep my apps in at Delta and United and see which of the big 3 works out for me first.

stringandrudder

That's originally what I was thinking. But part of me thinks, let's say in a few years the majors truly are hurting the way they say they are. Why would they want to cripple their own regional partners by stripping their pilots?

stringandrudder

Definitely something I've thought about. For me, that would be Endeavor right now, simply for the strong NY presence.

MikeB525

For training and company culture, Expressjet is very good. If you're on the other side of Manhattan then EWR can be a pain to get to (vice versa with JFK/LGA). The value of the cpp remains to be seen but supposedly United hires many xjet'ers in general.

stringandrudder

Hahaha, wouldn't be the first time I've been told I'm overthinking something ..

I know Endeavor is a great choice for NY. But for that matter, wouldn't Republic be as well?