QOL at Regionals?

[DMBinHBurg]

Hey everyone,
I posted last week about possibly selling my business and trying to work for a regional, preferrably Colgan. I am back with more questions.

I am just curious what most people really think about flying for regionals. Does it really suck? Is the QOL really that crappy? I have seen a lot of bitching on the forums but I know we all have bad days at any job and the forums are a great place to blow some steam! I am just curious are most days bad days or do most of you like what you do for a living? I have been fourtante to really like what I do over the past 5 years even though I worked a lot of hours. I think I am just at a point I am ready for a change and I have always thought of working for the airlines.

As I said earlier, I do know starting out especailly the first year I might have to commute, work all weekends, be away from home more with training but for the longer term 2-4 years, working at a place like Colgan and being back at base each night, how is the QOL? I am not someone who wants to move to the majors because I don't want to be away from my wife and family 4-5days a week. I would see myself staying at Colgan longterm and becoming the "big fish" basically.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to see if working for the regionals is really that crappy. Does mangement screw you over on time and scheduling that much? Do any of you fly on your days off? I own a Cirrus SR20 and would still want to enjoy flying that on days off and taking weekend trips. Just curious about everyones thoughts on QOL and how it really is. Thanks!

T

[Seggy]

Just finished my first year as a Colgan FO. This is what has been in the past no telling what will happen in the future.

If you live at home at Colgan you have arguably the best QOL in the industry. There are guys who work Monday thru Thursday 5AM-11AM or Monday thru Thursday 11AM-8PM. If you put in your time with the company, they will accomodate you and the schedule YOU want. You can't get that in other places. Many that have other businesses that they run.

However, with that said, Colgan is not a place most want to stay their career. It is what it is, the pay will be ok but not great. You will have opportunities to join the training department, do sim evals, become a check airman in time, but expect to top out around 70,000-90,000 (in todays money) here. The travel benefits are great and the heathcare plan is pretty good.

Also remember that bases close. Who knows what could happen in the future.

[riot shields]

i have heard before that turboprop time isn't looked on upon as well as jet to some companies, is this true? where is training done for colgan if you get hired? and do you know at all of people getting somewhat of a choice in base or is there a base that most people start out in? i know there are different bases for the beech and saab , but in general.

[Alchemy]

To some companies jet time is better (Continental, for example), but the vast majority view jet and turboprop time as equal. Prepare for some grenades though, as you have just deeply offended all of the turboprop pilots on this message board just kidding guys. Please have mercy.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by riot shields

i have heard before that turboprop time isn't looked on upon as well as jet to some companies, is this true?

That is so interesting! Where have you heard this? The guys who trained the civilian way that are at the majors today, where did they fly before RJs came out?

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Seggy

That is so interesting! Where have you heard this? The guys who trained the civilian way that are at the majors today, where did they fly before RJs came out?

Before this guys thread gets hijacked completely -

Riot I suggest you take a look at this thread:
http://forums.jetcareers.com/airline-pilots/33746-what-would-you-do.html

It addresses your question.

To keep this thread on track, as a just turned second year FO, next month I work M-W, 12 days. Every weekend off. The pay is low ($2650/month gross or $1700 take home with 10% 401k deduction) though because it's just an min guarantee.

If I wanted to make over min guarantee, I could bid to work more, but then I'd only end up with 13-14 days off. I'm taking it easy for a few months.

I have a friend who makes double what I do doing 135 BUT he gets 4 days off a month guaranteed. I'm a big fan of "work to live" so I choose the time off.

I've only encountered getting "screwed" once so far, it was a mechanical. The plane broke and it was the second to last leg on a 4-day. We had to spend the night while the plane got fixed. It's not the companies fault. I think in general regional pilots are treated pretty fairly, although there are *some* companies who either do not honor the contract or simply don't have one.

[riot shields]

now holddd on a second. i didn't say iii believed it was not as important, im just looking for some clarification. maybe it's more foreign airlines that dont look at turboprop very well. i have seen that through a few places where they want a certain amount of total time excluding turboprop.
just asking! don't throw any bricks this way.. not yet anyway.


now back to my question!

is there specific bases that you go to sit reserve when you start at colgan? im in houston now, but i hear it's a senior base for the saab, so i'd expect to be moving back up to the north east if colgan was an option.

[Seggy]

Most places in the US want Turbine PIC. You will get the job after a regional/commuter with

A) Timing
B) Luck
C) Who you know

IAH is senior but one can usually get it quickly. Also what happens if you get the Beech, they will put you where they need you.

For ANYONE coming to Colgan, come here if you are looking for a quick upgrade. That should be the first reason why you want to come here.

To live in a base that you want to live in, it is a VERY good possibility it DOES happen a lot, but don't expect it right away.

Also bases close a lot in airlines. You never know!

[Hootie]

Top out at 90g at Colgan? Maybe if your name is Chuck.

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by Hootie9750

Top out at 90g at Colgan? Maybe if your name is Chuck.

Yeah after rethinking what I typed that is high. Between 70,000-75,000 would be more reasonable for our senior guys.

[DMBinHBurg]

Do you get to choose either Beech or Saab at Colgan when applying or do they just place you no matter what?

Also,
Wheelsup, I am like you... Live to Work. 3-4 days a week sounds great! Do you mind me asking what airline you fly for?

T

[Seggy]

Originally Posted by DMBinHBurg

Do you get to choose either Beech or Saab at Colgan when applying or do they just place you no matter what?

Also,
Wheelsup, I am like you... Live to Work. 3-4 days a week sounds great! Do you mind me asking what airline you fly for?

T

They put you in the plane they need you in. If they put you in the Beech you will upgrade to Beech Captain, then transition to Saab Captain.

[meritflyer]

I understand guys that fly RJs for SKYW or XJT second year can earn 40K-50K with per diem.

Wheelsup, any truth to that?

[Alchemy]

uhhh...no....second year XJET, flying close to 1000 hrs this year, will not break 40k. I suppose it is possible, but difficult.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

I understand guys that fly RJs for SKYW or XJT second year can earn 40K-50K with per diem.

Wheelsup, any truth to that?

50k? Probably not unless there was MEGA open time. $40k doable, if you want to work 95 credit hour lines for 12 months straight and only get 13-14 days off/month. I could hold those lines if I wanted as a just turned second year FO.

95 x 35.38 x 12 = $40,300 hourly

If you're doing that much you're TAFB is also in the 300's, so $450/month in per diem x 12 = $5,400 in per diem. Obviously it's up to you if you spend all that and eat "free" for half a month or save most of it.

Personally I wouldn't want to work that much for 12 months. It would suck.

Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, yes it's possible to do a 95 hour credit line for 12 months. It's probably only about 85 hours of flying. Even if you time out in December you'd get paid for the rest of the line anyway, which is what we're talking about here.

There was a guy on flightinfo, a 2nd year Skywest FO, that was bragging about making in the $50k range base pay. He was working on his days off and picking up a lot of open time. Again, if you have to work to the bone to make that much money is it worth it?

[riot shields]

how many hours per year is it that a pilot can't exceed where he can "time out" i guess it's called ? or does it vary by airline

[Alchemy]

8 hrs in a day (although on this one, if you are "good to start", you are "good to finish"...meaning you can fly however long it takes to complete the daily schedule as long as you don't exceed a 16 hour "duty day")

30 hrs in a week
100 hrs in a month
1000 hrs in a year

It is possible to fly 100 hrs per month jan-oct, then the company has to give you nov. and dec. off but still pay you your guarantee.

[kellwolf]

QOL isn't bad at all for me right now, and I'm still on reserve. Holding a line and knowing when I'll be gone and where I'll be would make things a LOT better, but that will come in time. I live in base and in an area of the country where CoL isn't that high. That combo keeps me at home and relatively happy, even on 1st year FO pay.

Sure, there are plenty of things that can (and should) be better with our contract, but it's not always the total bitchfest some people make it out to be at the regionals. It's still a job, and the stuff that's still within your control, you can choose to be miserable or okay.