Lowest Regional Airline Pilot Salary

[wheelsup]

I don't think anyone said anything about choosing an airline solely on upgrade time. But we'd be lying if we said we never gave it consideration. It certainly was a reason I never applied to Eagle or Horizon. Their upgrade time was/is a by product of their management philosophy, which is the parallel I was mentioning.

[inside0ut]

Actually I would say Mesa is down there. Getting paid credit time will KILL your paycheck. I made almost 2000$ more in 3 months at RAH than I did at Mesa. That was being on RSV at RAH those 3 months and 1 RSV and 2 hard lines at Mesa.

[LoadMasterC141]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I don't think anyone said anything about choosing an airline solely on upgrade time. But we'd be lying if we said we never gave it consideration. It certainly was a reason I never applied to Eagle or Horizon. Their upgrade time was/is a by product of their management philosophy, which is the parallel I was mentioning.

I do not think one should pick a regional solely on any one factor. That was what I was trying to get at by answering the original posters question the way I did. That notion was learned from being a memeber here at Jetcareers, but I believe it to be logical and true.

For me, I would take into account, not neccesarily in this order of importance:
1) Salary ( as a whole, to include, but not only, first year pay)
2) Bases
3) Employee Contract
4) Work Contract and Work Diversity (IE..How long are they guaranteed flying with the major they are with, and how many are they with, in case one tanks?)
5) Upgrade time
6) Type of Flying (constant out and backs versus long trips all over. Matter of preference here)
7) Equipment

There are a few more, but those are all the major ones I can think of.

[Doug Taylor]

But...but....but!

[Seggy]

I wanna fly a jet!

Jet time is all that matters when applying to the majors!

[LoadMasterC141]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

But...but....but!

??

OK when I said equipment I did not mean shiny new jet versus Turboprop. Some people may have a preference in type of plane to be flown. I do not.

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

And you payed how much for that job?

Nothing. Pinnacle now pays you $400/week in training and they put you up in a hotel. The days for paying Express I for the job are long gone.

But if that was your pathetic attempt at lashing at me for my choice of a bridge program, then grow up, sir. It wasn't 'paying' for a job. The program was like any other RJ bridge program. You get training in a CRJ and then you get interviews. It is up to you to do well and get hired at a regional. And that's what I did. Not worth fighting this again and again.

[Doug Taylor]

Bridge program? I thought those went the way of dodo birds? Do tell.

[WalterSobchak]

Originally Posted by UND_Flyer

Wow! I just noticed that Mesaba F/Os are all paid the same. Gotta love flying that shiny CRJ-900 for $28/hr your second year...

Because some one with 300-1000 hours should even be in a 85,000lb jet any way? Because regionals should have 85K lb jets?
The lower the standards of the industry to be hired means there is less justification for good pay. Especially when the safety standards still very good. Even though crj900/emb175's are mainline sized aircraft the person sitting right seat doesn't have the same resume as the person in the right seat in the DC-9 it replaced. The mainline FO has already been a CA of something which justifies their pay.

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

Nothing. Pinnacle now pays you $400/week in training and they put you up in a hotel. The days for paying Express I for the job are long gone.

But if that was your pathetic attempt at lashing at me for my choice of a bridge program, then grow up, sir. It wasn't 'paying' for a job. The program was like any other RJ bridge program. You get training in a CRJ and then you get interviews. It is up to you to do well and get hired at a regional. And that's what I did. Not worth fighting this again and again.

Let us take a look at some of the "RJ Program"
ATP: http://www.atpflightschool.com/progr...standards.html
Web site states GUARANTEED AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW with regional airlines if you meet the TT.
Cost: $6K

Falcon Aviation: http://www.falconaviationacademy.com.../jetcourse.asp
Web site doesn't guarantee anything.
Cost: $2800

Jet U: http://www.jetuniversity.com/programs_crj.html
Web site state guaranteed JOB PLACEMENT with 190TT. That is PFJ
Cost: Not on web site (WHY?) Last I hear $17K

So not only did you pay for that job but you payed to much.

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Bridge program? I thought those went the way of dodo birds? Do tell.

I thought you knew already? But if not, then yes, Jet U. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone, though.

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Let us take a look at some of the "RJ Program"
ATP: http://www.atpflightschool.com/progr...standards.html
Web site states GUARANTEED AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW with regional airlines if you meet the TT.
Cost: $6K

Falcon Aviation: http://www.falconaviationacademy.com.../jetcourse.asp
Web site doesn't guarantee anything.
Cost: $2800

Jet U: http://www.jetuniversity.com/programs_crj.html
Web site state guaranteed JOB PLACEMENT with 190TT. That is PFJ
Cost: Not on web site (WHY?) Last I hear $17K

So not only did you pay for that job but you payed to much.

Few things:

1. At the time I was going through last year (2007), ATPs RJ course required at least 400 total time for any of their regionals for their CRJ $6k course. I had less than 250TT, so that option was out. Now, according to their site, ASA takes 200TT and 20ME. So things changed and are now different at ATPs RJ course requirements.

2. Jet U 'job placement' is mostly paperwork BS. I can name PLENTY of people that walked out of there with no job. Some who didn't get hired with Pinnacle were eventually helped and had interviews set up with PSA and Air Wisconsin. Some got hired, others didn't.
The management attitude was "we got your money, now we dont give a crap about you." So don't look too much into that "guaranteed job" thing. NOTHING is guaranteed. I am fortunate that everything worked out for me. Can't say the same for PLENTY of pilots that went through there. Yes, it cost too much, and in retrospect, was not worth the cost. At the time I went through, it was almost $27.5k for the course. Now that I am done with that place, I don't think it was worth it. I would not recommend that place to anyone.

3. It wasn't PFJ. Re: see above #2. PFJ would be Gulfstream Academy, which is the only true PFJ operation in Florida. There, you literally buy 250 hrs of B1900 time at an airline, Gulfstream Airlines. Jet U is just a flight school that offers services which make you competitive to interview. You'll get a guaranteed interview, and that is it. No guaranteed job, no matter how much kool-aid BS they feed you. And the written contract... it states guaranteed job, blah blah blah, and at the very end, there is a no-sue clause you must sign to. So no matter what happens, they'll make sure you can't sue them. Anyway, it's not PFJ. I didn't buy any CRJ time at Pinnacle. That's not how it works. It was just a CRJ course that landed me an interview opportunity... in a matter no different than ALLATPs, CAE in Denver, RAA, Delta Connection Academy, ERAU, etc.

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? My guess is in the 13-19 yr old range. Do let me know if I'm wrong.

[Doug Taylor]

Nah, I'm 37, but thanks for asking.

I think there was a brain clogging amount of information on programs like that online here for almost the last decade and now you "Wouldn't recommend it to anyone, though.".

For the lack of a more diplomatic way of asking, were you out of your mind?!

What's that $17K/whatever going to be worth in 10 years invested in a no-load mutual fund?

Augh. Horse...Water...Lord, why don't he drink?

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

1. At the time I was going through last year (2007), ATPs RJ course required at least 400 total time for any of their regionals for their CRJ $6k course. I had less than 250TT, so that option was out. Now, according to their site, ASA takes 200TT and 20ME. So things changed and are now different at ATPs RJ course requirements.

2. Jet U 'job placement' is mostly paperwork BS. I can name PLENTY of people that walked out of there with no job. Some who didn't get hired with Pinnacle were eventually helped and had interviews set up with PSA and Air Wisconsin. Some got hired, others didn't.
The management attitude was "we got your money, now we dont give a crap about you." So don't look too much into that "guaranteed job" thing. NOTHING is guaranteed. I am fortunate that everything worked out for me. Can't say the same for PLENTY of pilots that went through there. Yes, it cost too much, and in retrospect, was not worth the cost. At the time I went through, it was almost $27.5k for the course. Now that I am done with that place, I don't think it was worth it. I would not recommend that place to anyone.

3. It wasn't PFJ. Re: see above #2. PFJ would be Gulfstream Academy, which is the only true PFJ operation in Florida. There, you literally buy 250 hrs of B1900 time at an airline, Gulfstream Airlines. Jet U is just a flight school that offers services which make you competitive to interview. You'll get a guaranteed interview, and that is it. No guaranteed job, no matter how much kool-aid BS they feed you. And the written contract... it states guaranteed job, blah blah blah, and at the very end, there is a no-sue clause you must sign to. So no matter what happens, they'll make sure you can't sue them. Anyway, it's not PFJ. I didn't buy any CRJ time at Pinnacle. That's not how it works. It was just a CRJ course that landed me an interview opportunity... in a matter no different than ALLATPs, CAE in Denver, RAA, Delta Connection Academy, ERAU, etc..

Is Jet U not sending people who do not get a job over to Gulfstream. I know at one point they did that.

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? My guess is in the 13-19 yr old range. Do let me know if I'm wrong.

You are wrong.

[zmiller4]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

You get training in a CRJ and then you get interviews. It is up to you to do well and get hired at a regional. And that's what I did.

Whether you realize it or not, you did a lot more than that.

Not worth fighting this again and again.

yes, Jet U. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone, though

Sounds like it might be worth discussing so that others don't make the same mistake you did?

[coa787]

Do you need any type of flying experience prior to entering any one of ATP's courses to train to become a pilot? After college, Could I enroll in a course such as the "Regional Jet Standards Certification" course for $6,000 and get hired by a regional carrier?

[Carnival_Pilot]

At Mesa and Colgan your living of Cashews and Peanuts...lol

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by PositionAndHold

Its all gross or ugly, Regional Airlines as a whole need to raise their pay. Just because you work at one with slightly better pay or work rules doesn't mean you're much better or worse off then the other ones. We should all be trying to help the others achieve better pay/QOL/Union.

I really wish more pilots would truly do the above, instead of constantly fighting, and blaming each other. If more pilots would take the fight, and enthusiasm to management and stop blaming each other, because of what school they went to, their route into the profession, the airline they fly for, or the type of airplane they fly, it may actually help pilots get somewhere. Right now, management sees pilots all pitted against each other, and trust me, they are smiling, because it means the energy is focused somewhere else, instead of them. I know my .02 cents may not count to some here, but I believe a VERY LARGE part of the reason things are they way they are, is because pilots aren't fighting management, but are fighting, blaming, and whining amongst each other.

[AA34]

Type of Flying (constant out and backs versus long trips all over. Matter of preference here)

Just curious, which airlines are known for out and backs?

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Nah, I'm 37, but thanks for asking.

I think there was a brain clogging amount of information on programs like that online here for almost the last decade and now you "Wouldn't recommend it to anyone, though.".

For the lack of a more diplomatic way of asking, were you out of your mind?!

What's that $17K/whatever going to be worth in 10 years invested in a no-load mutual fund?

Augh. Horse...Water...Lord, why don't he drink?

Doug, the age thing wasn't for you. That part of the post response was for Gonzo, only.

Given my time/experience, Jet U got me where I wanted to go. But in retrospect, it wasn't worth it to go that route. I'd rather have gone to another bridge program, especially CAE's in Denver.

It wasn't 17k, it was 28k. Like I said, not worth it in retrospect. But at least it worked out for me.

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Is Jet U not sending people who do not get a job over to Gulfstream. I know at one point they did that.

No, despite what they say. No one has gone there, and they won't let you either. I can name many people who went to Jet U and do not have a pilot job.

You are wrong.

Then I apologize. The maturity in your posts made it sound like a 13-19 yr old (teenager).

And again, Doug, that age thing wasn't for you, it was for Gonzo.

Sounds like it might be worth discussing so that others don't make the same mistake you did?

Alright, but I gotta go flying now, still got 4 more legs today.

[Stone Cold]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

It wasn't 17k, it was 28k. Like I said, not worth it in retrospect. But at least it worked out for me.

OUCH!!!!!! All to pay for your training...wow...and no type rating out of that right? Just think that's at least 3 B-737 type ratings (hotel and all included). Glad it got you where you wanted to go.

[Duck_Twacy]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

I'd rather have gone to another bridge program...

the thought of hemorrhaging another 9K right now (the program of which you speak) to shave 3 months off my path to the airlines makes me want to throw up in my mouth...oh wait...there it is...

Assuming you're young and have nothing but time, (I'm almost Dough's age why?

[Doug Taylor]

Don't ever ask for a raise or look back from the left seat wondering why you're being asked to perform a dual cross country with paying passengers onboard.

We'll be listening.

Sorry, but not only do I not respect that move, I greatly disrespect it.

[cencal83406]

I'm a little confused by Doug's comment here but I agree with everyone Re: the bridge program stuff. Not really wanting to go into my times, I think my *shudder* Riddle education taught me never to want to spend a lot of money on something that gets you nothing except for perhaps after some arm-twisting, an interview with a regional. I was probably the luckiest guy in my class (lucky to make nothing, sounds dumb too) to be there since there were high-timers, and Jet-U'ers, then me. The groundschool at the airline teaches you ALL you need to know.

[P&H]

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

Right or wrong, flying Turboprops is low end. Piedmont, Colgan, etc....

I can make more as a 2nd year ATR FO (thats right, a turboprop) than a 3rd year captain at Great Lakes on their biggest equipment.

I think Great Lakes wins the lowest of the low award.