Expert: D. Norkus - 4/12/2004

Question
Hello Dottie,
Thanks for your help!  I've been searching everywhere trying to determine which commuter airline to apply for.  Which commuter airline pays the best? Comair, Continental Express other? Which commuter airline has the shortes pilot trips?(pilots gone for the fewest days)  Also, I've been thinking about applying for an FAA job.  Are those pilot inspector jobs very competetive to get?  I've got over 1,500 hours of flying and am currently flying twin turbo props for a small 121 operation.
Thanks,
Ryan  

Answer
Ryan

Since you are already flying "twin turbo props for a small 121 operation", what motivates you to want to go to the regionals? If you are upgrading soon or are PIC, then staying put would be your best career move to get hired with a major in the next few years. PIC turbine time is gold. Also, expect first year regional pay to be around $20K/yr. Most regionals start out pretty low. It takes a few years to see the high 20's. If you are doing OK financially and PIC time is available where you are, stay put. But if you really want to make the leap...

Which regional is best? Well, that anwser varies wildly from pilot to pilot. As it's been said, "The airline that's the best is the one that hires you!"

You have "been searching everywhere trying to determine which commuter airline to apply for"? Well, use the shotgun approach: Aim for a whole lot and you might hit something. Kit Darby from Air Inc uses that phrase a lot. What he means is don't limit yourself to one or two airlines. If you don't apply, you won't get a job so apply to all who you are eligible to apply with.

You want to be gone the fewest days? As a newhire you will be getting 10-12 days off per month with just about every regional. Trip sequences vary from company to company as well as by aircraft & domicile. There isn't one carrier that is gone less days. It's all a matter of what kind of aircraft you get assigned, where they base you and how the trip sequences fall on the seniority list. Most airlines have day trips that begin and end in a pilots domicile every day. Whether or not these go to the senoir or junior pilot will vary by company & domicile. It varies a lot from company to company and too many factors are involved in the awarding of schedules to use this as a criteria for what airline you will apply. Some wouldn't consider my airline due to low pay, slow upgrade or domicile choice. However I am very happy because I am based close to my home in CA. "Best" is all a matter of perspective

I don't know what airline pays the best overall, but check out the pay scale links on my pilot career FAQ page at:

www.geocities.com/av8trxx99/FAQ.html

You can also search these sites for more info on pay:

http://forums.flightinfo.com
www.jetcareers.com

Sorry, don't know anything about FAA careers. However, the regionals are becoming very competative. 1500TT is the new indsutry minimum to get an interview, but often applicants have well over 2,000TT. To see what qualifications airlines are hiring go to:

www.aviationinterviews.com

Good luck- Dot