Regional vs. Majors:

[laralen02]

Kind of a simple "new-to-the business" question:

How long does it take to transition from a regional airline to a major airline?

I'm sure the answers will vary greatly, and it has multiple variables that contribute...But I'm still really curious about what to expect.

[av8rwyf]

That is a really tough question. Everyone's experience is different I believe. DH started w/ Piedmont (US Air Express) in '99 and in '03 he started w/ ATA (LCC out of MDW). He got furloughed last year and went back to the old charter company he worked for before he got on w/ Piedmont. Then on 10/06 he started w/ AirTran. So, just b/c you get to the majors doesn't mean that you'll stay there. There can be alot of up and down. 9/11 really threw this industry in a tailspin!

It is all about TIMING and WHO you know in this business. DH got in at a rough time that puts him right on the edge of furloughs. The guys (and gals) coming up after him may have a smoother transition now that the airlines seemed to be rebounding from 9/11.

I dont know if any of this makes sense but the bottom line is that there is no set time frame for making it to the majors. You just have to be persistant, pay your dues, and don't burn ANY bridges!

[Bigsweetie]

To add to what she said, some pilots NEVER make it to the majors at all! It's very competitive out there and there's alot of luck involved as well.

I think to be a pilot you have to, on some level, be o.k. if you never get to fly the "big bus". It doesn't mean that you don't work toward it, but if that's the only reason you're flying at all, you may be in for a big dissappointment if it doesn't happen.

I've seen alot of pilots that go into flying saying... "I'm gonna do X, Y, and then Z" and think that it's as simple as that. It's great to have goals, but you also have to be somewhat flexible with those goals. You may get to do X, Y, and Z in that order, you may not. I know my DH didn't plan the career path that he's had, but he keeps chugging along at it. He'll never give up trying to acheive the goal of flying for major, but if he didn't love to fly to begin with (no matter what the equipment) it'd be a lot harder on a daily basis. IMO.

[amelia]

My husband has been in the regionals for 6 years now and he plans on spending a few more there before he tries to move on to a major. He spent 4 years with an airline at IAD and was never able to become a CA....then in '05 he got furloughed. He then started at SkyWest a month after that. He just became a CA in Dec after not even 2 years at SkyWest (awesome upgrade time!!!). He wants to stay at SkyWest and get at least 1,000 PIC hours before he tries moves on to a major. Some people that my DH worked with at his old airline moved on to a major after about 5-6 years with a Regional.....but they had the chance to become CA's and had lots of PIC time.

[rgphib]

My husband has been with the regionals for almost 8 years.....has over 6000 hours with 2300 jet PIC and has had applications out for over a year...no call yet. The industry really is about who you know right now....and for some reason DH won't call "who he knows"....I'm sick of bugging him! But at the same time, it is hard to give up his senority (~#400 in the company) and QOL....hoping someone calls at some point this year, but I have learned not to hold my breath on that one! 9/11 really had a huge impact on the industry...especially where DH was at the time. When he first got hired, you stayed at the regionals a couple years and went to a major....when his couple of years were over, 9/11 happened and everything changed. But at least he is able to get mostly commutable trips, his company has a GREAT vacation policy (and he is up to 3 weeks now, and in two years will have 4 weeks)....so all is not bad. Just upsetting when FO's with no PIC time are going up to the majors....so is life.

[lucky81698]

My husband was at XJT for over 8 years. He did not apply to any other airlines during that time because of the flow through to CAL. That was cancelled before he went over but did end up going over with the preferential interview group. He lost alot in that deal, but at least he got there. He has been there since 8/05, has a commutable schedule, weekends off, and usually between 14-17 days off a month. He lucked out when he was hired and spent less than a month on reserve.

[Amanda]

Nick QOL was very bad a Mesa and he wanted to get to a major ASAP. He is the most ambitious and driven person I know and worked VERY HARD to get to where he is. His goal from the start was to fly internationally on a 757 for a major airline. I just hope now that he's doing that he won't want to be an astronaut or something!

Your question is impossible to answer since there are so many factors with where a pilot goes intheir career. We know regional pilots who never want to move on to a major since they have a great QOL-- they are based where they live, have weekends off, vacation time, etc. It makes sense for them to stay where they are.
Nick had none of that... his seniority was pretty good but he was living 2500 miles away, had crappy schedules and hardly any vacation. Why NOT try to move up to a major?! The first year pay is a step back but we don't have a ton of expenses (and no kids yet).

[UKcats06]

Originally Posted by Amanda

Nick QOL was very bad a Mesa and he wanted to get to a major ASAP. He is the most ambitious and driven person I know and worked VERY HARD to get to where he is. His goal from the start was to fly internationally on a 757 for a major airline. I just hope now that he's doing that he won't want to be an astronaut or something!

Your question is impossible to answer since there are so many factors with where a pilot goes intheir career. We know regional pilots who never want to move on to a major since they have a great QOL-- they are based where they live, have weekends off, vacation time, etc. It makes sense for them to stay where they are.
Nick had none of that... his seniority was pretty good but he was living 2500 miles away, had crappy schedules and hardly any vacation. Why NOT try to move up to a major?! The first year pay is a step back but we don't have a ton of expenses (and no kids yet).

How long was he at the regionals? Is QOL quality of life? Thats the only thing I can think of with those letters.

[laralen02]

[quote=Amanda;24594]Nick QOL was very bad a Mesa and he wanted to get to a major ASAP.

I know it's a difficult question to answer, but I just wanted to hear what others have experienced. The basis of my question stems from what you said above. Mesa is number one on my hit list right now, and his too I'm sure. I won't go into it, but they're evil! (As I'm sure you know, Amanda). I know he won't move to the majors anytime soon, but maybe a different regional or SOMETHING. I just thought it would be good to hear if and when others moved and how they did so.

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by UKcats06

How long was he at the regionals? Is QOL quality of life? Thats the only thing I can think of with those letters.

Yes, QOL means "quality of life"

Nick was there for 3.5 years, which is relatively short. He moved from FO to Cpt 2-2.5 (can't remember) years after he started. In order to move up (and get PIC) he was willing to move to any base, which not a lot of guys are willing to do.
He is great at networking and keeping friendships/relationships with people he has worked with. Whether you like it or not, it's like what Robyn said- this industry is based on who you know. It s imperative that you don't burn bridges and you stay in contact with as many people as possible... since those friends might write recommendations and/or walk your app in to a better airline.