There are a few things to consider when going to a regional:
Base - are you planning on commuting or living in base? Much easier living in base, especially while on reserve
Upgrade time - do you need turbine PIC time to move on? (sounds like the OP doesn't, but this is an important question for anyone else reading this). Plus, once you upgrade, pay increases. Most people avoid companies with long upgrades
Future and stability of the company - will I be looking for a new job and start at the bottom of the seniority list in 4 years?
Pay and conditions/contract - speaks for itself
Note: many pilots are wary of fully owned regionals. Read about the history of Comair and then look at a company like Envoy and waht is happening to them.
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Here is a list of the regionals and a couple observations. Obviously, you should do your own research and come up with your own decision:
Skywest - They operate close to 1800 flights a day for United, American/US Airways, Delta and Alaska. CRJ2/7/900s and E175s. They also have MRJ and E175-E2s on order. They are non-union and are giving hiring bonuses to anyone with a current CRJ type rating. Upgrade recently dropped to 4 years and still dropping. The company has 14 pilot bases located mostly west of the Mississippi. Overall considered a very good company with good pilot morale. The company is very stable and has never furloughed a pilot.
Republic/Shuttle America - Same company but two different operating certificates. Largest operator of Ejets (E175/E190) in the world. Also operate Q400s but all are slated to get parked. Shuttle America also operates E145s. There is a hiring bonus, but very long upgrade, various bases around the country and known for having one of the worst contracts in the regional industry. No cancellation pay for example. Unless they absolutely have a base where you want to live like MIA, most people would tell you to stay clear. There is a long thread about this company on another forum about how the wheels are coming off and the CEO is abandoning ship. There is a good hiring bonus though. The company has the Bombardier C Series on order, but they have admitted that it won't fit in any current scope clause. The company has approximately 60 flight cancellations a day due to lack of flight crews and overall net loss of pilots every month. Having said that, I know a couple guys flying there and they enjoy the flying.
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Next 3 companies are all owned by parent company Trans States Holdings. TSH also has MRJs on order but there are issues with scope
TSA - All ERJ145 operator (aka all 50 seaters), expanding quickly and fast upgrades. Opening a DEN base, currently with a IAD and STL base. The company is receiving planes faster than they can hire pilots, and hiring faster than they can train pilots. $10,000 new hire bonus. Ok contract for a regional, but read my next statement about GoJet...
GoJet - Owned by Trans States Holdings. CRJ700 operator and the company was started by parent company TSH to undermind the pilot group at TSA. Considered to have one of the lesser desireable contracts and work conditions, although they have a hiring bonus and a fast upgrade.
Compass - Owned by Trans States Holdings. Expanding rapidly, mostly west coast flying, all E175s. Fast upgrade and relatively small company. Get hired quick before all the E175 deliveries or you will miss the quick upgrade boat. Considered one of the better regionals. You can plan on being LAX or MSP based initially.
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Expressjet - Expressjet is owned by Skywest Inc (parent company of Skywest Airlines). The company was merged with ASA a few years ago. They operate CRJ2/7/900s and ERJ135/145. Very good contract but the future is uncertain, the concerns are related to Skywest Inc's plan for the company.
Endeavor - Fully owned regional by Delta Airlines. All CRJ2/900s, they had a long upgrade but now offer an $80,000 bonus paid out over 4 years and also a flowthrough agreement with Delta Airlines. As a result classes are full. Upgrade time is currently long but decreasing due to new hires and pilots flowing to Delta.
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Next three companies are all owned by AAG (American Airlines Group)
Envoy - Fully owned regional by AAG. Losing lots of aircraft to other companies as parent company American decides to move the planes around. This used to be considered a really good company to work for (formerly known as American Eagle) but conditions have been deteriorating and the company has displaced their aircraft to other regionals. They will be acquiring E175s. Long upgrade... bases are ORD and DFW. Upgrade time is currently long and total number of pilots being decreased due to fleet displacement. Company has a flowthrough to American.
Piedmont - Fully owned regional by AAG. All 50 seaters, between older Dash8s and Emb145s from Envoy (to the dismay of Envoy pilots). They have a flow through to American but I heard it is quite a long wait and it is just a giant carrot on a stick to attract new pilots.
PSA - Fully owned by regional by AAG. CLT, DAY, and TYS bases, all CRJ2/7/900s. Quick upgrades but there are quite a few complaints and bashing of this airline on the other pilot forums. There are receiving Envoy's CRJs while getting rid of their CRJ200s but overall net gain of aircraft I believe. I think this is causing heartburn with Envoy pilots but now there is talk that the CRJs slated from Envoy will not be coming as quickly as planned. Also has an American flow agreement.
Be wary of the American flow agreements. Many pilots are saying that the way the flow works for these regionals will cause you to slow your progress to American. Read the details on other forums.
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Mesa - All CRJ7/900 and E175s. CLT, PHX, IAD, DFW, and IAH bases. IAD base is being slowly closed down. DFW and IAH bases growing. Not the best contract and conditions, but many people have been flocking to Mesa due to rapid growth and expansion of the company (mainly due to receiving United E175 flying), which means quick upgrades.
Air Wisconsin - All CRJ200 company (aka all 50 seaters), US Airways flying with mostly East Coast bases. Known for having the best contract in the regional world. First year guys are grossing over $35,000 first year due to good contract rules, however they have a longerish upgrade and US Airways did not renew their contract, so Air Wisconsin exercised their option to extend for another 5 years. Long term future is questionable (mainly due to being all 50 seaters and no diversified flying).
Horizon - Q400 flying, pretty stable company. All flying is for Alaska Airlines so you will be based in the pacific northwest. Overall, I hear it is a good company, although upgrade times are quite long (8 years?)
Commutair - All 50 seaters. CLE and EWR bases. I don't know too much about them. Flying Q200/Q300
Silver Airways - Long upgrade, future uncertain. You will most likely be Florida based. They fly Saab turboprops.
Great Lakes - B1900 (many converted to part 135) and EMB120. You will be Denver based. Very quick upgrade, possible direct entry captain for you. Pay was just increased but still not on par with the rest of the industry. No pay during training. Lots of planes parked due to lack of crews and future is uncertain. I know several guys in this company and find the flying very fun and enjoyable but find the pay and conditions to be substandard. If you are considering them, I would only consider them if you can get Direct Entry Captain.
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Last note: Today's go-to regional could be tomorrow's lame duck and vice versa. These regionals transform so fast it is pretty amazing. So any of the info on here could change tomorrow. Additionally, I tried to give the most accurate information possible, but I noticed a lot of the information has changed since I started keeping track a year ago. Please feel free to add or correct any info that I have posted.
Last edited by zondaracer; 20th Jul 2015 at 17:05.