How to become a regional airline pilot ?

[Just a civilian pilot]

If you have high expectations getting into this career, you might be very disappointed. I have seen that a lot.

I got into flying because I wanted to fly planes.

Lots of people quit when I first got into aviation. It was too tough.

 

[Astro14]

Back on topic - how do you become a Regional Airline Pilot?

It’s pretty easy, but you have to buy your flight time - and you have to pass all the tests.

United has a school that helps you get there - and the cost is about $100,000. They’ll help with loans, but you still have to put in the work, pass the tests, and work hard.

https://unitedaviate.com/

You will not be getting a former military fighter pilot, like “Sully”, on a Regional. Those guys go straight to the Majors.

 

[Brons2]

Back on topic - how do you become a Regional Airline Pilot?

It’s pretty easy, but you have to buy your flight time - and you have to pass all the tests.

United has a school that helps you get there - and the cost is about $100,000. They’ll help with loans, but you still have to put in the work, pass the tests, and work hard.

https://unitedaviate.com/

You will not be getting a former military fighter pilot, like “Sully”, on a Regional. Those guys go straight to the Majors.

How long after borrowing 100K do you have to live on peanuts flying for a regional, assuming you make it?

 

[Astro14]

How long after borrowing 100K do you have to live on peanuts flying for a regional, assuming you make it?

Well, that’s the interesting thing. If you and I were having this conversation 10 years ago, I would say that you have to fly to the Regional for at least 10 years while making peanuts. Starting salary of around $25,000 a year, with $100,000 in debt. A truly awful set of circumstances.

But over the past six years or so, things have changed dramatically. Airlines have grown tremendously, and the majors have pulled up every single qualified pilot… leaving the regionals with a shortage.

So now, the regional start closer to $60,000 a year, often with a signing bonus of around $25,000, and pay increases every year, and a quick upgrade to Captain. Once a captain, then the majors are willing to look at hiring those pilots after only a few years at the regionals. It is truly a “sea change”.

 

[Dave Hess]

Back on topic - how do you become a Regional Airline Pilot?

It’s pretty easy, but you have to buy your flight time - and you have to pass all the tests.

United has a school that helps you get there - and the cost is about $100,000. They’ll help with loans, but you still have to put in the work, pass the tests, and work hard.

https://unitedaviate.com/

You will not be getting a former military fighter pilot, like “Sully”, on a Regional. Those guys go straight to the Majors.

Yep.

Big investment of time , finances and personal sacrifices to fly at a regional or major airline.

Like you mentioned it’s not a 40 hour work week as a pilot.

 

[B767capt]

My path started in the early 80's. I went to ERAU in Daytona and at the time the airlines were taking mostly military pilots. I graduated in 81 and went into the Marine Corps which guaranteed a seat in flight school and only 4 years after winging during the Reagan build up. Air Force and Navy wanted more time. I looked at it like going to graduate school. I took aero studies which didn't involve the actual flying at ERAU so it was a lot cheaper.
Once in the Marine Corps, I selected KC-130's as I knew I'd get the most time with only a 4 year commitment plus you got your wings much quicker than going jets and I wanted to get the 4 year clock started as soon as possible. I applied at American and Delta as I was getting out and got a class date with both. I selected Delta and was 29 when I walked in the door and my class was 100% military. I just retired in 2023 with over 35 years. Lots has changed but it was worth it.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

My path started in the early 80's. I went to ERAU in Daytona and at the time the airlines were taking mostly military pilots. I graduated in 81 and went into the Marine Corps which guaranteed a seat in flight school and only 4 years after winging during the Reagan build up. Air Force and Navy wanted more time. I looked at it like going to graduate school. I took aero studies which didn't involve the actual flying at ERAU so it was a lot cheaper.
Once in the Marine Corps, I selected KC-130's as I knew I'd get the most time with only a 4 year commitment plus you got your wings much quicker than going jets and I wanted to get the 4 year clock started as soon as possible. I applied at American and Delta as I was getting out and got a class date with both. I selected Delta and was 29 when I walked in the door and my class was 100% military. I just retired in 2023 with over 35 years. Lots has changed but it was worth it.

Congratulations on your retirement.

 

[tbm5690]

Sign-on bonuses for FOs at regionals have basically disappeared as they have more applicants than needed as opposed to a few years ago. Base pay is still considerably higher than it used to be. Outside of regionals, ULCCs (Allegiant, Frontier, Sun County, etc.) will also hire pilots directly out of a CFI job like a regional. Getting an A320 or B737 type rating out of the gate isn't a bad deal.

 

[Dave Hess]

Sign-on bonuses for FOs at regionals have basically disappeared as they have more applicants than needed as opposed to a few years ago. Base pay is still considerably higher than it used to be. Outside of regionals, ULCCs (Allegiant, Frontier, Sun County, etc.) will also hire pilots directly out of a CFI job like a regional. Getting an A320 or B737 type rating out of the gate isn't a bad deal.

Are you still flying as a career ?

I have a feeling there’s too many pilots looking for work.

 

[Astro14]

Are you still flying as a career ?

I have a feeling there’s too many pilots looking for work.

Actually - everything has changed from 10 years ago - now, there are not enough pilots.

Pay has gone way up, and the experience required for entry has gone way down.

 

[Cujet]

A few years back I was selling my Cessna Cardinal. A young man wanted it to build time. He was thrilled when I demonstrated that my old plane could be flown at 110Kts TAS at 5.5-6 GPH/4500 feet, 1900RPM, throttle pulled back and mixture properly leaned. His idea was to purchase an efficient, complex plane, then spend the summer visiting all the states to build time.

Normal cruise is 143Kts TAS, 10-11 GPH.

I did not sell the plane to him, as he was a bit difficult. I subsequently decided to keep it the plane. However, I did hear back from him. He was able to fly his plane enough to reach the 1500 hour goal over the course of a couple of years, and was immediately hired by an airline. However, I think he started out with 900 hours already.

Flying a small plane 300 hours in a year is a LOT! I've done it. On paper it requires 2 weekly 3 hour cross country trips. Or 4 days per week at 1.5 hours per day. Take away a month for the annual inspection and a few weeks for weather issues, and the down time for various maintenance tasks, and the flying really has to be closer to 10 hours per week.

 

[tbm5690]

Are you still flying as a career ?

I have a feeling there’s too many pilots looking for work.

Yes, but I don't fly for an airline. I'm a manager at a flight school so I fly the desk most of the time and I get about 200 hours a year in the air...sometimes more. There is a very temporary slowdown that has lastest about 9ish months now in hiring at regionals and ULCCs, but on a macro scale pilots are still in demand. The industry as a whole is past the peak that happened a few years ago based on retirement forecasts but still more retirements are coming, so relatively speaking demand is still strong.

 

[Astro14]

Yes, but I don't fly for an airline. I'm a manager at a flight school so I fly the desk most of the time and I get about 200 hours a year in the air...sometimes more. There is a very temporary slowdown that has lastest about 9ish months now in hiring at regionals and ULCCs, but on a macro scale pilots are still in demand. The industry as a whole is past the peak that happened a few years ago based on retirement forecasts but still more retirements are coming, so relatively speaking demand is still strong.

I don’t believe that the industry is “past the peak” - travel demand is quite strong (look at ticket prices) but the ULCCs are not as cost competitive as they once were, and serve mostly as a flow through to better jobs.

The weaker hiring numbers are largely due to the failure of Boeing and Airbus to meet delivery schedules. Those two companies are behind by 100 airplanes at United alone. That’s a massive effect. Hiring at United had to be curtailed because the airplanes simply didn’t show up as promised.

As the manufacturers get caught up with orders, hiring will rebound at the good companies, it fill those cockpit seats.

Peak retirement at United is a couple of years in the future, and it’s about now at Delta and American.

There would be greater hiring across the board if there wasn’t a backlog on aircraft deliveries.

 

[Dave Hess]

I wonder how many quality CFI (2000 hours) are looking for a regional job but can’t find anything… ?

 

[tbm5690]

I wonder how many quality CFI (2000 hours) are looking for a regional job but can’t find anything… ?

Right now, hundreds. It's temporary, and hiring is happening but at a trickle.