Aircraft Choice

[capt_Z]

I wondered how the CRJ vs EMB vs Q400 stands regarding aircraft selection. If you had an option what would you select as a pilot perspective?

[wing'd]

Dash

Fly more, fun routes, less reserve

[Inverted2]

I’ve flown them all. Depending if you like domestic go with the Q400. The RJ has a more diverse flying. Domestic and US and lots more destinations.

The Embraer is probably the nicest to fly - much more modern with a working VNAV and autothrottle but it’s flying sucks big time at the moment. Mostly short flights to the busy eastern US airports with ground delays that go with it. A few longer flights to Houston and Dallas as well but mostly 1hr flights to LGA, EWR and BOS.

[kiaszceski]

I’ve flown them all. Depending if you like domestic go with the Q400. The RJ has a more diverse flying. Domestic and US and lots more destinations.

The Embraer is probably the nicest to fly - much more modern with a working VNAV and autothrottle but it’s flying sucks big time at the moment. Mostly short flights to the busy eastern US airports with ground delays that go with it. A few longer flights to Houston and Dallas as well but mostly 1hr flights to LGA, EWR and BOS.

So the Embraer will have more 1-day paring than the RJ?

[Man_in_the_sky]

I only heard someone that fly the Junglejet...

Lots of fun US layover, pairing are very unproductive lately.. Very few reserve on the E... 1 in April "from what i heard" in Montreal.
Plane is a good jet to begin with.

cant vouch for anything else as it's my only reference

( and single day, forget that on the 75 before a few years, unless on reserve)

[CaptDukeNukem]

I’ve flown them all. Depending if you like domestic go with the Q400. The RJ has a more diverse flying. Domestic and US and lots more destinations.

The Embraer is probably the nicest to fly - much more modern with a working VNAV and autothrottle but it’s flying sucks big time at the moment. Mostly short flights to the busy eastern US airports with ground delays that go with it. A few longer flights to Houston and Dallas as well but mostly 1hr flights to LGA, EWR and BOS.

Ground delays equal block growth. Just make sure you close that damn door.

[Loading...]

The Q400 has some cool flying out West. But generally longer legs out East. Lots of opportunity for hand flying as well.

The RJ is just messy, with so many varients. You have the 900NG, 705's converted to 900, plane old 900s, and then the 200s. They will retire the 200s this summer im told. So that means that more hiring will be on the Q or E175.

The E175 is really easy to fly, lots of automation. But only in YUL & YYZ.

[CaptDukeNukem]

I wondered how the CRJ vs EMB vs Q400 stands regarding aircraft selection. If you had an option what would you select as a pilot perspective?

I hear the E2 is amazing, plus wifi.

[QKZXKV]

This is very subjective. Had to LOL at the Q support. That plane is slavery at its finest. Tons of legs at Min Credit still... RJ has always been a mess with the 2 types but even if the 200s stick... people have always been successful in training and flying both.

The Embraer is decent but I agree about the flying from what I've noticed it doing recently.

[lownslow]

I wondered how the CRJ vs EMB vs Q400 stands regarding aircraft selection. If you had an option what would you select as a pilot perspective?

What do you want to get out of it? What some people may like about a particular fleet’s flying out of a given base, others will try and avoid.

[Outlaw58]

This is very subjective. Had to LOL at the Q support. That plane is slavery at its finest. Tons of legs at Min Credit still...

That said, if you are a pilot that actually LIKE flying.... this could be viewed entirely differently.

58

[QKZXKV]

This is very subjective. Had to LOL at the Q support. That plane is slavery at its finest. Tons of legs at Min Credit still...

That said, if you are a pilot that actually LIKE flying.... this could be viewed entirely differently.

58

This is very subjective

I don't need to have that explained to me LOL

[Outlaw58]

This is very subjective. Had to LOL at the Q support. That plane is slavery at its finest. Tons of legs at Min Credit still...

That said, if you are a pilot that actually LIKE flying.... this could be viewed entirely differently.

58

This is very subjective

I don't need to have that explained to me LOL

Couldn't resist

58

[Loading...]

This is very subjective. Had to LOL at the Q support. That plane is slavery at its finest. Tons of legs at Min Credit still... RJ has always been a mess with the 2 types but even if the 200s stick... people have always been successful in training and flying both.

The Embraer is decent but I agree about the flying from what I've noticed it doing recently.

Well the slavery on the Q depends which base you are at. If you are in Vancouver, there are hardly any flights over an hour. Alot of the time you will be island hopping (slavery). While it is exciting, and you get lots of T/O and landings, it does get tiring.
There are some longer legs out East though. Lots from YHZ. It all comes down to personal preference, at the end of the day they are all pretty good choices.

[QKZXKV]

This is very subjective. Had to LOL at the Q support. That plane is slavery at its finest. Tons of legs at Min Credit still... RJ has always been a mess with the 2 types but even if the 200s stick... people have always been successful in training and flying both.

The Embraer is decent but I agree about the flying from what I've noticed it doing recently.

Well the slavery on the Q depends which base you are at. If you are in Vancouver, there are hardly any flights over an hour. Alot of the time you will be island hopping (slavery). While it is exciting, and you get lots of T/O and landings, it does get tiring.
There are some longer legs out East though. Lots from YHZ. It all comes down to personal preference, at the end of the day they are all pretty good choices.

Yes yes... I've struck a nerve with the prop guys. I did say "This is very subjective" then proved that with my own opinions on it...

[rudder]

The best equipment choices (non-AC) are:

1. B757/767
2. B737
3. E2
4. E175
5. CRJ
6. Q400

I would consider swapping the CRJ and Q400 order on the list.

[Bede]

The RJ is just messy, with so many varients. You have the 900NG, 705's converted to 900, plane old 900s, and then the 200s.

What’s involved in converting the 705 to the 900? I used to fly the 705, then one day they put a 900 sticker on it. I was talking to a young pilot about the 705 awhile back and he just looked at me sideways.

[averageatbest]

The RJ is just messy, with so many varients. You have the 900NG, 705's converted to 900, plane old 900s, and then the 200s.

What’s involved in converting the 705 to the 900? I used to fly the 705, then one day they put a 900 sticker on it. I was talking to a young pilot about the 705 awhile back and he just looked at me sideways.

Likely paperwork. A 705 is a 900 that is certified to hold a maximum of 70 passengers. It's a scope clause loophole, allowing an airline that is limited in the aircraft based on passengers it's certified for.

[rudder]

The RJ is just messy, with so many varients. You have the 900NG, 705's converted to 900, plane old 900s, and then the 200s.

What’s involved in converting the 705 to the 900? I used to fly the 705, then one day they put a 900 sticker on it. I was talking to a young pilot about the 705 awhile back and he just looked at me sideways.

Likely paperwork. A 705 is a 900 that is certified to hold a maximum of 70 passengers. It's a scope clause loophole, allowing an airline that is limited in the aircraft based on passengers it's certified for.

Not quite.

A CRJ705 is a production CRJ900 that is restricted to a maximum of 76 passenger seats. All prrformance data is identical to the CRJ900 data as the weights are all identical.

And yes - it was a recertification that was based on ACPA scope.

[Bede]

I seem to recall the 705 had different winglets than the 900. It's been a while though.

[RoAF-Mig21]

Aircraft choice is an interesting topic and varies from person to person.

Anyway, the Embraer is a very nice plane, but like someone else said, it's a lot of work going into the busy airports. You're way more tired doing a YYZ to LaGuardia or Newark turn than you would be doing a Thunder Bay or Timmins run on the Q400. The CRJ does a lot of varied routes. Both the CRJ and the Q400 are at all four bases YVR, YYC, YYZ and YUL, while the E175 is only in Toronto and Montreal (for now... who knows about the future?)


1. Do you want a plane that looks good on the resume to go to Emirates, Etihad or Cathay? Pick the Embraer 100%.
2. Do you want varied routes and the ability to switch to all four baes? Pick the CRJ900. The CRJ 900
3. Do you want good seniority to go left seat? Q400 or CRJ. The E175 is very senior.

My number one advice is this:
1. If you can make do with a crap schedule (at first) and are focused on career advancement, pick one of the jets.
2. If you need a good schedule and want to gain seniority quickly, pick the Q400. Also the Q400 out of YVR has some really pretty flying.

Disclaimer here: Things always change. Remember that once you pick a plane, you'll be on it for a number of years, unless you upgrade.

[QKZXKV]

Aircraft choice is an interesting topic and varies from person to person.

Anyway, the Embraer is a very nice plane, but like someone else said, it's a lot of work going into the busy airports. You're way more tired doing a YYZ to LaGuardia or Newark turn than you would be doing a Thunder Bay or Timmins run on the Q400. The CRJ does a lot of varied routes. Both the CRJ and the Q400 are at all four bases YVR, YYC, YYZ and YUL, while the E175 is only in Toronto and Montreal (for now... who knows about the future?)


1. Do you want a plane that looks good on the resume to go to Emirates, Etihad or Cathay? Pick the Embraer 100%.
2. Do you want varied routes and the ability to switch to all four baes? Pick the CRJ900. The CRJ 900
3. Do you want good seniority to go left seat? Q400 or CRJ. The E175 is very senior.

My number one advice is this:
1. If you can make do with a crap schedule (at first) and are focused on career advancement, pick one of the jets.
2. If you need a good schedule and want to gain seniority quickly, pick the Q400. Also the Q400 out of YVR has some really pretty flying.

Disclaimer here: Things always change. Remember that once you pick a plane, you'll be on it for a number of years, unless you upgrade.

Well stated!