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Becoming a regional airline pilot is one of the most exciting steps in any aviation career. It's your first airline job, your first time in a jet, and the first time you see the aviation world from the inside instead of from the training pipeline. But it's also a season marked by long days, steep learning curves, and lifestyle surprises nobody fully prepares you for. Looking back, here's what I wish I had known when I first stepped into regional flying.1. Commuting Isn't Just a Choice — It's a LifestyleEvery new pilot imagines they can "make commuting work." Reality hits fast.Commuting is an unpredictable mix of jumpseat roulette, weather delays, and the occasional mad dash across terminals. It adds unpaid hours to your day and often turns what should be a 3-day trip into a 5-day saga.What I wish I knew:If you choose to commute, build buffers into everything. Arrive the night before. Avoid the last flight. Treat the commute like part of your duty day — because your body certainly does. And if you can move to the base? That's one of the best quality-of-life upgrades you'll ever make.2. Scheduling Reality: The Bid System Teaches You PatienceAs a new hire, especially at a regional, your seniority places you at the very bottom. That means holidays, weekends, and premium trips are basically myths for a while. You'll learn the fine art of bobbing between reserve and low-value trips as you slowly inch—one number at a time—toward normalcy.What I wish I knew:The schedule eventually gets better. Everyone ahead of you will move on to majors, cargo, corporate, or captain upgrades. Seniority is slow at first, then suddenly accelerates. In the meantime, learn the system instead of fighting it. Understand how PBS works, how to bid creatively, and how to protect your rest.3. Fatigue Is Real — and It Shows Up Before You Expect ItFatigue in airline flying feels different from fatigue in training. At a regional, you're working shorter legs, quick turns, long sits, early shows, and hotel nights that don't always give you ideal sleep. Your body is constantly shifting environments, circadian rhythm, and mental load.What I wish I knew:Fatigue isn't a sign of weakness. It's a biological response to the job. Eat real food, hydrate aggressively, and use your fatigue callouts when you need to. And don't underestimate the hidden fatigue factors: commuting, hotel sleep, 4 a.m. van times, and short overnights.Learning to manage energy is just as important as learning to manage airspeed.4. The Learning Curve Is Steep — Then It Levels OffThe first year feels like drinking from a firehose. SOPs, flows, CRM, automation, callouts, winter ops, MELs, and all the "this is how we actually do it in the real world" details come at you nonstop.What I wish I knew:Everyone struggles at first. You don't have to be perfect immediately. Lean on your captains, ask genuine questions, and take notes. One day, the jet that once felt like a spaceship suddenly feels like home.5. The People Make the JobRegional flying introduces you to a huge mix of personalities—mentors, future captains, friends, and a few unforgettable characters who teach you patience. Crew camaraderie is real, and it's one of the best parts of the lifestyle.What I wish I knew:Learn from everyone. The good captains teach you how to lead, the tough ones teach you how to stay calm, and the experienced ones teach you everything the manual left out.Final ThoughtBeing a new regional pilot is equal parts exhausting and exhilarating. You're building experience, forming lifelong friendships, and gaining the skills that will shape the rest of your flying career. If you can stay patient, take care of yourself, and embrace the learning curve, regional flying becomes one of the most rewarding chapters in aviation — one you'll eventually look back on with gratitude and maybe even a smile.