Short term, it's great to live in base...PNCL would be very attractive for that reason only. If you want to look at longer-term considerations SKW and CHQ might be better comapnies, but you would have to chose based on their domiciles.

Are you a CFI or an airline pilot? If you have significant turbine time SKW will probably put you in the CRJ, which has junior bases in ORD and MKE(just opening, but will be junior). If you are a CFI, you will probably get the brasilia, in which case DEN is about as far east as you could be based (you could transfer to the CRJ after one year).

Research commercial flights between DTW and ORD & MKE. These are things to look for for an easy commute:

- The more non-stops, the better.
- SKW non-stops (these will be listed as UAL or Midwest flights).
- Mainline United or Midwest non-stops.
- SWA non-stops.

Get some info from a CHQ person and compare the commute from their bases with the SKW commute.