Originally Posted by
JetBlast77
lol, because Skywest inc hasn't already signed a replacement plan for our aircraft that keeps all of our XRs around and replaces the rest with 70 seaters. Sure we will have less aircraft and less pilots, but it will be around 25% less after the new rest rules kick in. I guarentee you more than 50% of our current pilot group will be gone before those effects are fully seen. You seem to be in the know there champ, care to share any inside info? There will be many less 50 seaters in the future no doubt about that, but we are the only ones with the XR and that is another ball game. 50 pax, 2 jumpseaters, and 80+ bags 1500 miles every time. Like I said, the rest will be gone. With 105 XRs and a 1:2 replacement on the rest, that puts us at around 180 aircraft, down from 240. With the new rest rules and crazy attrition that will continue to increase, I don't think any prespective new hire will have any trouble coming here, getting the time with some good QOL, and then moving on. I'm not planning on being here forever by any means, but I think anyone who is a part of Skywest inc will be around in some capacity for quite some time.
The XR is a far superior product lift wise no denying that. As far as comfort goes, well it is still a stretched brasillia need we say more? Your post simply confirms that the "pilot shortage" is nothing more than a fraud. There are plenty of planes to send to victorville and it is not hard at all to right seat qualify captains on the off chance things get tight. The majors can pick and choose who they want from the regionals. All the "stories" about people not showing up for class are simply shams.
No regional has had much trouble at all filling classes. Everyone wants it so bad but there will never be a shortage. The good news is that anyone who wants to move on to better things will have the chance to do so. The super senior guys that refuse to leave are going to be the ones that choke the regionals into much smaller entities.