Flying a 1900 from Denver to Farmington isn't exactly a threat to mainline scope clauses, and we got our industry-bottom contract the honest way: Incompetent negotiators and pilot apathy. Besides, the other guys can afford their own beer with those fat RJ paychecks they get.

KiloAlpha, Lakes could be a place for you to do your penance. As desperate as we are for captains, a guy with ATP mins and prior 121 experience will get upgrade class at his discretion. Passing upgrade is a whole other story. The only real preparation you get for upgrade is what you pick up on the line and the gouge you collect from people already going through. Besides, going from GoJets to Lakes has got to do some kind of irreparable damage to your soul (though I'd still call it a step up).

cfii2007, people are getting hired here with little more than a comm/multi. Washout rates are high, so it's up to you to be as prepared as possible. A couple hours of pattern work in a 172 may not do the trick. In answer to your other question, Lakes was awarded EAS contracts connecting Visalia (CA), Merced (CA), and Ely (NV) to Las Vegas, picking up where Mesa/Air Midwest wants to leave. The current rumor is that the flying will be done by Brasilia crews starting in February. On the other hand, it took the guys in Cheyenne more than six months to get their **** together in STL, so the time table is really anyone's guess. In all likelihood, Vegas (like STL) won't be a base but a five-day trip, bringing the plane out on day one and going back to Denver on day five.