For those in the Skywest pool, I truly wish you the best with eventually getting into ground school at Skywest. You will . . . eventually. I don't know if you will have to interview again or not.

For those of us who currently fly for Skywest the harsh reality is that we are seriously facing the possibility of a pilot furlough. As far as I know this will be the first one in Skywest history.

I don't think anyone knows how many will be furloughed. It could be none, it could be 50, it could be as many as 500 based on information we get from SAPA (Skywest's internal pilot association).

I hope the answer is none. However, the reality is we only fly as much or as little as Delta/United/Midwest allow us to fly.

IF Skywest does furlough, the numbers will probably not be decided until late summer, early fall, based upon the seasonal decrease in flying at that point. I can say with almost 100% certainty that there will be not any new hire classes in the near future. There are many, many reserve pilots sitting around right now, not flying very much, and collecting their usual paycheck from the company. Not a very efficient business position to be in. So far, St. George, is standing by us as a pilot group. I thank them everyday!

All this being said, I personally would still wait it out until Skywest called me to come fly for them. I would not take a "temporary" 121 job flying for someone else in the meantime unless you personally enjoy the abuse you will face as a regional pilot at the bottom of a seniority list at a company that you probably don't really want to work for anyway. Skywest is a great company to work for, and it will be worth your wait.

Hang in there. Skywest is not going away anytime soon. Unfortunately, I can't say that about certain other regionals out there.