Tony is right . . . from what I have personally heard from a former Skywest Captain I know who is in training right now at Delta, the majority of the Skywest FO's that were selected at Delta right now have mucho military in their backgrounds. (i.e. military PIC)
However, I do agree it may be possible for a small percentage of FO's with only SIC in their log books (i.e. ZERO 121, jet, glass, PIC) to go directly to a legacy like Delta. Even if the flood gates open to hiring at the legacy carriers in a few years, I believe these will by far be the exception and not the rule. If for no other reason that that there are thousands upon thousands of CRJ PICs who have patiently been waiting their turn to move up and on.
For argument sake, lets say all the CRJ PICs that want to move up get hired, and then the legacies start hiring CRJ FOs in large quantities. Great, this might be a scenario an FO might be hoping for. But let me rhetorically ask this then, are those FO's being hired at the beginning, middle, or likely END of a legacy hiring wave? Another golden rule in aviation - get hired at the BEGINNING of a hiring wave, NOT the end.
That being said, let me say this as well - I very much think it is a BAD career move as a CRJ FO to go to a legacy without any 121/jet/glass/PIC in your log book. If the industry takes a dump again, which it will in the future, it always does, and for some reason you get furloughed, you are screwed. Being a "career" FO up to that point in your career will get you nothing.
Let me repeat that, it is worth repeating because of what I have seen in this business over the years and it is what I have been told this by many, many legacy CA's and legacy FO's I know, who are much older and wiser - being a "career" FO is worthless beyond your next paycheck.
Before the flames begin because I have somehow offended some FO's somewhere, let me say I only took the time to write this post because I want to pass on a few words of advice that have been given to me and have served me very, very well in this industry.
This is only some advice I was given, and I now pass it on. Whether you think it good advice or bad advice. Take it or leave. It is your career.
