SkyWest pilot Bridge Program
 

As SkyWest continues to prepare for more changes in our industry, including 1) the mandated Airline Transport Pilot license required to pilot an FAR 121 operated aircraft, 2) the new rest rules that will take effect next year, and 3) the out flux of retiring pilots from a variety of major airlines combined with the robust draw of airline pilots from international carriers, we are pleased to once again become a leader with initiation of a pilot bridge program. This program provides a unique opportunity to help prepare our future pilots and coworkers – creating a “Bridge” for aspiring pilots to be mentored for their future as professional aviators, especially at SkyWest Airlines.

The SkyWest Pilot Bridge Program is a coast-to-coast effort to mentor our future aviators in a number of ways. We are joining forces with a number of Aviation Colleges, Flight Academies, State Colleges and Universities, as well as Flight Schools who are already providing exceptional pilots to our pilot group, to help aspiring pilots become what more than 3,200 other pilots at SkyWest have become professionally.

The first of these “Bridge” agreements came last week with SkyWest Airlines partnering with McAir Aviation, located between Denver and Boulder in Colorado. We look forward to working with this program and believe it will be the first of many opportunities.

So what is SkyWest’s “Bridge” program all about, and what sets this apart from other gateway programs used by other regional carriers?
First of all, the SkyWest Recruiters/Interview team will have the opportunity to meet with many of these programs throughout the year to directly associate with and mentor aspiring pilots.

The team will sit on advisory councils associated with colleges and academies to provide industry insight and curriculum suggestions for adaptions that will better prepare their pilots to sit in our aircraft as professionals.

The SkyWest Bridge Program enables us to offer an Enhanced Internship Program (EIP) to flight instructors who work for these schools. The EIP will allow these interns to promote SkyWest within their own schools, at job fairs and at high school career days. In return for their efforts, SkyWest Airlines will be able to offer the interns flight benefits on SkyWest aircraft! The interns will also be given a date of hire and maintain their company ID throughout the program, which will continue when they are brought into an initial ground training class.
While visiting the varied aviation programs throughout the country and mentoring these pilots, the Interview team will also conduct mock interviews and will provide career council and direction to promote the Attitude, Professionalism, and Leadership found among the ranks of SkyWest pilots.
These efforts will not only prepare pilots for a Final interview at SkyWest, but will also engender safe, efficient and professional pilots to join the future ranks of those we associate with on a daily basis here at SkyWest.


Thoughts?

The beginning of the end for regional airlines?

American Eagle announced a similar program a few weeks ago with the same goal; to recruit working flight instructors. The problem is that there are now 2 airlines (with more certain to follow) that are chasing aviation students who simply aren't there in the numbers required to replace and renew regional pilot labor.

If they start to offer to pay for flight training to build a cadre of CFI's, we will then know that the pilot shortage is a reality.

:eek:

Say what?

Don't confuse date of hire with seniority. You can have a date of hire for vacation and other benefits and still at the end of the barrel.

Ask any gate agent that becomes a FA, they still have their date of hire, but not the FA seniority.

I wonder how 135 freight and some pax operators are going to make out with this? Many of their potential pilots will likely be spoken for and signed on by some regional before hour one is their logbook.

All these bridge programs are fine and dandy, but a raise in pay is really gonna be the only way to attract new people.

I agree with PNCLCrew, it seems like airlines will do just about anything, except for paying pilots what they are worth...

How about our unions starting in on these bridge recipients.. Mentor program = low paying future.. Lets start to force the hand of management!

Yeah, it's a shame. It seems management will go to great lengths to do ANYthing but fix compensation. Hopefully this will become unavoidable.