Q vs ERJ and class dates
10-22-2019, 12:46 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,203
Originally Posted by TyWebb
I am hearing from a couple of Compass guys that Skywest is telling them SLC, DEN, or SEA is a possibility quickly after IOE. Personally, I don't know if I'd believe that as I know people who have been with the company over a year who are waiting for their chance to move to any other base besides DTW and ORD.
At one point SF was pretty junior on the CRJ side... I have no clue if that remains true. I could find if staying put in the Bay area interests you.
At one point SF was pretty junior on the CRJ side... I have no clue if that remains true. I could find if staying put in the Bay area interests you.
10-22-2019, 02:31 PM
#12
New Hire
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Posts: 6
Originally Posted by IcedOutAP
Got a CJO for the Q with a class date in January and requested Spokane as my base because they said the Q pilots there are the busiest. If I want the jet instead I need to let them know very soon and those class dates are closer to end of spring (May). They seemed optimistic that there would be more flying available for Q FO’s on account of the new Q400s they are adding and it sounds like people are finally starting to get upgraded to the ERJ from the Q.
I am a California native who will be commuting from the Bay Area for the first few months while my significant other sees if she can land a job up here (she will know by March most likely). If that doesn’t work out I may be stuck commuting for the foreseeable future from the Bay... I also have an interview soon with SkyWest, but their class dates are June/July.
My questions for you guys: 1) I want to fly as much as I can, ERJ or Q? 2)Does 5 months of seniority matter since I just want the most flight time? Q might be the high risk, high reward option: I start sooner, but would also start before I know I’m moving up here. If I request ERJ I could just play it safe and choose Horizon or SkyWest based of off where I end up living. 3) how difficult is the commute from the bay to Spokane or even for that matter from Seattle to Spokane.
Thanks for any and all help - AP.
I am a California native who will be commuting from the Bay Area for the first few months while my significant other sees if she can land a job up here (she will know by March most likely). If that doesn’t work out I may be stuck commuting for the foreseeable future from the Bay... I also have an interview soon with SkyWest, but their class dates are June/July.
My questions for you guys: 1) I want to fly as much as I can, ERJ or Q? 2)Does 5 months of seniority matter since I just want the most flight time? Q might be the high risk, high reward option: I start sooner, but would also start before I know I’m moving up here. If I request ERJ I could just play it safe and choose Horizon or SkyWest based of off where I end up living. 3) how difficult is the commute from the bay to Spokane or even for that matter from Seattle to Spokane.
Thanks for any and all help - AP.
If GEG doesn't workout for you or your plance, next best base I would recommend would be PDX. They get more flying than SEA.
2.) Absolutely. The seniority will get you the days off you want, better reserve slots, and a higher priority on the standby list when you're commuting. You can also request a base transfer if GEG or another base doesn't work out for you. Takes 2 months for the base transfer to go into affect (if there is a vacancy in that base). I don't know what the current ERJ reserve or upgrade times are. But you can upgrade into the ERJ from the Q, which is what quit a few guys are doing.
I've got a lot of good buddies that fly for SkyWest, and love it as well. However, none of them are west coast based because of how long it takes to get a line or even upgrade. I had a SkyWest FO in my jumpseat about a month ago who has been SEA based for 2yrs, and was still on reserve. While it is true that the SkyWest's SEA base is doubling in size, I would almost guarantee that it will remain a very sr. base, and you will probably see guys transferring into SEA from other jr bases.
3.) The commute all depends I guess on what you expect. If you're commuting from SFO, we're adding a few direct SFO-GEG flights this winter on Horizon metal, so you'd have priority on those flights. Otherwise there's a number of SFO-PDX-GEG, and SFO-SEA-GEG flights. From OAK, I know SouthWest has like 2 or 3 daily direct flights to and from GEG that are usually only 75% full. So easily commutable on.
Hopefully this helps a little. Feel free to ask more if anything else comes up.
10-23-2019, 10:07 AM
#14
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by acer124
1.) Flying is definitely picking up for Q FOs as of this last month, and specifically in GEG. I am an FO here in GEG and will admit that I have been on reserve for the last year (got hired June of 18, and completed OE September of 18). In the last year of flying on reserve I have flown just over 400hrs (which actually isn't too bad for reserve). I will be a line holder starting November (and got every weekend and Thanksgiving off), and looking to upgrade around June 2020 (which will be exactly 2yrs from date of hire....so pretty good upgrade time). There were definitely parts of this past year where flying was slim (ie. last winter/spring), however, QX as a whole was very fat on FOs. We recently had a handful of FOs upgrade here in GEG (around 7 in the last 2 months) with a few more to come. GEG is short on CAs right now, and as more FOs upgrade into GEG, more and more flying is coming to GEG. Also, I saw a previous comment mention how GEG has a lot of 2day/1day trips, and that is correct. However, as a reserve guy, the company can put you on any trip or flight they need you on, so more than often you'll fly or deadhead out on a leg to like SEA or PDX, and they'll assign you a trip out of there, so don't be too concerned about that as a reserve guy. GEG is a great base though, a lot of great CAs, and an easy base to live at. If you guys can make the move up here would highly recommend it. Feel free to hit me up about that too.
If GEG doesn't workout for you or your plance, next best base I would recommend would be PDX. They get more flying than SEA.
2.) Absolutely. The seniority will get you the days off you want, better reserve slots, and a higher priority on the standby list when you're commuting. You can also request a base transfer if GEG or another base doesn't work out for you. Takes 2 months for the base transfer to go into affect (if there is a vacancy in that base). I don't know what the current ERJ reserve or upgrade times are. But you can upgrade into the ERJ from the Q, which is what quit a few guys are doing.
I've got a lot of good buddies that fly for SkyWest, and love it as well. However, none of them are west coast based because of how long it takes to get a line or even upgrade. I had a SkyWest FO in my jumpseat about a month ago who has been SEA based for 2yrs, and was still on reserve. While it is true that the SkyWest's SEA base is doubling in size, I would almost guarantee that it will remain a very sr. base, and you will probably see guys transferring into SEA from other jr bases.
3.) The commute all depends I guess on what you expect. If you're commuting from SFO, we're adding a few direct SFO-GEG flights this winter on Horizon metal, so you'd have priority on those flights. Otherwise there's a number of SFO-PDX-GEG, and SFO-SEA-GEG flights. From OAK, I know SouthWest has like 2 or 3 daily direct flights to and from GEG that are usually only 75% full. So easily commutable on.
Hopefully this helps a little. Feel free to ask more if anything else comes up.
If GEG doesn't workout for you or your plance, next best base I would recommend would be PDX. They get more flying than SEA.
2.) Absolutely. The seniority will get you the days off you want, better reserve slots, and a higher priority on the standby list when you're commuting. You can also request a base transfer if GEG or another base doesn't work out for you. Takes 2 months for the base transfer to go into affect (if there is a vacancy in that base). I don't know what the current ERJ reserve or upgrade times are. But you can upgrade into the ERJ from the Q, which is what quit a few guys are doing.
I've got a lot of good buddies that fly for SkyWest, and love it as well. However, none of them are west coast based because of how long it takes to get a line or even upgrade. I had a SkyWest FO in my jumpseat about a month ago who has been SEA based for 2yrs, and was still on reserve. While it is true that the SkyWest's SEA base is doubling in size, I would almost guarantee that it will remain a very sr. base, and you will probably see guys transferring into SEA from other jr bases.
3.) The commute all depends I guess on what you expect. If you're commuting from SFO, we're adding a few direct SFO-GEG flights this winter on Horizon metal, so you'd have priority on those flights. Otherwise there's a number of SFO-PDX-GEG, and SFO-SEA-GEG flights. From OAK, I know SouthWest has like 2 or 3 daily direct flights to and from GEG that are usually only 75% full. So easily commutable on.
Hopefully this helps a little. Feel free to ask more if anything else comes up.
10-23-2019, 11:58 AM
#15
New Hire
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Posts: 6
Originally Posted by IcedOutAP
Thanks Acer. This is a super helpful analysis. One more quick question: How much do Q captains fly and how long are they on reserve?
Both Q and 175 captains are flying a ton right now (and for premium pay). Obviously reserve times vary base to base, but most captains are getting a line after a few months from what I can see. They're hurting for captains, as we have a lot of guys moving onto the majors (or retiring) right now.
10-24-2019, 08:45 AM
#16
On Reserve
Joined APC: Oct 2017
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by acer124
Anytime!
Both Q and 175 captains are flying a ton right now (and for premium pay). Obviously reserve times vary base to base, but most captains are getting a line after a few months from what I can see. They're hurting for captains, as we have a lot of guys moving onto the majors (or retiring) right now.
Both Q and 175 captains are flying a ton right now (and for premium pay). Obviously reserve times vary base to base, but most captains are getting a line after a few months from what I can see. They're hurting for captains, as we have a lot of guys moving onto the majors (or retiring) right now.
10-24-2019, 05:31 PM
#17
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by acer124
Anytime!
Both Q and 175 captains are flying a ton right now (and for premium pay). Obviously reserve times vary base to base, but most captains are getting a line after a few months from what I can see. They're hurting for captains, as we have a lot of guys moving onto the majors (or retiring) right now.
Both Q and 175 captains are flying a ton right now (and for premium pay). Obviously reserve times vary base to base, but most captains are getting a line after a few months from what I can see. They're hurting for captains, as we have a lot of guys moving onto the majors (or retiring) right now.
10-24-2019, 08:19 PM
#18
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Position: Captain
Posts: 282
Originally Posted by Jcr07
Which base are Q400 Capt’s getting a line a few months out of training? From what I’ve seen the q is extremely senior. 4 years to hold a line in sea, can’t be any better in geg and Boise, maybe pdx.
10-29-2019, 08:02 AM
#19
New Hire
Joined APC: Oct 2019
Posts: 6
Originally Posted by Jcr07
Which base are Q400 Capt’s getting a line a few months out of training? From what I’ve seen the q is extremely senior. 4 years to hold a line in sea, can’t be any better in geg and Boise, maybe pdx.
10-29-2019, 08:31 AM
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2018
Posts: 82
One note I would add to anyone making career choices in the near future - don’t make big plans based on today’s information. I got sidelined for 9/11 and the Great Recession. You can’t predict the future in this industry. Go back a couple of pages on any thread and the info is stale.
Here at QX, I’ve seen Q400 and E175 flight hours flip flop in a matter of 3 months. Unless you’re management, you likely won’t see it coming. If y’all have a CJO in January, I’d take it. The Q will make you a better pilot, and if you want a meal at FL350, upgrade into the E.
That said, at the moment things look great for Q FO’s wanting to build time fast. But from a commuter’s standpoint, I’d steer clear of a 2 leg commute unless you make the big move.
Here at QX, I’ve seen Q400 and E175 flight hours flip flop in a matter of 3 months. Unless you’re management, you likely won’t see it coming. If y’all have a CJO in January, I’d take it. The Q will make you a better pilot, and if you want a meal at FL350, upgrade into the E.
That said, at the moment things look great for Q FO’s wanting to build time fast. But from a commuter’s standpoint, I’d steer clear of a 2 leg commute unless you make the big move.
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