bgmann

I have heard that Alaska will lower their minimums to Horizon air FO's if they have 2000 SIC with Horizon. I have a hard time believing this since Alaska would have to train two people for 1 pilot slot.

They would have to invest in the Horizon pilot to get him/her training at Alaska. In addition, they would have to invest in training a new Horizon pilot.

My question is: Will Alaska eat their own young despite the above comment?

Am I better off going to a carrier with quick upgrade and get my PIC time? (Republic, Skywest, Jetblue, Compass) Or get my 2000 SIC at Horizon and finally get based in SEA and have QOL? Thanks!

whiskerbizkit

Jetblue?????

mistarose

From what I have heard, some have taken advantage of this offering but had considerably more than 2000 sic. It'd take about three years of flying the line to get that time I believe.

Better to wait for some responses of pilots who are currently working there as I don't start until next month.

waflyboy

I heard that one reason Alaska does this is because they have a lot of FOs leave after the 1st year. If they hire SICs who don't meet the PIC requirement for other majors, perhaps they'll be less likely to leave. Dunno if it's true, just what somebody told me. I suppose it makes sense if FO attrition is really a problem.

If you're interested in applying at regionals, I'd recommend applying to companies that you'd enjoy working with for 5+ years. I personally suspect that the "quick upgrade" of which you speak is gone and not coming back for a while. (Like the above poster, I'm not sure what JetBlue is doing on your list of "fast-upgrade regionals.")

If you absolutely must be based in Seattle in the future, the Horizon-Alaska route might be a good one. But everything must fall perfectly in place for this to happen: 1) get hired at Horizon, 2) be lucky enough for the 2000 hours SIC window to still be open in a couple of years, 3) be lucky enough for Alaska to be hiring in a couple of years, and 4) get hired at Alaska. And then I'm guessing you'll be based in Anchorage until you have the seniority for Seattle.

Anybody from Alaska Air Group please chime in and let me know how far off the mark I am.

BusDriverPNW

There have been alot of people go from Horizon as FOs to Alaska! The question is why would you want to go to Alaska????

ComeFlyWithMe

Are you referring to the airline or the state?

bgmann

Alaska air, not the state. They seem to be healthy! And puts me back in SEA, or SEA after a year in ANC. Mostly because they pay well and their healthy, and QOL in SEA where I grew up. Everyone has their opinions. Why you knocking Alaska?

WhiteH2O

From what I hear, and take it with a grain of salt, it does happen, but not very often. Don't bank on going to Alaska after flying for Horizon for three years. If Alaska is your ultimate goal, Horizon probably isn't the best way to get there.

BusDriverPNW

Whats healthy about Alaska the management treat the pilots like hell look what happened to the group after september 11th. Ask any alaska pilot what he thinks about the company and healthy would not be a response they don't pay well either its time that they get back what they gave up.

There have been quite a few FOs go from horizon to alaska in the last few months but there probably wont be any for a while Alaska wont hire for the rest of the year.

turbodriver

As one of the many FOs that bailed from QX last year, I can tell you so far so good. Considering that the RJ's are going away (it's just a matter of time and if you work at QX you know what I'm talking about) the fleet further reducing it's size, as a result, having to deal with grumpy captains who had to take a paycut from RJ pay to 400 pay, and not to mention age 65 which would have kept me in the right seat of a dash 8 in terms of forever (careerwise), I'm so glad I got out when I did. It'll only take me a coule of years to make up my paycut where a captain it'll take him at least 10. Make more money over the course of my career because I didn't sit as long in the right seat of the dash? And be based in Seattle? What's not to like? Anchorage samkorage. Pack a thick coat. You'll be fine you wussies.