If you do Skywest's program yes you will have better seniority in your class.

Envoys doesn't work that way. It will still go off age. Literally no point to join Envoys program as a 270 hour pilot. It's shiny jet syndrome to say you're "hired" as an airline pilot while you time build. I will reassure you that if you have a clean record, you'll get hired at whatever regional you want when you hit 1000 hours. Then when you hit 850/900 hours consider all your options. The Envoy program is still there. If you sign the dotted line with them now, you're locked.

Just claim that you are Trump's love child and be the first pilot to get on with 1500 hours of 757 time.

If you fall for that idea you are already a Space Cadet.

Man, it sucked when trying to get to work on AA, and some flight instructor bumps you off! Yes, the wisdom of AA...

So if I am 21, then sign this contract for the cadet program, and in the hiring class a 26 year old pilot who didn't do a cadet program has more seniority over me? If that's the case I don't see the point then..

Exactly. And that's why cadet programs are marketing schemes. They're just trying to lock in warm bodies as much as they can. They don't care about benefiting you as long as they can fill classes. You're just another number. Build your time. Keep your nose clean and make your pick when the the time comes. I remember when I had 270 hours at UND. Enjoy them and in a year when you've been instructing, sit down and think about what you want. It all seems like rainbows and unicorns to get in now with someone. Just relax and take your time, you may want something now but all that can change.

Skywest will give you seniority in your class date. Also it will be your date of hire as far as benefits go (which will increase your pay first year with the the quarterly bonuses). That's the point of Skywest's cadet program. You will only beat out your class and you'll go against the other cadets. No contracts, so if you go to Envoy, Endeavor, etc. you owe nothing to Skywest.

Envoy's program gives you benefits and flight benefits and puts you in their "flow" program but does nothing for seniority. So you're right the 26 year old would beat you. Also, if you want out of this contract $$$$$$$$$. The whole point is they get guys trapped into the "5 YEAR FLOW...2 YEAR UPGRADE" at 250 hours because you guys want to say you have an airline job waiting. When in reality you can have any regional you want in the current market and highly doubt that will change at all by the time you're ready.

I'm not telling you what to join but just giving you a suggestion to not sign a dotted line for a contract at your low hours. If you find programs like Skywest's that are no harm no foul then great. You get a free trip to SLC paid for. I know guys who just did it for that honestly. If you sign something now with your low hours it would be idiotic (sorry to be blunt).

You could sign up for the Envoy program with 100 hours to go and you'd still be in the same boat without having those flight benefits...which lets be honest, would save you a couple hundred dollars. Is gambling 2 years of your life worth that until your contract is up? You decide.

Yes +1...

Figure out what kind of life you want....fast upgrade, domicile, pay, QOL, flow programs, etc. and put all your options on the table. It sucks seeing people pick 1 1/2 years early getting themselves into a contract then hearing them say they wished they did something different. Play your cards right, don't get yourself in trouble, and you'll land the carrier you want.

Don't fall for recruitment traps.

I understand not everyone can make the military work (health issues and whatnot), but if I had any piece of advice for aspiring aviators (who also may have a desire to serve deep down somewhere) it would be "Go Guard, go Guard, go Guard..."

My only regret is not knowing about it sooner, and wasting almost two years pursuing Active Duty accession.




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