Originally Posted by Airsupport

i doubt skywest will offer bonuses before they lower their time

Originally Posted by AviatorGP

I believe they already have, or they are planning on it. We are losing pilots to attrition, and we're growing even faster with RJ's. You can bet you'll see them lower their minimums.

Originally Posted by reelbigchair

Why not?? They could shorten the training program, thereby reducing the overall cost of training. (That's what CHQ is doing.) They get to keep their insurance down because they'll have relatively experienced pilots. They wouldn't have to raise pay to the whole seniority list. I think this may be the direction that SkyWest would prefer to go instead of lowering mins. But who knows. I of course would prefer they just raise pay across the board to encourage pilots to come over, but that's a pipe dream. If CHQ finds that this bonus program works for them, I would expect all the carriers that have large hiring needs to follow them down that path. Perhaps they'll try Eagle's guarantee for a base thing, but most of our large bases can be held pretty early, so I don't think that'd be a major attractor to SkyWest. Like I said, they may have to EVENTUALLY lower them, but I wouldn't expect them to start doing that real soon. The cost to them to give bonuses would probably be lower than the increase in insurance costs if they started hiring lower time guys.

Originally Posted by Ellen

They'll raise first year pay before paying bonuses, this way they can spread compensation out over a period of time. Even if they raised pay $3-$6/hr., it would still be cheaper for them than paying a bonus. This slight raise might create enough interest in SKYW to create "Ship-jumpers" from other airlines.

Originally Posted by Ellen

They'll raise first year pay before paying bonuses, this way they can spread compensation out over a period of time. Even if they raised pay $3-$6/hr., it would still be cheaper for them than paying a bonus. This slight raise might create enough interest in SKYW to create "Ship-jumpers" from other airlines.

Originally Posted by ANPBird

We are already getting quite a few ship jumpers now! There is 4 in my class now that jumped ship while they were still in training at other 121 carriers.

Originally Posted by stickwiggler

RBC,
I could be guessing here but.... I don't think the experience level of the F.O. is a big factor in the insurance that an airline pays. The time requirements of the captain might be an issue but I'm not even sure about that. Plus some airlines are self insured anyway.