Skywest
 

What are the junior bases at SKW? How long is the reserve on CRJs, and how much hiring are they planing in 2008. Also, I only hear good things about Skywest, wny are they better then the rest of regionals out there?

Thanks in advance.

Hot flight attendants! :D

ORD definitely, maybe MKE. things move fast for FOs though. no reserve really in ORD if hiring keeps up. those are on the jet, i don't know about the brasilia. 400 in the first 6 months of 2008, is what they've shown us.

we're not "better" than any other company, but most of us that work here, and definitely those of us that came from other regionals, feel that skywest is a "better" place to work. it really comes down to management's attitude toward labor. most airlines have management that have a pretty bad attitude toward the employees, especially pilots. tolerent is the word that comes to mind in most cases, and outright hostile in others. whereas skywest management realizes that the employess are the reason for the company's success, and it shows. it really feels different here, and i'm happy because of that. is it perfect? no, of course not. no job anywhere is perfect, and most people in most lines of work hate their jobs. for 35 years skywest has placed part of its focus on keeping the employees happy, and it does make a difference. that's my 2 cents worth.

How senior (for FO's) are the California bases? I would be willing to go to any of those bases: MRY, SAN, FAT, SBP, SBA, PSP, SMF, LAX, or SFO. Is it true there are no lines out of LAX and SFO? How about for Captains? Any goods or bads about any particular base?

EMB guys, how is the flying, lines, QOL? I will take whatever aircraft Skywest gives me, but I don't think I would mind the EMB first year, and then upgrade to RJ FO when the pay goes up, and RJ capt when I can upgrade.
Thanks.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I'm at 135 company and everything is great, QOL and pay, but I didn't even get 500 hours this past year. At that rate I got two more years before even getting close to CA seat. So I'm looking at regionals and, may be I should take a pay cut that first year but come out with more TT? It seems like if I stay here I will upgrade in 2+ years and so if I was at SKW. The differences I see right now would be: At SKW more TT, 121 time, schedule, have to commute. If I stay were I'm at, then less TT, all 135 time, no schedule, no contract, no commute. Any thoughts to help me with this decision?

I am in sort of the same situation I fly for a 135 operator that has a great QOL but I will fly about 400 hours this year. I flew for a crappy 121 operator for 6 months and hated it. At this time I would never go back to the airlines even if I could upgrade in six months and am going to hopefully go to one of the fractionals in the next six months. My prediction and I could be totally wrong is that the charter and fractional market will keep growing for a long time because the people who fly on these planes are the rich of the rich and they do not care if oil goes through the roof they will pay more just for the ability to go where they want. Places like Skywest are great places to go to and I have friends that enjoy working there but what if they stop growing or lose a contract you may be stuck as an FO for years making 40 thousand a year, Doesn't sound like fun to me.

135 time is not as likely to land you a major job as 121 RJ time. There are many variables, but that's the way it is. 135 folks have gotten and will continue to get major jobs, but unless you have other factors (connections, affirmative action) the RJ people have better odds.

Most are junior for EMB FO's. But all will be phased out and replaced by jets in the mid-term.

LAX and SFO usually have three reserve lines each, no hard lines.

APC says its $19/hour the first year at SKW. About how much would it be a year based on current flying demand + per diem? I know upgrades are seniority based, but going to SKW with 1200 TT 600ME, 600PIC, 600Turbine and ~500 part 135, it is reasonable to think of upgrade possibility in two years or so? Also, if I get a chance to upgrade in two years would it be a hard transition or being on the line for two years would be enough to have a solid grip on the operation.
Thanks

[quote=VitaliyG;271538]Thanks for clearing that up for me. I'm at 135 come, schedule, have to commute. If I stay were I'm at, then less TT, all 135 time, no schedule, no contract, no commute.


It's early in your career. Why would you "have to commute?"

I do understand if you have a wife and kids.
Had I gotten out of that way of thinking, i'd have been at a major much much earlier.

Best wishes to you.