Skywest assigned aircraft
 

Hey, I'm a ramper for Skywest, hoping to make the jump to pilot once I get the min's, and was wondering (for anyone who might know) if already being an employee of the company will get you more of a say on aircraft type and base for/after training. Also, is there any chance of the 700 out of training or is that an "upgrade only" plane. Thanks.

The bro will make you a better pilot in the end, trust me and everyone that has had the chance to fly it. All jet pilots fly all of the jets. Get your time and get in.

If given the RJ you will be qual'd in all 3 variants...hope to see you on Line one of these days - best of luck!

And yes, the Bro will most likely make you a better Pilot...I am considering upgrading into it myself!

Only problem with the Bro is that they are starting to phase them out it seems, and not sure how much more hiring they'll do for them in the future. I'm also in Denver so would like to stay around here if possible. So you're saying there is a chance for the 700 out of training?

They use to put the lower time pilots into the EMB, but lately they'll put anyone into the RJ. After having flown both I think the RJ is easier to fly, and has considerablly better schedules.

If you get hired take what ever is offered first. Once in class, seniority is determined by last 4 numbers of your SS#. However, current empoyees like yourself are given the highest seniorty regardless of your number -- so you'll probably be number #1 at this point. When the class bids for domiciles, and training schedules you'll get first choice. Additionally, while non-reving you'll travel under your current DOH as a ramper.

If you are currently employed with SkyWest all you get is the top seniority number in your new hire class. In order to get that you have to be employed as a ramper (or otherwise) at the time you get hired as a pilot. Your seniority date changes to that new hire date, otherwise it wouldn't be fair in domicile bids to other pilots.

Hope that you get the bro initially because if you get the jet you will spend the same amount of time at the bottom while all of the Bro pilots insert ahead of you in domicile/line bids. The RJ is fun too though.

(I was typing my message before Utah posted his)

If you get assigned DEN you'll get trained on the 700 immediately, and over the last year they've been forcing the junior guys into the ASE flying.

ASE flying is great, I really enjoy it! I also enjoy the hard lines. It's great geating to know the guy your flying with.

As has been said, you'll probably be qualified on all three variants if you get the jet, mainly so that you can be a tool and fly a bigger airplane for basically the same rate. It's to their advantage for you to fly the 700.

That said, I kinda prefer the 700 because generally speaking, I think the trips are a little better in that you probably won't do six legs in a day, and the legs you do will be longer and thus credit a little more. You want to spend as much time in the plane with the door closed and parking brake off as possible.

My point, though, is that I reckon most people have figured this out, so while you might be 700 qualified, the 200 seems to be the more junior plane. Of course, this is based on my mere four months of operational experience, none of which has been in Denver.

I had a long time SkyWest employee in my EMB120 class and he wanted the jet. I wasn't a previous employee and I asked for the Brasilia but I don't know if that has anything to do with why I got it. Seems to be luck of the draw.

Good luck.

What is "the bro"?

Bro is the Embraer Brasilia. It beats calling it the BRA.

It also goes by the weed whacker. :D

I've been known to call it other forum prohibited names from time to time however.

If you get the RJ you will do ground training on all 3 variants during initial training, and there's a good chance your initial training in the aircraft will be spent in the 700 if not in both 700 and 200. Your training will be in whatever airplane your check airman happens to be flying that day/week and a lot of them bid for the 700. I wouldn't plan on holding DEN right away though. The most junior FO in DEN right now was hired in March '07. most new hires get chicago with some going to milwaukee. There's currently a long list of ORD based F/O's waiting to go to DEN.

There was a lot of movement with the 12/14 bid award. A 10/01 hire got DEN. Some fairly new guys got TUS, ATL, SLC, and PSP, too.

Now that ORD and MKE are overflowing w/reserves, junior guys everywhere are moving right along...

The best two nicknames I've heard for the Bro are:

Jungle Junk & Switch Bit*h (my favorite)

Good luck with your training. How far along are you?

We are still hiring through the first six months of next year. I don't know why because our attrition isn't what some people make it to be. When I started, I was 2330. After 14 months, I am 2090. And I haven't heard much about majors hiring next year, so I don't know if they plan on having more leave or what???

Denver is pretty senior, so plan on MKE or ORD right away. I would pick MKE because it is a SkyWest operated flight so you'll have priority on the jumpseat. Plus, I DEN-ORD is a heavily traveled route.

In ORD, most of the commutable trips are on the -700 which is why it goes more senior. Plus it pays more, goes out to the west coast, and generally has higher credit trips.

Forgot about those ones. Nice. It does have a lot of switches and you are constantly moving them back and forth. It even has switches underneath the floor. :D

As long as we still have the bro (for a while yet) one-year Bro FO's will still flock to the RJ as their seat locks expire. This should keep new-hires flowing to that airplane.

Whether you get the jet or the bro depends on your flying background and the company's needs at that time.

Previous 121 or turbine experience: Expect the jet. You might be able to ask for the bro and get it if they have enough jet people.

No Previous 121 or turbine: Expect the Bro. Very few non-121 new hires get the jet and usually only due to last minute scheduling needs (trying to fill a class). After you get a job offer in the Bro, you could show up in SLC the night before the next jet class, show up on monday morning and tell them you're willing to do the jet class if someone no shows. This has worked before.

I've heard it referred to as the "Brakillya"

More like a rudder *****, but dosent sound as nice. I have blisters on my hand from using the rudder trim so much!
Anyway, as for the training numbers for 2008 it looks like SkyWest is planning on training 130 EMB FO's and 180 CRJ FO's in the first 6 months. (Numbers from Brad Holt in November) Still lots of EMB training going on so I don't believe the Bro's are flying out the door anytime real soon!

Yea the rudder trim is stupid. Sure looks like a design flaw to me. I've flown aircraft with a higher power/trq to weight ratio and it was nothing like the Bro's crazy tendency to yaw at the smallest power change. This is what it must have been like to fly those old prop driven flying wings. :rolleyes:

vibra-liner

It has rudder trim?

HaHaHaHaHa! That's good!