How does PDX fit in the equation? Any rumors of closure/expansion?

I love PDX! Sadly, our flying there has decreased over that last 5 years. I don’t see an RJ base opening there anytime soon mainly due to the type of flying we do there. It’s all short hops that are best for T-props. PDX to EUG, RDM, SEA and MFD with a few legs from SEA to GEG. That’s all the destinations we fly to out of PDX.

We fly PDX out of SLC & LAX but I believe those are the only RJ routes we have to and from PDX. I'm not sure about the frequency but whatever it may be I don't think it warrants an RJ domicile.

Most Jr PDX EMB CA is hired in Feb 05 but he'll probably be on reserve until the end of time. It's a very senior base for EMB pilots. LOL!

Most Jr PDX EMB FO was hired in Aug 07 and I'd expect his reserve to run about 3-6 months.

http://www.skywest.com/routemaps/rm_...tes(JAN08).pdf

What are the chances of SLC base as an FO newhire and how long to upgrade to Capt. in SLC?

I wouldn’t expect SLC right out of training if you want the RJ (take about 6+ months to get) but the EMB is probably obtainable by the time you’ve completed IOE. For RJ CA SLC I'd expect 3+ years and SLC EMB CA 1.5-2 years.

Hire Dates:
Most Jr SLC CRJ CA Feb 05
Most Jr SLC CRJ FO Aug 07

Most Jr SLC EMB CA July 06
Most Jr SLC EMB FO Oct 07

I'm not nearly as optimistic..... in ORD alone we have 400 pilots, and 100 of those in Feb, were on reserve.... unless something big comes down the hatch I would expect reserve 4-6 months min...

You're not taking into account attrition, upgrades, transfers, new Midwest flying (more people want out of ORD than in) and that by the time a new hire finishes IOE it will be peak season. All of these will result in about a 2 month or less reserve stint in ORD.

I hope you're right, but we haven't upgraded anyone at ORD since early OCT, and we still have 60 capts on reserve. Attrition has slowed in my opinion and will continue to do so as oil continues to be high, and age 65 will slow hiring at majors. Most of the first officers, and captains for that matter, who have bids to tranfer out of ORD have listed unattainable domiciles for their seniority and there are still 14 capt, and 11 F/O's with standing bids to tranfer in. Not including a bunch of EMB transitions that would like Chicago.
I think everyone in domiciles not named Chicago, get a false impression of how fast someone gets off reserve nowadays at ORD, but as of right now, we are crazy overstaffed.

I've been on the line in ORD since Nov. Feb will be my fourth month on reserve.

How many #'s are you away from a line? and how many junior to you?

I'll be the most senior reserve FO in ORD for Feb. I am also the most senior guy from my new hire class left in ORD, so we are all going on 4 months of reserve now. When the Feb bid came out there were 42 people junior to me. You can prolly tack on another 15 to 20 as people come out of training during the month.