SkyWest Bases, Senior/Junior
 

Just curious, a rather simple question...

What are the most junior bases for RJ FO's in the SkyWest system?
What about the BRO?

Thanks,
Jimmy Nails

ORD MKE on the jet
FAT PSP on the Bro

Where does DEN, SMF fit into the mix for the CRJ?

With the exception of FAT anything in California Jet or Bro seems to be pretty senior especially on the captain side of things!

An FO hired 3 or 4 months ago could be in DEN today. Same with COS. (They'd likely be on reserve for quite some time though. I'd venture to say six months or more.)

SMF can probably be had as an FO within about a year. There are only 15 FOs there, however. So if somebody decides to stick around because they like holding the base, that time could go up pretty fast.

FAT is really senior for Captains too...5-6 years right now to hold it. :(

As far as I can tell, here is the order, most junior to senior, based on watching people being transfered to them during the last 6 months, for FO jet...

MKE (especially with all the new YX flying)
ORD
COS
SLC
FAT
DEN
ATL
TUS
PSP
SBA
SMF

Been here just over a year and if I wasn't doing the Aspen flying I'd be back on reserve in DEN. FYI

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, i apreciate the info.

I interned at OO with the human resources back in the day and i'm considering making the jump when i get my time.

~Jimmy Nails

What are reserve times looking like in ORD right now?

With all the YX flying in MKE & quite a few ORD FO’s should be upgrading to CA soon, reserve time should be around 2 months or less.

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.

With this in mind. What would reserve be at SLC if you were to get it after 6 mos.?

1/7/08 class was awarded today.

8 ORD
25 MKE

That all of them

Just 8 of them will be under you.

As I now see was posted above...oops.

what BRO bases are junior to senior, and how long is the hired pool to class date for the BRO. And does Skywest reduce mins for 121 time.

The reserve list in SLC for the month of April is over 60 pilots long. But at least it gives me time to work another job while I wait out first year pay ;).

Too bad they didn't get the long call reserve figured out for april

ok being that i have never lived in California, all the bases in the EMB120 and choosing a base to start out of, i could use some advice.

I get FAT is the junior base and you have the least amout of reserve time, but my question would be outside of commuting (not really wanting to do it) what base would be a somewhat fun place to live out of.

Im sure living in PSP would be fun, but man i cant imagine how hot the summers would be.

Of those that fly the EMB120 what would be some of the best bases to possibly live out of compared to reserve time as an FO.

Not an EMB guy, but I can tell you about the Cali towns...they are all expensive, so I'll reference them in relative terms.

FAT: The Hood. If you have time off waiting for IOE, take a spanish class. Maybe do FFDO training to get the free gun. Cheapest in Cali.
SMF: Fairly big city, with all the usual ameneties, but out in the sticks. Reasonably priced.
SBA: Really nice small town, beaches, UCSB, atmosphere, expensive.
SAN: Like SBA, but big city. Would be my #1 choice, but it's pretty expensive.
LAX: Expensive, few redeeming qualities IMO. Only the natives really appreciate it.
PSP: Nice resort town atmosphere, not too expensive in some areas. Easy drive to SAN, LA, or LAS on your days off. Hotter than blazes MAY-OCT.
MRY: Nice smallish coastal town, close to the bay area, expensive.
SBP: Nice small college town, relatively affordable, in the middle of nowhere.

FAT: If you drive a honda or toyota, it will be stolen.

FAT has some of the best lines and options in my opinion throughout the EMB system. You can bid for trips in SoCal, NorCal, or up north in PDX-SEA area which gives you the most variety. Reserve times are very low at the moment. Most of the folks coming off IOE right now are spending only days on reserve. However...FAT would be one of the last places I would want to move to and live in out of all domiciles. It would be the cheapest in California!

FAT life on the Brasilia has been nice to me so far. I will probably give up the shorter commute to SLC to keep seniority in Fresno.

And for what it's worth, two months on reserve in SBP was a drag because of the commute, but man what a gorgeous area. I'd love to move back to that region if I ever win the lottery.