Skywest MKE question
 

How many newhires with Skywest are able to start out of MKE these days. Routes seem more limited there than other locales and I understand they are only flying RJs there.

They fly for Midwest Airlines out of MKE and fly the routes that Midwest tells them to fly. Midwest connect will soon be only 50-seat CRJs, operated by Skywest.

Seems like all the new-hire RJ guys go into MKE or ORD, depending on what they need. So if you get the RJ, MKE should be no problem. But if you live there, and then they put you on the Brasilia, you're going to FAT. Then you're hosed. At least for a year.

As a new hire with Skywest can you bid RJ vs. EMB, even if it means waiting for a later class date?

There is no bidding for airframe...new hires are assigned their airframe prior to their class date.

If you haven't started yet you could ask POLITELY, expressing your desire to live close to home. If you have previous 121/turbine experience they might be OK with giving you your choice of airplane, depending on their needs. If you're a CFI, you can ask, but plan on the EMB.

But don't force the issue, or you might get unhired.

Rickair...
Do you know if any of this is supposed to change by the end of this year? Are they going to start hiring back on the crj by then? I'm CFI'ing in Chicago and really want to work for Skywest, however, I'm not sure that I would like to do a two-leg commute for a year.

Also, does it set you back, as far as upgrades go, if you transfer from the bro to the crj as a FO?

We'll be hiring again come next fall for sure. Don't do the commute if you get the Bro - find a cheap crashpad there and move for twelve months - living in Cali for a year 'aint bad. Transition to the Jet then into MKE/ORD and you'll hold a rockstar schedule, or upgrade into the Bro for the TPIC...

I'm pretty sure they'll hire into the CRJ this summer, but not at the pace we saw over the last several years. This means the jet slots will likely go only to 121 pilots.

Here's a trick that has worked in the past: Poolies (or those who already have a later class date) have showed up at the SLC hanger on the day that a class starts. Usually they will have a no-show...and if you are all ready to go they will normally let you fill the empty seat in that class. You could find out when the next jet class is and try that. If there are no "standbys" they will just start frantically calling SLC-area CFI's to see if the can quit their job and come to class that afternoon.

I do have jet experience, but no 121. Any ideas on if this actually helps?

Why on earth would you want to work for Skywest? They're down there with MESA these days, and their anti-union Kool-Aid drinking.