One of my good friends worked there, and he said that they are VERY old school - nuts and bolts ground school, and NO BULL sim training! ("Crap or get off the pot" type of training)

On reserve, anywhere from 20-100 hrs. per month. Right now, probably right in the middle of that. Once holding a day flying line, figure 90 hrs/month for a conservative average.

Provided double occupancy hotel throughout training.

There will be days where you are mad at the world. These for me, so far, have been far fewer than the days where I spend most of my day laughing and enjoying the job, as well as those that I have the privilege work alongside. It's a whole different mindset here in terms of management vs. pilots...

The short upgrade still exists, and that to me is worth a TON. If a short upgrade isn't of major importance to you, then I would not even think of coming here.

Not perfect, but never felt unsafe in one of our planes by any means.

This is partially true, but I don't see it as anything that is over the top. If you show up to ground school and don't know how to use an RMI, enter a hold, or fly an NDB approach, study your flows, or have a good attitude when things aren't going your way, you will wash out, plain and simple...nothing out of line by any means, but it ain't easy.

Are you Kansas, Heath?

Yep, you're good...PM me, who is this?

I put in 4 years at lakes on the beech as well as LCA and sim instructor on the BRO. The training is "nuts and bolts" but Ive never seen anyone get flushed that shouldnt have and I have seen people get through that needed more work but had great attitudes. The pilot group is kick ass and if you are a looking to work for GLA you will learn as much there as anywhere else you could fly. It is my opinion that If you go straight from 172s to jets you are missing out on a world of fun and skills aquisition. If you have a family and dkont have a sugar moma, then dont go to lakes but other wise go fly a Tprop, you might learn something ; ) Also, I now work for a great small corporate flight department and wouldnt want anyone else hired here UNLESS they flew at Lakes!

BUR, this is the first time I've heard this one...perhaps you should ask some other guys how much 1900 guys are respected. A jet that wants to keep going fast? Oh no!:D

Sounds like this whole paragraph supports 1900 drivers being "respected for their skills" throughout the industry.

How long is reserve running at Lakes right now? After you can hold a line, are they hard to commute to out of So. Cal.?

I may consider applying after I graduate this year and I have family in COS that I'll be able to live with for a little while. I'd like to end up back in So. Cal. though living with my parents so i can save a little money before jumping over to SkyWest or something.

Are GIA guys respected as well since they fly 1900s in south FLA?

Not sure how long for new hires, typically it runs somewhere around 2-3 months (I hit it wrong and sat for nearly 6, which is pretty long over here). We have SoCal commuters, so it can be done...but I wouldn't recommend it. Lakes is tough enough without having to deal with a commute.

I would just stay and instruct and then try to go to SkyWest or something right off the bat, if you aren't planning on upgrading here...but Lakes will help you get to that "better" regional if that is your goal.

It's just an idea that's floating in my head right now. The 1900 looks like a blast to fly and I'd like that little bit of extra experience and equipment variety in the career. It'd be great if ZK gets the EAS stuff in AZ back and maybe open the PHX base again. But yeah, I will instruct in the fall when I finish school. I just don't know if I'll be able to do it all the way to SkyWest's mins.