Skywest Pool
 

It seems pretty obvious that there won't be any new-hire classes at Skywest for the foreseeable future. Does anyone care to speculate as to what will happen to those of us in the hiring pool? Will they simply empty the pool, so to speak, in the next few months or will they just keep us "swimming" for another year or so? If they do retain the pool, will we have to go through the interview process once again? Any thoughts?

The Pool . . .
 

For those in the Skywest pool, I truly wish you the best with eventually getting into ground school at Skywest. You will . . . eventually. I don't know if you will have to interview again or not.

For those of us who currently fly for Skywest the harsh reality is that we are seriously facing the possibility of a pilot furlough. As far as I know this will be the first one in Skywest history.

I don't think anyone knows how many will be furloughed. It could be none, it could be 50, it could be as many as 500 based on information we get from SAPA (Skywest's internal pilot association).

I hope the answer is none. However, the reality is we only fly as much or as little as Delta/United/Midwest allow us to fly.

IF Skywest does furlough, the numbers will probably not be decided until late summer, early fall, based upon the seasonal decrease in flying at that point. I can say with almost 100% certainty that there will be not any new hire classes in the near future. There are many, many reserve pilots sitting around right now, not flying very much, and collecting their usual paycheck from the company. Not a very efficient business position to be in. So far, St. George, is standing by us as a pilot group. I thank them everyday!

All this being said, I personally would still wait it out until Skywest called me to come fly for them. I would not take a "temporary" 121 job flying for someone else in the meantime unless you personally enjoy the abuse you will face as a regional pilot at the bottom of a seniority list at a company that you probably don't really want to work for anyway. Skywest is a great company to work for, and it will be worth your wait.

Hang in there. Skywest is not going away anytime soon. Unfortunately, I can't say that about certain other regionals out there.

I'm trying to do my part......just took a 10 month VLA.

Vla . . .
 

Please go do something fun!!

I thought about a VLA as well, but ultimately decided that when they come out with part-time lines or reduced credit lines, that I will bid for those instead.

Aviation is funny, either you are flying so much you are never home, and even the dog does not recognize you when you walk through the door.

Or, you have so much time on your hands, you try every hobby you thought you had an interest in. Right now I am figuring out photography.

I really believe that part of a pilots long term career happiness depends on their ability to make the most of the particular chapter of their career they find themselves in at that moment.

Like I said, enjoy your time off!

FWIW, I was hired for the Brasilia back in June and during the interview they said that SKW would keep you in the pool and keep you updated (the last update I received was in January). They also indicated that you would not have to reinterview.

Out of the three hiring pools that I'm in (or have been in), SKW has been the only one that keeps in touch from time to time. The others also currently have a lot of guys on furlough though too.

It's good to hear that we apparently won't have to go through the interview process again. They have indeed been pretty good about keeping us updated. I believe the last update I received was in early February. Well, I suppose it's just a matter of time before we get the call.

And when that day comes it will be a great day for ALL of us! Good luck and hang in there!

Typically on ready reserve if you're on the bro :D

Anywho, I think its too early to call whether or not there will be furloughs at SkyWest. I'm at the bottom of the seniority list and until we hear more, anything with regard to that is speculation so its not worth getting bent out of shape about. Although, it does remain a possibility.

I think around mid-summer we'll all have a better idea of what's going to happen. However as with aviation anything is possible so who knows.

As for the guys in the pool I feel for you. When I was in class we had 3 classes scheduled after mine wih a few people from the company I was previously furghlouged from in one. And I know it can't be any fun waiting for things to change. But its not just aviation that's hurting right now its pretty much everywhere so I imagine quite a few people are having a hard time getting jobs in their chosen vocation.

Hope you have something fun to do :D I wish RAH would offer those. I don't have anything else to really do at the moment but come fall I'll be working 6-7 days a week and might actually welcome something like that.

From me, and the rest of the guys on the bottom of the list in Chicago and elsewhere who will be the first to go, THANK YOU!!!! Now if only 249 more guys like you jump in.....