SkyWest base question
 

How senior are the following bases for FO's?

1 DEN
2 COS
3 SLC
4 ORD

Thanks for any insight!

rumor mill is still talking about a PDX base being added within the next six months.

Word on the street is things could be changing drastically should IAH eventually happen as planned. Likely, however, that ORD will always remain fairly junior LoL

We've had one there for years :confused:

There are rumors about AK flying and jets in PDX.

For a newhire, ORD CRJ is near impossible to get out of class, right?

I meant to write CRJ base. My bad

So how junior are DEN and COS?

ORD use to be the junior RJ domicile, it may still be. IAH needs to get figured out, however. DEN and ORD are seeing a reduction in flying with the IAH stuff.

Of course ORD, DEN and COS are jet only domilciles. I'm not sure when the newhires will be getting the RJ again. I thought the company had a bunch of EMB FOs wanting to transition still.

If you look at the awards it looks like they are getting to the end of the eligible emb fo's. I believe there have been a few 35xxx number transitions. Although, there are still emb fo's wanting to transition it looks like many are not willing to go to Ord or Iah. But Iah is the wildcard for things to come.

Junior to senior: Ord, Slc, cos, den. That's just regarding the seniority of the bottom guy. Ord continues to be junior and that is where the likelihood of holding a line sooner lies. But since things have been so stagnant the most junior lineholder anywhere, even Ord, has been here at least 3 1/2 years.

Are they even putting new hires in the CRJ? Or will they be after all Brasilia FOs have the chance to transition?

ORD is about to go senior. Good authority rumor here . . . . ORD base for Skywest to be cut in HALF within the next 6 months.

The plan is to make IAH and ORD approximately the same size. The regional airline base changing shuffle continues. MSP to grow as well of course. If you want to work for Skywest and live in Chicago, apply at ExpressJet. :p

Flame away all you want about this "rumor" based post, but don't come cryin' to me when it actually happens.

JD, I agree with your post, unfortunately. It will be interesting to see what happens.

To the OP, last I checked the seniority list, the most junior CRJ guys (currently in training) look to be getting assigned to COS. Out of the 12, 9 show "TRG" as their domiciles', while 3 show "COS"

COS is super-junior on the junior side, and super-senior on the senior side...don't expect much QOL if you're the former, though it is a fantastic little base. Best in the system, I'd say.

IAH is happening. 9 CRJ200s are moving down in February instead of 700s. I talked with RG recently and he said SKW wanted a significant presence in UniCal's largest hub. For all of my fellow ORD based SkyWesters I can only say two words: One List.

First let me say I respect your opinion about COS, my point here is to provide a different opinion about that base.

I lived and worked for Skywest based in COS as a first year FO from summer 2005 to fall 2006. The friends I made there were great. I am still friends with most of them, they are really good people. But I would say the exact same thing about the friends I have made being now based in Chicago.

However . . . . I personally, did NOT like Colorado Springs at all.

First, all I will say about it being a small base is that by being "small" there is a direct correlation with the amount of gossip that goes around and the small number of people who will eventually all know your personal business. Of course, you will come to know all of theirs as well. :p

The only fun to have in COS other than go hiking up Pikes Peak or the "incline" is to go to Denver. If your idea of a great dining experience is Chili's, Outback Steak House, Panera Bread Co, . . . i.e. corporate, chain dining . . . then knock yourself out. COS is the place.

COS is essentially a blue collar, military town.

And finally, if you are a believer in a particular religious affiliation, you may love to live COS. It recently was voted one of the most "religious" cities in America.

Dog is my co-pilot. ;) (And no I did not mis-spell the word D-O-G.)

Okay...I'll give you that, JD...I should have prefaced by saying that I absolutely hated being inside the Springs' city limits. The place was militaristic, overly-religious, and oppressive (one helluva combo). Plus, the city builds traffic violations revenue into it's annual budget, so the police force is really just a front for additional city tax-collectors.

Nonetheless, I'd go back if I could in a heartbeat...I'd just be sure to live up route 24 (or one of the other passes) in the mountains. The crews were fantastic (but like any place, it has it's two or three bad apples), and the flying was good, hitting the entire system. Don't plan on commuting though, it's a pain in the arse!

We have a PDX base.... EMB only...

I know I know! Gezzzz. My f/o wife is just hearing lots of chatter about a jet base in our future. Maybe after Delta buys AS.....:)'

Basically the further west you go the more senior the bases get. When they open PDX or SEA or SFO (regular base not reserve), or increase the size of LAX people will be selling their souls to get there. New bases will be the most junior for a while until all the poor saps who want to get out of ORD can. One word of advice... If you are planning to commute make sure Southwest goes there. Thank me later.

Southwest is a commuters lifeboat. Could not agree more.

Ummm, SFO is a "regular base", not reserve.....

You're right. I guess that changed when they opened lax. My bad.

How much luck would I need to hold PSP or LAX right out of class on the Bro? If not how does base transfers work at SkyWest?

It has been a long time, but as I recall you are organized in your class by the last 4 digits of your SSN. Lowest number is at the top of the class, highest number at the bottom of the class.

So if the last four of your SSN are "0001" congratulations!

As of right now, you could probably get PSP out of training. It doesn't seem like too many people want it. LAX may be a little tougher although I think an FO just got a transfer into it recently.

Base changes are relatively simple - put in a standing bid and wait. Most requests have been happening relatively quickly as of late (Bro), I'm sure due to the hiring going on.

Hey thanks for the quick reply, if hired I'll be hoping to land either one of those two bases. Is SFO junior or senior on the EMB?

SFO is a reserve only base for the EMB. I did spent almost a year there, and flew about 100 hrs total.

I will have to avoid SFO if possible, thanks.

That's because they kept tdying my *** out there.:)

I think it should be noted that the only individuals getting newhired onto the jet were United furloughs. If you are hired at SkyWest, plan on being assigned to the Bro. There will be no opportunities for newhire onto the jet until every current Bro FO has had the chance to transition. If you do end up on the Bro, plan a west coast base, with FAT (Fresno) as a high possibility.

And Newty, at least it's a nice ***, not that I have been looking...well, not too often.

I have no Idea who you are but gee thanks and look all you want:D

At this point, a displacement out of ORD is my only hope to get back to DEN. Uggh.

Any truth about an internal memo saying that the PDX will be doubling in size soon?

Yep. We need this like yesterday.

None what so ever.

Everyone on the line is talking about it. I hear January 25th is a "special" date. AS earnings announcement and "other news". The rumor mill is really cranked on this PDX jet base.

We also get nice rumors of growth when we have a pay package to vote on.

On the other hand we won't be voting until mid February, and everyone is talking about Jan 25th. as an annoucement date. (I'm hearing that it will be at risk flying under our own name for Alaska - similar to the Airtran stuff.)

Interesting. They brought in about 8 crews in December for the EMB then United decided they didn't want anymore PDX-MFR and SEA-GEG. Were losing those in Feb. Oops.