It's also what happens when you take away benefits, treat employees like cattle, cancel hotel rooms in order to notify people of reflow and pay people with TFAYD's Morale goes in the crapper and people tell their friends not to apply because they don't want their friends to suffer like they have.

 

Totally agree. Had 4 friends so far ask about coming to SKW since we started hiring. I was completely honest to each of them on what to expect based on my experiences. Only 2 applied/asked for a resume walk-in and those 2 were offered classes here post interview. However they also kept their options open per my advice and applied at other airlines. Both took the other job.

Every action has a consequence

 

He implied, you inferred.

 

Newty, you lose credibility with sentences like that. Things have been better, but in the grand scheme of life, do you really think you can call what we do suffering? This attitude is symptomatic of American entitlement and from everything I've read from you, I think you're better than that.

We are akin to labor, you should've known that getting in, if you didn't then you didn't do your research. Either find a new career, do something productive within our industry, or stop whining.

My take on SkyWest:
SkyWest was better than most regionals, now we're another big corporation with work rules on par with other good regionals (Eagle, XJT, ASA, AWAC, et al) Now, by definition anybody getting in should understand what it means to be a "regional" pilot:
-Expect to be away from home a lot, this shouldn't even need to be a disclaimer, but I'm continually surprised at how many pilots whine about being away from home.
-Upgrade could be next year or never, you are taking a gamble at any airline, nobody is a safe bet.
-Same goes for reserve, you could hold a line out of class or oil could go through the roof and you'll be on reserve for 3+ years. Again, just the nature of our business.
-FO pay supports a single person well, a couple is a stretch and a family is unrealistic. This industry's pay is based on paying your dues, always has been. If you're 28 (or young and with family already) and looking to get in, realize that its gonna take a lot of sacrifice.
-You are a highly skilled, albeit expendable, tradesmen. There are quite a few implications here. Think about them.
-Airlines are corporations and behave as such. Do not expect behavior any different than you'd get from the multitudes of other large US corporations. They aren't benevolent and they aren't malicious, they're simply CFO-run, bottom-line oriented.

Take it for what its worth. I love my job, but I'm here because I like airplanes and the lifestyle. If you're not passionate about aviation or you're a homebody, this business is probably not for you.

 

I never had any credibility to start with. And no, in the grand scheme of life, my 3 years of reserve as a bro fo don't compare to say a small child having his arms slowly chopped off in the Congo, or the poor people being irradiated in Japan, all things are relative though, and in comparison with say a line holder RJ fo, I can make a case for "suffering". I don't like the pay your dues argument either, I instructed for a year and a half, flew eskimos around alaska and hauled boxes for in ****e weather with no auto pilot or other pilot helping me, I paid "some" dues, I have people who were my students that are senior to me. I made my choices, I'm happy with them, I was not rewarded for dues paid. Telling me to find a new career is counterproductive. I'd rather make the career I have better, how will I do that? In part by whining! By telling anyone, including management, how I feel about the things they are doing, by telling applicants the truth about what to expect. and by loving my life outside the cockpit. I like flying, it's not my passion, it doesn't define me. When I meet new people and they ask what I do for a living I tell them I work for Skywest airlines, I never tell them what I do unless they pry. I define myself by the way I live my life. This job has no bearing on who I am. I stick by my statement that if Skywest has problems finding pilots to work here it will be in no small part due to the treatment of their employees over the past 3 years. Sorry for the hyperbole in using the word suffering to try to make my point. I'll do better in the future, I was unaware this paper was being graded.

 

I know I'm being an optimist but the only leverage we ever seem to really have is our scarcity. The harder it becomes to get pilots with current work rules/pay the more likely it's going to be that management will improve benefits and pay to attract pilots.

Especially once those new rest rules come out and their strategy of reflows and jr. Manning is insufficient to prevent a torrent of cancellations.

This is partly why I believe our sapa prez is pushing for 200% jr. Man pay in the policy manual.

 

What was the latest class breakdown? Base and Equipment?

 

They'll let you know before going to class if it will be EMB or RJ. Domicle awards won't be processed until after class starts, maybe a couple of weeks even. It's possible to get several different domicile awards before you are even done with training. EMB pilots seem to be getting FAT as well as LAX. The RJ class thats happening this month is suppose to send about 25-30 FOs to MSP. Even if you get that initially, with all of the classes happening this year, getting somewhere else should be pretty easy.

ORD seems to be shrinking - considerably -we seem to be doing a domicile swap with Expressjet. We now have rumors of IAH getting as big as 300 crews. I believe the DEN lines are down as well.

 

Thanks for the info, I know things will be changing fast with the amount of hiring. I got the CRJ, I'm just curious to see where I may end up, I'm expecting MSP or IAH. Hoping to transfer to PSP or LAX eventually. Being a SAN/CRQ commuter, any bases you guys would recommend to maximize QOL?

Between SLC and DEN, which is more commuter/crashpad friendly while on reserve?

Thanks in advance.

 

As a new hire, would ORD still be pretty easy to transfer into, if not awarded initially? Even though it's shrinking, it should still be around right?