Wow... still no shortage of people tripping all over themselves to fly for a whipsaw carrier.

How do you define whipsaw carrier?

Is it one that has lower labor rates than its peers (plural)? If so SkyWest isn't a whipsaw carrier.

Is it one that steals airframes from its sister airlines? If so, SkyWest and ASA have both had reductions and expansions from Delta in the last few years, not to mention ASA being awarded additional flying for United instead of SkyWest. More power to 'em. Also, our presence in IAH has come at the cost of reduced flying in ORD and DEN to make room for ASA and XJT respectively.

Do we actively seek "organic growth?" Yes, as any most airline employees would want their company to do. I invite you to name another regional who doesn't.

Perhaps you have another definition Riddler, one that doesn't consist of a poorly thought out, over-used one-liner, but I some how doubt it. Its not that I don't believe you are capable of critical thinking, but like so many other entitled people, you'd prefer to point your finger at everyone around you, casting blame carelessly, hoping it distracts you from your own personal accountability. I hope I'm wrong and you're not just throwing around words that are meaningless, like a 7 year old who learns to swear.

ASA, XJT and SKW are three of the best regional operations out there right now, QOL, pay rates, etc so tell me how any one of those airlines out is more of a detriment to our industry than any other regional. Sure I'd like 700s at mainline, Air Canada Jazz pay rates and the rest, but in this, the "corporate age," where CEOs make 300+ times more money than the average worker and pensions are cut virtually on a whim, I have a hard time feeling like the scourge you implied me to be.

What are the current mins?

skywest.com should hava all the info regarding hiring (mins, pay, etc.).

Don't feed the troll.

The fact is quite simple: there's no shortage of people who are lining up for a chance to fly for an airline that pays $19,800 for the first year. And it's the same airline that had no shortage of volunteers to open up an IAH base and help Smisek illegally outsource CAL flying. Yup, I'd say that qualifies as a "whipsaw" carrier. That's not the same thing as saying that 100% of its pilots are worthless... but the collective actions of the group speak for themselves.

If I offend you, then I'm sorry. If my logic is invalid, then by all means educate me. If I used offensive language, then report my post to a moderator. But if you just don't like what I said, then feel free to ignore my post.

What facts? You are entitled to your opinion but please do not pass them off as facts. Especially when so many have had a rough few years in an over saturated job market.

The first year pay is not accurate, it is based on an old pay scale at min garentee. It does not take into account current pay or work rules which although could be better, they are better than most.

As for IAH there is a shortage, it is the most junior base and it's increase is at the cost of ORD.

Smisek tried to use SkyWest to get around scope, and an arbitrator put a stop to the Continental flight numbers. Many of us are well aware of the issue and after the arbitrator's ruling United did cancel a flight after a SkyWest crew delayed a flight to find out if there was a scope violation. That has definitely set a precedence and as far as I know United has not tried to use CAL flight numbers again. I certainly don't like what is going on either because United is using their flight numbers but sadly there is nothing illegal about it so until all of us (including Continental's pilot group) can agree on where to draw the line it is business as usual. Please troll somewhere else.

Here's a fact for you:
Continental flight 8083 is scheduled to fly from IAH - DEN on 1 May. It's a CRJ700 operated by SkyWest.

Just go to Continental Airlines - Airline Tickets, Vacations Packages, Travel Deals, and Company Information on continental.com and search for flights from IAH-DEN on 1 May. It's a 0600 departure.

Smisek has never even attempted to comply with the ruling. I agree that you guys are in a tough situation and you're essentially forced to be complicit in all of this. That's another reason it's called a whipsaw.

I understand that it's a tough job market out there. Holy hell, I was furloughed in 2008 and in 2009 I got another notification that my subsequent job was about to be downsized. But I didn't jump on any "opportunities" to join the ranks of SkyWest or any other "regional" carrier.

Congrats on making more than $19,800 in the first year. What is it now - $25,000? I guess that makes it all worthwhile.

Riddler,

I guess my main issue with your stance is that you seem to be singling SkyWest out when in fact the problem runs deeper than one airline, it is the epitome of the regional enigma. Shuttle America has contracted to do 66 seat lift out of Newark in the same way SkyWest is operating out of IAH and in both cases, although it certainly doesn't comply with the spirit of the law, apparently it complies with the letter. I'd love to see a judge slap Smisek a big fine for clearly violating CAL's scope, but a contract is only as good as the legalese used in it and perhaps the ALPA lawyers didn't think the new United would stoop this low, thus necessitating the need for more specific prohibitions against 50+ seat jet flying.

The issue we're discussing will likely blend into the evolution of the commuter to a regional and how it is now actively threatening jobs at the majors. Most of us at regionals want to move on, so we understand the irony of the flying we're doing. That being said, I take responsibility for being a part of this destructive machine and I can only hope that the guys and gals at the legacy carriers vote for stricter scope clauses in the future, because you can be certain that SkyWest hasn't dealt their last ace yet.

CAL pays $26,754 first year to fly a/c twice as big; CPASM SKW pilots get paid more. Yes it's a joke and yes the industry sucks but it sucks from the top to the bottom especially since the top created the bottom.