Originally Posted by What (Post 1521145)

Read the last sentence again!

Originally Posted by block30 (Post 1521162)

Yes, I get what you are saying, but I guess I'm asking at such a young age is his/her mind made up? Are there other industry or life factors that might sway their decision? Given imminent industry movement and being that young I find the comment to be off the beaten path, but I respect their decision, and sharing their thoughts with the group.

Another reason I ask is that SKW seems* to have a lot of regional lifers (not meant to be derogatory), so maybe they could expand on their feelings about the company? I'm not trolling, I just finds other points of view interesting.

*This is just what I have heard. If it makes people feel better, I've gotten a similar impression from other regionals.

Originally Posted by Pilotguy143 (Post 1521203)

I'm an ex-Comair guy at G7.


There are several guys junior to me that were 25+ years at OH. If that isn't incentive enough to go to a major ASAP, I don't know what is.

Originally Posted by viper548 (Post 1521174)

With 30+ years left in my career it would be hard to say I'm committing to being a lifer here. I have no desire to leave in the near future but I am constantly evaluating that decision. There's always change in this industry, who knows what SkyWest will look like in 5, 10, 20 years. Up until a year or so ago I was trying to leave. It was the increase in QOL that made me want to stay.

Originally Posted by bcpilot (Post 1521238)

I was at the FAPA Job Fair in Orlando in Nov 2012. There was a guy there in his late 50's early 60's, a former Comair CA with 34,000 Hrs.

Wow.... 34,000+ hrs.. And he was looking for a job..

Now I don't know what his personal circumstances may have been but No matter how bad the last decade or 2 may have been, Do you think that he never got a chance to get to a more stable major job in those 34000 hrs....??

So, to the OP, do you want to be like that guy 30, 35, 40 yrs later....?

Originally Posted by flyingmau5 (Post 1520794)

With the hiring picking up both in majors and regionals, I would like to know if there are senior pilots are who are happy to be at a regional level. If so, what are the pros and cons of that specific company? What made you want to stay for so long? This thread is different than the "Which regional(s) are the best"? So please don't close this thread. It's meant to help pilots who may be interested in just staying at a regional as a lifer.

I am personally at crossroads, where I'm at the ripe age of 30. Not young, not too old but I am starting my way into 121. I eventually want to work for a major but who knows what will happen within the airline industry. What is more important, to be CA as fast as possible at a smaller regional (GLA, G7, TSA, PSA, PDT) or build more experience via a longer seniority route with a larger regional with the likes of SKW, XJT, AE, RAH, Mesa? Do larger regionals command a more reputable credential for future interviews with the legacy airlines?

Originally Posted by kingairfun (Post 1521212)

There's 2 lessons to be learned here....

1) don't aspire to be a regional lifer ( unless you have extraordinary circumstance like a Doctor spouse)

2) Be nice/respectful to your FO's because they could easily be your Captain someday. Or be on a hiring board, or be a connection to a better job.