TSA is sitting around 11 mos now. Less if they can find enough FOs to keep that seat staffed while they upgrade.

 

Actually we had 57 leave in January.

 

Hard to believe that...41 FO's went to majors in one month??? There haven't been 41 captains going to majors in one month from one regional...besides maybe one with a flow like Compass.

 

I didn't say all of the went to the major airlines. The majority did. This is ASA and Lxjt combined.

 

You're right - I read over the word "majority" - my mistake.

 

Some guys would rather work for a company that will work for them...maybe 2-4 years ago when they got hired at XYZ Airline - things weren't so shaded gray. I was looking at SKW because of the locations they had - being 25 minutes from a base sitting reserve would have been cake. I could get another part time job to supplement my income and still make a 2 hour call-out.

"Chasing the upgrade" is exactly that...is it possible in today's state of affairs - sure! But don't base the chase on the dangling carrot - use cold hard facts...example: Compass' flow to Delta...25% of the pilot group or 20/month in one year. Now that Delta has started the train - it's going to leave a void at Compass...a company that the pilots don't mind going to work at.

Base what choice you make upon what you can live with and to a certain extent - what you can tolerate...but don't drag the pilot group down with you because you aren't happy making $19/hour at Mesa because you want a quick upgrade.

Just my .02

 

XJT Reason for Separation – Change from Jan. 1 through Feb. 5, 2014

Corporate/Charter +3

Major +41

Regional +1

Retirement +2

Career Change +7

Other +27

TOTAL +81

 

"Other" +27. Career Change +7 CAs going to "majors" FOs going away. I rest my case.

 

It is a free country, the best thing about it is that you can choose to make whatever decision you want... And then later come here and complain about it, apparently. In all seriousness, the real downside to chasing an upgrade is that *IF* something catastrophic happens to the industry or your chosen company, your quick promised upgrade evaporates in a flash, and then what will you be left with?

The biggest malcontent FO's (and by far the biggest PITAs to fly with) all came to SkyWest seven years ago from other airlines when it was a nine month upgrade. They are the ones complaining loudest now about the six year time to get in the left seat because they EXPECTED a fast upgrade. Not saying it won't happen for you if you go to Mesa today, but it ought to be food for thought.

 

Other/Unknown - I would guess some of these went to other airlines as well. There is no breakdown for how many FO's went to the majors but I've talked to a few recently.