you're absolutely right!

 

Whatever man, continue to blame PSA for your base closing and your "life sucking". Your whoa is me crap is tiring.

Every single damn time I try to answer a question with actual facts I get jumped on and you are also in on it every time.

No matter what the question, or what the thread you tough guys seem to have all the answers, even though most of your "answers" are conjecture at best.

If you want a "PSA sucks" thread go ahead and start one and I won't argue when you post true statements. This thread isn't that thread and all I said was QoL at PSA is pretty good, even for the most junior line holder. That is what this thread is about.

 

 

Back to the OP's question...

At the larger SkyWest domiciles it would be possible to work high paying locals. When properly staffed you can bid/drop down to as few as 59 hours or fly as much as you are legal for. High paying would mean a credit of 6:30 or more. If locals aren't your thing than split duties or 2 or 3 days trips are available as well. The trick is to work high daily credit trips to maximize the number of days off. Some trips push the daily credit up to 7:30 or so.

What might be one's ideal schedule might not be another's, but if you are senior enough working 2 or 3 days a week of your choosing is possible. Keep in mind though that in order to bid in the top 10-20% of the seniority list for that position and domicile you're passing up a transition or upgrade -- which is perfectly fine if that's what you wan to do. (Nearly 500 out of the 1600+ FOs at SkyWest could hold the junior captain seat but have chosen to stay in the right seat.)

Our smaller domiciles typically don't have trips that pay as well on daily basis as the larger ones.

Living in domicile is a must.

You can still have a pretty good schedule bidding middle of the list. Below 60% things start to go down hill.

You can be very senior at a domicile like ORD or MSP and not even be able to hold a reserve line in place like SEA or PDX. It varies greatly among domiciles. I'd bid in the top 5% in MSP, 10% in ORD or IAH, but sit middle of the list in SLC.

 

Skywest is ok, I'm there and it's alright but 117 has adversely affected us, both reserves and lineholders. Come here if you like the bases and can stand a long upgrade. I personally think that regional FOs will go straight to the legacies in the next few years.

Compass pilots that I've talked to seem to be happy with their qol. Whisky has a great group of pilots and a great contract, but try and get some first hand scouting reports on their longer term prospects before going there.

 

FO's are already getting hired right now to mainline with a strong reference. Your right Whiskey has not re-newed their contract with Airways and I believe it ends in 2015.

 

Thanks for the great SkyWest write-up UTAH.

Anyone from Compass?

 

As others have said, living in base is HUGE. SKW is certainly a good place to do that since they don't always burn reserves at both ends (like some places) and when you get a line you can manipulate it to suit yourself, and there are a lot of good work rules.

Several other regionals would certainly offer good QOL in base too. If you're free and willing to move, then look at the bases for SKW, CZ, XJT, air whiskey, and horizon. I would guess movement/upgrade opportunity would be in this order: CZ, SKW, XJT, horizon. Not sure about air whiskey, probably not much opportunity but better than horizon.

IMO upgrade and QOL are not totally un-related unless you're independently wealthy. Upgrade means more dough which helps QOL, as well as enhancing your upward mobility which is really the best thing you can do for QOL in the long run.

You might consider mesa, psa, or endeavor if you're a career-oriented gambling man looking for a fast upgrade. They'll treat you like crap but living in base might take the edge off that and upgrades should come quickly if they can somehow actually staff all the new planes they're supposed to be getting. But if the music stops and you get stuck for years as an FO at one of those places you'll wish you'd never been born (or wish you'd been sold into sex slavery in SE asia shortly after birth).

 

This is exactly why I'm trying to educate myself on QOL (sched/salary) that is not based on upgrade, but rather a worst-case scenario with years in the right seat.

I'm surprised that CZ is thought of having a swift upgrade, I figured things would be slow over there.

 

Best Salary / QOL is the one that gets you to the left seat the quickest.