Based on how it's looking right now, it would be a 3 year upgrade minimum at SkyWest. You'd be #28XX and need to get through about 1000 numbers before upgrade. At 20/month attrition that's roughly 4 years.

Stick it out at Mesaba.

What is your hire date at XJ? I was late May and am holding a good line in MSP. Take the upgrade next spring and you will most likely be able to hold MSP again as CA. Or just stay in MKE, take the upgrade and commute. I commuted MSP-DTW in September and it wasn't too bad but different people have different opinions on commuting.

I say get the PIC and then you will be able to make a decision based on more viable options down the road.

Not the WORST thing in the world. I mean, you could get stuck in a Baron flying checks, or in a Beech 1900 for 6 years till the industry recovers.

What is SkyWest's upgrade minimums? More than ATP 1500 hours?

2500 TT and 1000 Crew.

Thanks for all of the input. I hadn't really considered Frontier before, but it does seem interesting seeing they are based in DEN. A week ago, I was pretty sure that I would be trying for SkyWest, but a lot of good points were brought up against that decision. I haven't decided for sure what I want to do, but Mesaba's 6 month or less upgrade would be a tough thing to give up.

My prediction in one years time you could be left seat in a 900. There are going to be more than 36 coming to us. There is too much ramping up here for just 36 900's and 17 200's. Stay here.

What are you talking about? last time I checked 36+17 = 53 airplanes in 1 1/2 years time being delivered at 4 per month is a whole lot of airplanes and that might require some "ramping up" I am not saying you guys arent going to get more but come on, dont get to greedy now, remember that NWA has to get some mainline planes ordered before more 76 seaters are allowed, and then there is that airline named compass