2,500 Hour Upgrade & Helicopter Time
 

Hey Everyone,

I was seriously considering SkyWest as a post-military job. I recently found out, however, the company [allegedly] requires 2,500 hours fixed-wing time in order to upgrade. Is this true? Most, if not all the other regionals I’ve been talking to require 2,500 hours TOTAL time (and obviously the 1,000 SIC 121 hours) in order to upgrade.

Since this would add over an additional year to upgrade, SkyWest has fallen to the bottom of my list of places to work. Is there any chance this may be going away in the current environment?

I would bet that time changes... to much growth to hold those times... were already hit that line and the 45 new E175’s are just starting. Bet by Christmas there is a new time requirement..

Everything with regionals is changing faster than web developers can keep up.

1. Call a recruiter. Listen carefully to their response, for any hints of BS or fabrication.

2. Try to find someone who works there who will send you the PPM, which will show the current applicable rules.

I don't recall if the 2500 had to be FW. IIRC the 2500 always stated that it was waiver-able by the company, and I would guess that they would waive for a mil helo guy rather than letting a CFI upgrade ahead of you out of seniority... that would just be dumb.

But you probably need to make your decision based on known fact, vice what is likely. I would call the recruiters though... they might not even realize that language is still in the PPM, and it's probably something they need to change sooner rather than later anyway. Or just ask them for a written waiver before you accept the job, problem solved.

2500 fixed wing
1000 multi
1000 turbine
1000 company time or equivalent

May be waived if there are no other pilots qualified to fill the positions.

I know a guy who powered lift time and the company was willing to apply it to fixed wing, multi, turbine time for meeting the upgrade requirements.

I hope that’s the case. There’s quite a few mil helo guys that are fully qualified for an airline job that were looking at SkyWest but changing plans due to the time restriction. I’m not sure what staffing looks like at OO right now, but if it’s trending the same way other 121 FFD airlines are headed, I’m surprised they’re still holding that restriction.

Thank you so much for the advice. You’re absolutely right though, it does boil down to making a decision on fact, not what is likely. I’d call a recruiter, but I’m currently deployed in somewhat austere conditions that makes voice communications very limited (too slow for VoIP, but I do have slower-than-dialup speed internet at least). I’ll see if I can acquire the PPM because I am curious if the original information I was fed is presently incorrect.

Oddly enough, I queried them before about rotary-wing hours and the minimum FW hours required to apply for an FO job and it was incorrect on their website, and then subsequently updated. If it’s still the current policy, I’ll ask for a written waiver prior to accepting a job.

Interesting. I suppose I could understand powered lift time counting towards captain minimums (assuming a tilt rotor design), but they’re still more aerodynamically similar to a conventional helicopter than they are a multi-engine airplane.

Any updates on this recently?

It looks like the fixed wing requirement is gone. You'll still need 2500tt though. 1000 in the right seat.

Awesome! I just got access to all the manuals, do you know if it's referenced anywhere?