Friend that's sitting around waiting for IOE sent me this re: training...

We’re excited to announce that as of March 1 we have expanded our training footprint to include two additional days of simulator training for initial and upgrading students. The initial feedback about this enhancement has been very positive and is providing additional time for pilots to become proficient in training elements before their validation events.

SkyWest is continually working to expand our training capacity. We currently conduct training in SLC, DEN, ATL, STL, CVG, Paris, and soon we’ll be adding Helsinki, Finland and Seattle, Washington. No other airline has more CRJ and ERJ simulators for pilot training. This is an essential component of our formula to respond to pilot staffing and to be ready for growth opportunities.

 

Yup, lots of new sims coming. Only problem will be attracting pilots to put in said sims.

 

Classes are full through the summer. So far not an issue.

 

This is good for the company if it works out that way, but I still wonder 1- how many will actually show up to class. 2- how many will actually be here at the end of class. And 3- Summer is nearly here. If they only have decent numbers for a few months what is the plan beyond that?

Any FO's living in or near a Spirit/Frontier base will almost certainly be gone in under 12 months on top of the bleeding of captains. As others say, they really need to pony up on the pay rates and QoL immediately if they want to keep CAs and FOs for long enough that their investment in them pays off. Hoping SGU has a plan is all I can say.

 

plenty of pilots applying. Getting people the time to upgrade is the issue… we need Captains bad…hence the street captain program…

 

Yep again though, playing devils advocate...how many will show up, how many will be around long enough to complete class and how many will be there in 12 months? On paper you can get say, 500 applications accepted a month, but the number who show will be a vastly different story and the number who stick around long enough for it to work out how the company needs may be vastly different as well.

I am just saying I suspect the captain shortage to become an FO shortage as well and faster than you might expect, there just isn't any incentive to attract people now every other regional and even 135 operator seems to have Aviate or the like and insane sign on bonuses in many places OO has bases also. I am genuinely curious why would a new hire pick SkyWest in this climate, outside of the "they have west coat bases" argument. Most people want two things...a big fat bonus check and an easy ride to a major.

 

Another factor used to be "pick somewhere stable that you wouldn't mind getting stuck at if the music stops." That should still be a valid consideration when picking a regional. Sadly I think that SkyWest has fallen from being the "most stable" regional. With all of our cancellations and CS issues that have been going on for months, with no end in sight, I think there are far better options.

 

Which Regional Airlines are far better options than SkyWest? (aside from one in which you can live in base)

 

If you want a guaranteed career path to a major and 100K+ in bonus pay basically everyone else. If you want a career in a regional and nothing more then OO is a fine choice. I think I know which one most are aiming for.

 

Looking at the seniority list, the last two classes to be added to it (a crj and an erj) numbered in the mid thirties each. Like 32 crj and roughly 38 erj students. Is that full? Idk.

Looks like six street captains. Give or take a couple. Perhaps the program hasn’t been around long enough to judge. And idk, maybe six is good?