Choosing a base
 

Hey all, newb question. I’ve been a cfi for the last year and finally got my time. I just got the CJO about a month ago at Skywest, and I’m trying to decide on what base to bid/aim for. I plan on moving to wherever I eventually choose if I like it so I can have more time at home. Do you guys have any tips on picking where? I’m looking into things like the average length of trips they fly out of each, pros and cons of actually living in the city, and anything else useful that I don’t know to ask about yet. CRJ. Thanks for the feedback!

You really won't have much of a choice for at least a month or two once done with training... in that time you'll figure out what location/type of flying you like.

Also, don't plan too much... things change from month to month. Be prepared to be flexible.

If you want a line and to live in base. Start in DTW the movement is still the fastest. DTW has 200 and 700/900 which helps with variety . I am Atlanta based and live in Florida. The Atlanta flying is ok be it does get a little old. I try and pick up trips out of IAH, DFW and DTW to mix things up a little since I can commute easy to any of those bases out of Orlando but not worth it for me to based any where ele except Atlanta because I would have to pick up a hotel on one of the other sides. Also Detroit cost of living is the lowest for apartments or a crash pad. Best of luck Skywest is a great place to be.

This is not true. Almost every CRJ base is available before training is finished sans maybe LAX and SFO.

Move to DTW. Your seniority will move quickly there, it's the junior base for captains, and there are decent places not far from the airport and it's cheap.