What are the pros?
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 15
What are the pros?
Hey guys, interested in Skywest but as i look through their website i cant find any info in terms of what are the good benefits of choosing Skywest over say envoy. Skywest isn't offering any bonus, theyre paying $45/hr as oppose to $50 at envoy. Also there isn't any info on career progression for ex envoy psa pdt offer a guaranteed flow to AA and other regionals offer interviews and the United Aviate. All this considered Skywest shouldnt be as big as it is and should be struggling to hire pilots but they arent. So my question is can someone please give me the run down on why i should pick skywest over the other regionals.
BTW im in the process of choosing the regional i want to fly for here are my options.
1.ENVOY(FLOW+BONUS+PAYHOURLY)
2.PIEDMONT(FLOW+BONUS+PAYHOURLY)
3.PSA(FLOW+BONUS+PAYHOURLY)
4.SKYWEST(REPUTATION QOL+ERJ175)
5.MESA(ROUTES+ERJ175+UNITEDAVIATE)
6.EXPRESSJET(UNITED AVIATE)
BTW im in the process of choosing the regional i want to fly for here are my options.
1.ENVOY(FLOW+BONUS+PAYHOURLY)
2.PIEDMONT(FLOW+BONUS+PAYHOURLY)
3.PSA(FLOW+BONUS+PAYHOURLY)
4.SKYWEST(REPUTATION QOL+ERJ175)
5.MESA(ROUTES+ERJ175+UNITEDAVIATE)
6.EXPRESSJET(UNITED AVIATE)
Last edited by Kiko809; 03-02-2020 at 04:13 PM.
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,202
That extra $5 a hr doesn't go very far, when your commuting from the west coast to NYC.. forget those numbers/flow... that can all change with one downturn.. Pick based off location..
23 years of this game tells me location and growth... Go where you can live in base and a growing airline..
23 years of this game tells me location and growth... Go where you can live in base and a growing airline..
#3
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 15
That extra $5 a hr doesn't go very far, when your commuting from the west coast to NYC.. forget those numbers/flow... that can all change with one downturn.. Pick based off location..
23 years of this game tells me location and growth... Go where you can live in base and a growing airline..
23 years of this game tells me location and growth... Go where you can live in base and a growing airline..
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: RJ Captain
Posts: 1,173
Benefits? More domiciles to choose from than all those other companies combined? Upgrade as soon as you hit minimums? If I lived on the east coast I'd find the closest regional to home/easiest commute if I didn't want to move.
If the economy crashes, where would you want to work at for a few more years than planned?
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2013
Posts: 410
Theres a ton of open time at SkyWest. You can fly as much as you want and credit 100 plus every month if you want. I've done over 120 many times.
I chose SkyWest for the many bases throughout the country. If I choose to move at some point, there will most likely be a SkyWest base close by.
I chose SkyWest for the many bases throughout the country. If I choose to move at some point, there will most likely be a SkyWest base close by.
#6
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Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 200
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#8
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Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 51
Honestly unless you’re living or want to live in the Midwest or on the West coast, there’s nothing compelling about coming here. The main reason I picked SKW was the basing allowing me to not commute, good rep from ex-SKW guys, low upgrade times, decent pay, and options if I was forced to stay here longer than planned.
If I was east coast I’d think about Republic, Endeavor or maybe one of the AA WO’s.
If I was east coast I’d think about Republic, Endeavor or maybe one of the AA WO’s.
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 180
It’s certainly not easy to choose the right regional. Even straight pay rate is a poor metric since what you actually make will depend heavily on how long you are on reserve, deadhead pay, trip/duty rigs, available open time and the incentives available, various bonuses (not just new hire bonuses), etc, etc, etc. Then you get into all of the QOL rules... It’s enough to make your head spin and while some data may be available, making sense of it all is pretty much impossible.
I agree with the above posters who recommended that you choose a regional with a *junior* base within easy driving distance of where you live, or you commit to moving to one. That’s the one constant. People make commuting to mainline work because they’re making so much money. Commuting to a regional is another animal and not having to is generally worth giving up pay and some QOL rules.
Since you asked why OO is so popular, here are some common reasons why people choose SkyWest:
It’s well managed, has never furloughed a pilot, and is considered more likely than most to weather another economic downturn without going out of business.
Lots and lots of bases if you ever get sick of where you live, or your wife gets a job opportunity elsewhere.
All things considered, pay is competitive with other regionals.
Flys for all 3 legacies and Alaska. Which means it’s less likely to fall on hard times if it falls out of favor with one of them, or if one of them starts to struggle.
Generally people are happy here, and I don’t see nearly as many “fly hard and get out as fast as you can” posts from SkyWest pilots. I turned down a hefty bonus from TSA to come to SkyWest even though TSA also had a junior base where I lived. I certainly don’t regret that decision now.
No junior manning.
Does any of that mean it’s right for you? I don’t know. I wouldn’t bank on flow or guaranteed interviews. An interview doesn’t equal a job. An interview you could only get because you were guaranteed one certainly doesn’t. And the flow is a long way down the line and will get a lot further down the line once the economy takes a hit.
I’d be careful with Mesa. Regional pilots very rarely give up their seniority to go to another regional. In fact, I’ve never personally met any who have...except from Mesa and Great Lakes. Great Lakes went out of business, and I’ve flown with quite a few former Mesa pilots who have decided that it was worth giving up years of seniority to get out of there.
You really need to say where you live and how hard it would be to move to get better advice. Good luck to you whatever you decide.
I agree with the above posters who recommended that you choose a regional with a *junior* base within easy driving distance of where you live, or you commit to moving to one. That’s the one constant. People make commuting to mainline work because they’re making so much money. Commuting to a regional is another animal and not having to is generally worth giving up pay and some QOL rules.
Since you asked why OO is so popular, here are some common reasons why people choose SkyWest:
It’s well managed, has never furloughed a pilot, and is considered more likely than most to weather another economic downturn without going out of business.
Lots and lots of bases if you ever get sick of where you live, or your wife gets a job opportunity elsewhere.
All things considered, pay is competitive with other regionals.
Flys for all 3 legacies and Alaska. Which means it’s less likely to fall on hard times if it falls out of favor with one of them, or if one of them starts to struggle.
Generally people are happy here, and I don’t see nearly as many “fly hard and get out as fast as you can” posts from SkyWest pilots. I turned down a hefty bonus from TSA to come to SkyWest even though TSA also had a junior base where I lived. I certainly don’t regret that decision now.
No junior manning.
Does any of that mean it’s right for you? I don’t know. I wouldn’t bank on flow or guaranteed interviews. An interview doesn’t equal a job. An interview you could only get because you were guaranteed one certainly doesn’t. And the flow is a long way down the line and will get a lot further down the line once the economy takes a hit.
I’d be careful with Mesa. Regional pilots very rarely give up their seniority to go to another regional. In fact, I’ve never personally met any who have...except from Mesa and Great Lakes. Great Lakes went out of business, and I’ve flown with quite a few former Mesa pilots who have decided that it was worth giving up years of seniority to get out of there.
You really need to say where you live and how hard it would be to move to get better advice. Good luck to you whatever you decide.
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