Notices
SkyWest Regional Airline

What are the pros?

Old 03-02-2020, 04:01 PM
  #1  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 15
Default 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)

Last edited by Kiko809; 03-02-2020 at 04:13 PM.
Kiko809 is offline  
Old 03-02-2020, 04:18 PM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,202
Default

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..
amcnd is offline  
Old 03-02-2020, 04:39 PM
  #3  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 15
Default

Originally Posted by amcnd View Post
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..
i live in the east coast and was hoping LGA/ORD/ATL base if i were to go with skywest. The flow would be a back up plan in case none of the major call during my stay at say envoy psa or pdt. thank you for your input but i would like to know what are the benefits
Kiko809 is offline  
Old 03-02-2020, 04:46 PM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: RJ Captain
Posts: 1,173
Default

Originally Posted by Kiko809 View Post
i live in the east coast and was hoping LGA/ORD/ATL base if i were to go with skywest. The flow would be a back up plan in case none of the major call during my stay at say envoy psa or pdt. thank you for your input but i would like to know what are the benefits
LGA base is gone at the end of April.

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?
Utah is offline  
Old 03-03-2020, 08:42 AM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Mar 2013
Posts: 410
Default

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.
rswitz is offline  
Old 03-03-2020, 10:40 AM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 200
Default

Originally Posted by Kiko809 View Post
i live in the east coast and was hoping LGA/ORD/ATL base if i were to go with skywest. The flow would be a back up plan in case none of the major call during my stay at say envoy psa or pdt. thank you for your input but i would like to know what are the benefits
There really isnt a good argument to work for SkyWest if you are east coast. You have a lot of great options, airlines with better pay, work rules, and benefits, and bases in LGA, ATL and ORD. SkyWest isnt bad, and a good choice if you live out west, but it sounds to me like Endeavor, Republic and Envoy are better options for you.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Cazadores is offline  
Old 03-03-2020, 10:52 AM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,111
Default

If you’re on the East coast, your best bet is Republic or Endeavor.
hawk21 is offline  
Old 03-03-2020, 01:56 PM
  #8  
Line Holder
 
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 51
Default

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.
CRJiceADsucks is offline  
Old 03-03-2020, 04:07 PM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 180
Default

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.
Flymeaway is offline  
Old 03-03-2020, 06:35 PM
  #10  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,064
Default

There is only one rule that matters - do not commute if you can help it.
TFAYD is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
movingonup
Alaska
121
01-13-2019 05:12 PM
Yazzoo
Leaving the Career
49
08-01-2018 03:47 PM
cbrittle
Regional
59
10-28-2016 09:38 PM
cruiseclimb
Regional
11
05-05-2015 08:06 AM
3stripes
Republic Airways
54
03-14-2012 09:54 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices