flyerforhire

I live in a city with a lot of good travel options, so that is good. And, I can get to a number of SkyWest's nearby hubs in a few ways. But, I would most likely just bunk in the city I am based for a while, and gauge what looks best for a base to settle in to.

Flymeaway

I understand you want to protect your anonymity, but this is so vague I'm not really sure what to make of it.

Do you mean you are happy to move to a junior base? If so, it certainly gives you more options on which airline you might want to go to. You said you will "be commuting anyway" which would lead me to believe that you are unwilling to move.

Does bunking in a city mean getting an apartment and moving, or living out of a hotel or crashpad during your reserve blocks? I highly discourage you from commuting to reserve for any serious length of time. You are very unlikely to be happy. If the regional you choose is going to be where you retire, I wouldn't be in a huge rush to upgrade. Most captains report that they see a very small increase in their paycheck when they upgrade. The hourly rate goes up, but they go from 90+ hours/month to min guarantee. And you'll be flying. And know your schedule. And have a say in that schedule. And be flying with experienced captains not brand new FOs. Commuting isn't nearly so bad if you have a line, though I'd always recommend moving if you can.

As far as being "close enough" you really need to be within an hour and 15 minutes or so of the airport parking lot so that you don't get yourself in trouble every time you end up in a minor traffic jam if you are going to be on reserve very long. And if you plan to try to upgrade really quickly due to previous 121 time, you're a lot more likely to be on reserve longer than normal.

flyerforhire

Oh yeah! I am absolutely going to go to the most junior base. No doubt. I was used to more commutable schedules, and so I would like to commute. But, if I am going to be on reserve, you are right in that commuting is next to impossible. I've lived in many places, and can settle in pretty well. But, I can get back to my current city relatively easily if I want.

Yeah, I would probably stay in the hotel where you can get the company's rates. I would look into an apartment when I got the chance. That first year would all be about getting back into the swing of things and getting comfortable with flying, in general, and with the airline I fly for, specifically. I know that it could be close to 24/7/365, so I am not expecting a lot of free time.

I always flew guarantee. That was enough for me. If there is a heck of an incentive to do more, I would consider it, if the trips were interesting to me, and were productive in hours. When I go to work, I want to work, I don't want to sit around. So, on reserve, that can be the case. But, with getting extra hours, I would want those to be productive and profitable.

I am considering SkyWest because I like the airline, and where they fly. And, I have a CL-65 type. But, they will match up to 10 years of your 121 experience for pay, vacation, retirement, etc. So, that is important to me.

I would upgrade as soon as I could, regardless. I have spent a majority of my 121 time in the left seat, and want to use as much of my experience as I can.

Flymeaway

Well, if you have significant 121 time, then you know it isn't 24/7/365 at least after you're done with LOE. If you live in a hotel on reserve, you're likely to spend as much on the hotel as you make in a month, so an apartment is the way to go.

I don't think you'll have the kind of say in how much you fly at SkyWest as you seem to imply. It's very likely to change drastically next month, but for the last few years junior lineholders flew 90+ hours per month whether they wanted to or not. I had to break 30% in seat to have a min line credit value under 90 hours. These next few months they very well may fly min guarantee whether they want to or not (along with the senior guys too.) We'll see.

As far as productive trips go, that's what most people want so the more productive the trips are, the more senior you have to be to hold them. Junior guys get the less productive trips, though we do have a 2:1 duty rig so mostly you'll fly at least half the time you're at work. Airport sits are a fact of life though unless you are the tippy top of the seniority list. And that'll be true anywhere.

We're having a little hiccup in the industry right now as you might have noticed. SkyWest is still hiring for now, but reserve times might be increasing significantly. I'm curious to see what April's bid package looks like...maybe it'll be okay, but it also wouldn't shock me one bit to find that you have to bid 50% or better just to stay off reserve next month.

flyerforhire

Thank you for the continued information! Yeah, I thought the 90 hours would come from grabbing up extra time. But, if it is mandatory, it will be what it will be. The 2:1 rig does encourage them to make trips more productive, as you said.

Well, if they are going to fly you, they are going to fly you. It sounds like they need more pilots. If I have a CRJ type, will it still be 1 1/2 years to upgrade, even at the most junior base?

I know that, if you upgrade before others waiting to get their hours, that they will go in front of you for scheduling when they do upgrade, so more time on reserve.