Pilot Flip

From what I understand, there are no direct entry captains hired. If I was to come on board with previous regional time and meeting captain minimums, how long would I be looking at until upgrade? I’m not picky on the metal I’d be flying, but I would like MSP, SLC, or DEN for commuting purposes. Of course, based on company need, subject to change, etc. Thanks.

CRJJ

My DOH is 08/06/19, and 2 guys from my class upgraded already. One was a Gojet captain, and the other one Comair back in the day.

Flymeaway

If you're willing to take the CRJ upgrade class over Christmas/New Years, then most likely this Christmas/New Years. That class has been going extremely junior the last few years...to the point management sends out emails begging FOs to put bids in. You'll be the junior of the junior though for awhile. Those guys are holding DTW, MSP, and COS it looks like, but DTW is your most likely landing spot. But you'll be on reserve until you get a couple years with the company and guys without previous 121 time hired before you stop upgrading in front of you...of course I suppose that's just as true with a DEC situation.

Disclaimer: If you have previous 121 time, then obviously you know there aren't any sure things.

Pilot Flip

Thanks for the info.

flyerforhire

I also have previous 121 experience. I have a CRJ type rating. Would the most junior CRJ CA base still be about two years on reserve for someone like me? Would the kind of reserve you get, home or ready, be all about what you can get through bidding? Are all reserve lines at SkyWest ones with 11 days off? Or, are there lines that offer more days off per month?

Thank you for any information you have!

Flymeaway

DTW has historically over the past couple years really flowed folks through quickly. It’s the most junior and most folks want to head west as soon as they can. It has 140 captains and 12 reserve lines in March. I have no idea if any senior guys bid reserve, but the 13th most junior guy has a 2/18 hire date. So that would indicate about 2 years. There were 14 upgrades and 3 CA transfers into DTW this month with 7 of those junior to that bottom line holder and 10 senior.

The junior guy in COS that should get a line is a 5/17 hire, so around 2 years 9 months.

The CRJ type and previous 121 time will help you with pay and bonuses, but not with holding a line. Like everywhere else, it’s all seniority.

There are no ready lines at OO. It’s long call or short call. Ready is an assignment that can be given to you. To the senior guy that has call first selected, or the junior if there aren’t any call firsts. SAPA supposedly has something in the works to limit the amount of ready one pilot can be assigned in a month and to eliminate it from call first, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Some bases get a lot of ready, some very little. I wouldn’t count on sitting around getting paid doing nothing on the CRJ though. Not unless this Coronavirus thing hits a lot harder than expected. CRJ guys fly.

Days off depends on whether it’s 30 or 31 days in the bid period. You work 18 days per month on reserve.

herewego

There fixed it for you

Flymeaway

Yeah herewego is right. Mainline has been insisting that we have more ready reserves available so CS has been handing out a lot more RR assignments in the past year or so. Outstation bases usually don’t have many or any, but hubs can have 4 or 5 guys sitting around for 8 hours. And they always get used last, which means usually not at all. It means you end up getting paid to sit around the airport reading a book or watching Netflix for the day. There are harder jobs out there, but it doesn’t get you closer to mainline and most guys don’t like it.

flyerforhire

Thank you for all of the information! I really do appreciate it. At first, I would certainly want to fly, coming back after not flying for a while. I would then upgrade, and get flying done as captain. But, after getting comfortable in the left seat, I would be fine hanging out until I get a regular line.. I very likely would just stay at the most junior base, since I will be commuting anyway. I will wrap up my career at whatever regional I land at. So, getting hours for the sake of hours isn't too important to me. Feeling comfortable with flying again is what is most important to me.

Flymeaway

Well, if you are going to stay at a regional, do any regionals have bases within a couple hours' drive of where you live? Commuting to reserve = no fun.