So I’ve got class date options both in June for either ERJ or CRJ. Which do I pick? Is the CRJ a dying fleet, with not much flying? I am in it for the career progression and getting to a major ASAP. I lean towards the CRJ for faster moving seniority, and stray away from the ERJ due to training delays and slow moving seniority. What do?

 

Where do you want to be based? Commuter or moving there?

 

I would ultimately move. As for where I want to be based, I don’t mind. I plan to float around from place to place for the first many years of my career

 

if you dont mind being based in denver or Minneapolis or detroit or chicago, the CRJ is fine.

if you want to be anywhere on the west coast the ERJ is what you want.

coming from an LAX based CRJ FO. Our options are extremely limited and its a bummer.

 

Whatever gets you in the quickest if you're trying to move quick. Then worry about bases. Check the SkyWest website for bases for the fleets. Not sure if they have it updated, but I imagine so. CRJ is "dying" but it will be around for quite a while longer. I flew both and the ERJ is better in a lot of ways, but the CRJ is also fine. If you like DMA (Aspen and Eagle) flying they both do it. CRJ mostly Aspen with some Eagle, ERJ only Eagle. From friends who are still there, upgrade times seem pretty even. They're hurting for captains either way. Training I found to be a lot nicer on the ERJ. Just different atmosphere and you train in DEN, vs SLC in the CRJ. Not that the training in the CRJ is bad, the vibe just seemed different. But at the end of the day you can't go wrong either way. If you're really set on SKW enjoy it. The crews are the best part. Flying is flying no matter where you go.

 

Seniority moves fast no matter which plane you’re on.

 

On skywest website it doesn't show atlanta GA for a domicile for DEC. I would be interested in coming in as a DEC but I'd prefer ATL as I live close. It shows junior CA in ATL as 2/2023 but on DEC page ATL is missing from list of domiciles. Could I get clarification that ATL is still an option for CRJ and if so is it still junior. Thanks yall

 

Atlanta is still a domicile and the most junior one as well.

Plenty of captain vacancies in ATL, DTW, ORD, and MSP.

 

Is ATL a junior FO base as well? When it comes to base selection, how do new-hires choose?

I just got accepted for an interview and I hate the idea of living anywhere up north or on the west coast as a life long southerner.

 

Currently, ATL doesn't look so junior. Bottom of the list not still in training has been based in Fresno and Denver. That could all change though over the next six months. If attrition stays the same we'll lose another 25% of our pilots. About half of those captains, the other first officers. Additionally, upgrade classes are being scheduled into September now. They'll be plenty of movement.

Base selection is done by a bid, in seniority order. You'll list the domiciles you want in order of preference. I believe when you are in Sim they are awarded based upon vacancies at that time. Not all domiciles will have vacancies. After that there is a system wide bid at the end of every month. Transfers and upgrades are awarded at that time. It's theoretically possible to change domiciles every month assuming openings and you have the seniority. You cannot bump someone out of a domicile, nor be bumped out once awarded one.

18 months with the company currently puts you at about 50% on the company wide seniority list.