It's the lack of accountability to the few rules we did have that drove me bonkers. They just tell you to call the chief or SAPA who can't/won't do anything about it, the only tool you have is the F word. Don't be afraid to use it.

Learn the rules, because at first they'll try and throw all sorts of crazy stuff at you.

 

I understand. I was TDY'd to sit reserve / rdy in another domicile this weekend. I guess my point is whether CS flies me, has me sit at the airport or in a hotel room, I am theirs on my reserve days. I do not like it, but I accept that is how it's gonna be. I could bid for a domicile where I'd hold a line, but then I would have to commute. There is always a tradeoff. Reserve blows, it blows worse if you have the notion that you have any control over it.

 

My favorite is when they TDY you into another domicile, then TDY someone from that domicile back into your base. That's a neat trick.

or when they TDY you somewhere as an AM reserve and change you to PM. Nothing like getting the 4am call day one and getting home at 0150 on "day 6".

 

Its like working for two different companies and two totally different qualities of life when being on reserve vs holding a line. I only live 20 min from the airport in one of our bases and I will do whatever it takes to avoid reserve. I think its that bad.

 

Well I'd love to fly for Skywest but I do not want it bad enough to miss my kids growing up. Really struggling with this decision, some guys hate their life and some love it based on what I've read in this forum. A forum is no place to base a big decision off of, but getting input from those who are already there is tough when you are not from the industry.
And we would be stupid to think that a persons job/pay is what determines whether they enjoy life or not........ok, I'm done.

 

I like my life at Skywest better than I think I would at just about any other regional. Skywest is still a regional though. They might treat you better than some other regionals, but still expect to be treated like you fly for a regional.

 

+1

Filler....

 

I don't care what I do....if I sit right seat for 10 yrs and never break 40k/year that's ok. $ is not an issue to us. But my family is everything, and so I don't like the thought of being the dad who was never there.
Question for all you Skywest guys....in the last 6 months how many nights did you spend away from home? Long days of doing hard work don't scare me the least bit, but sitting in some motel in ORD while my wife texts me pictures of the kids playing.....don't know if I could take that.

 

Reserve depends heavily on your attitude and expectations. While it's not great, especially when you're the plug, to me it beats being a Jr line holder. Of course, since I live in domicile I can understand a commuter needing a line.

Having any sort of semblance of seniority on reserve, many months I could work from 10-40hrs, have a TAFB <150hrs, and credit 76hrs. Most callouts being locals and 2days. I would also often pick up from open time a local or two and credit 86-90 hrs. Maybe sleep in a hotel 4 nights the whole month, be home about 20 days in the month. This being high 80% low 90% seniority in base. Or I could be a lineholder and get four 4day trips over the weekend for 76hrs of pay. Or credit 90hrs with 6 consecutive day work blocks and 10 days off.

I personally avoid reserve in the summer because I know I will be utilized. But most spring/fall/winter months when staffing is better, reserve gives me a much better QOL, and sometimes equal or better pay.

 

Well... Most people (myself included) tend to blow off steam here. It is NOT necessarily indicative of the global experience here. Longtime reserves will universally complain about the raw treatment they get from scheduling. Many people commute to reserve and are happy to get a TDY or a 5 day trip and the perdiem and get out of the hotbunked crash pad. But some of us live in domicile and get pretty peeved when we get sent somewhere week after week that people would like to transfer to, and sit 5 days unused, possibly costing us time at home with a loved one and the potential to sleep in our own bed. But SkyPilot35 is correct in that you are theirs for the duration of your reserve week. You have to stop expecting to stay home and get paid to play XBox until your eyes bleed, instead a day spent at home without a call should be a pleasant surprise.

As to your fear of missing out on your kids, well, that is the nature of this business. It's a decision only you can make for yourself. Depending upon where you choose to live and where you choose to be based, your time on reserve could be pretty short or long-term, your ability to tailor your schedule will depend on a lot of factors. You WILL be working weekends and holidays for a long time, and you'll probably miss a few birthdays. Down the road upgrading to Captain or going to a major will probably require the same kind of consideration. This isn't for everybody. It IS still the best job I've ever had.