Training is 6-8 weeks in SLC, so you'd be gone for awhile at first. Especially combined with the initial assignment if you don't live in ORD or MSP.

As far as how many nights away from home? That varies. I had months on reserve where I only spent 1-2 nights away, I worked like a dog every day and was pretty much useless, but I was home. Then there was months where I spent 13+ nights in a hotel (many on TDY, just sitting).

As a lineholder I average more nights away from home each month, but have more total days off and am not nearly as wore out. Life is better.

It's still a regional, so you can't be that excited or comfortable. Don't come to SKW unless you can get off reserve within 6 months, otherwise it will begin to consume your soul.

 

[QUOTE=Electra;1749867]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.[/QUOTE]

Here's what my wife and I are hoping for.......Based in COS or DEN within a few years of being hired, the ONLY thing we care to pursue is a descent schedule, being based within one hour of our domocile (COS or DEN). We have no plans of starting over at the bottom with a major, I don't care if I ever make captain or fly all weekends and holidays or fly a NEW jet. Would love a 30 year career with skywest and retire a happy man whose kids still loved him and brought their kids (my grandkids) over ALOT! Thats all! LOL

 

We are planning to avoid commuting at all costs. We will move to wherever our first domocile is, probably msp or ord. Just get a rental house. Wife has no job, and homeschooling the kids so we are very mobile. Even planning to do a vacation home during training in SLC. (not sure i can live on pizza and fast food for 6 weeks,and nothing beats my wifes cooking!)

 

Because:
When you come home, your kids will say "mommy who is that man and why is he sleeping on the UPS mans side of the bed"

 

COS or DEN should be pretty easy to get. Especially COS. (at least right now) DEN saw newhires earlier this year.

 

If we get DEN or COS out of training that would be awesome......but we are just planning on ORD or MSP. Better to expect the worst and be surprised when it turns out better than you thought right? Kinda like alot of my landings!

 

You are gonna hate the line. This job is akin to being a hobo, get up at 0400, eat a grab and go bag, with a muffin, yogurt, green orange and a kiddie sized bottle of apple juice. Get to the airport, fly to a hub, sit for 3 hours, round trip for another 2 hour sit, then fly to an ourstation, get in at 2000 after waiting for the van for 45 minutes.
Rinse and do it 3 more times, except if you are a reserve, you get the super special treat, Ready Reserve, before you try to go home(usually after the last departure has left). You will become a Skype expert, and learn to love hotel turkey sandwiches on thanksgiving.
My bet after reading your posts, 2 years tops, before you quit. This is not a job for home loving family guys/gals. It used to be, but not anymore. Add commuting into the mix and its old before it starts.

 

Sounds like you have the right mindset to make it work. Good luck broseph!

 

flylowfast, DEN & COS are easily doable within the first year. If you can afford the pay for your family, you might actually be pleasantly surprised with the job. If your wife and kids are home all day every day, then only being off mid-week won't be as detrimental as it is for some others. Even on reserve, the minimum days off is 12 for 31-day months and 11 for 30-day months (though they do tend to manipulate the number of days in the "month" around February so I think most of the first half of the year was comprised of 30 day months this year). The part CCB said about living like a hobo is moderately exaggerated, but you will definitely not enjoy much of your wife's cooking while you are overnighting three nights in a row in Canada. It will be an adjustment, just be prepared.

 

Maybe true. I just hope i get the chance to fly with you CCB during those 2 years!! I bet the company gives out a ribbon or trophy or something for guys that have flown with you. Kinda like when you land at leadville, co. They give you a corny certificate for landing at the highest airport in the US.