guidoverduci

Thanks for the info! You're right… I don't know much about regionals. When you say SFO is a reserve base what exactly does that mean? My assumption is I'll be on call for 3-5 days out of SFO, maybe a 2 hour call out?… then at the end of my "shift", I'll be back at SFO and can drive home. Is that close? Or am I way off…

Also, since it would be easy to hold a line at FAT, then I would just drive 3 hours there, do my 3-5 day trip, then drive home… correct?

I know the pay is pretty bad, but I think at 2000 hours, I'm not quite marketable for any Major. I can still fly for the reserves and build time while flying for a regional… it seems like it would be much faster that way and a source of extra income! Plus throw in a couple deployments, maybe a short tour of some sort, and my seniority will climb while I'm working for uncle sam. Not too concerned with which plane, but like you said, quality of life. Being based in either SFO, LAX, or FAT.

DisbandtheRLA

SFO is not a reserve base. It used to be, but that changed long ago.

JethroFDX

I'm a civilian, but go ahead and apply for a job at the majors and wait for the call while flying for regionals. You'll get plenty of flight time plus lots of experience in the 121 world as well as increase your list of contacts. The thing is to also upgrade ASAP.

You've got a rare opportunity to have the best of both worlds for your résumé at both jobs. See where you want to be in 5 years. It's been a proven decision maker for me.

Good luck.

jc23

Answers to your Q's (by the way I was in ground school for the EMB 120 "Bro" at OO):

- Reserve base in SFO for OO, during 2010, meant you hang out at the airport or wait for a call (can't remember the call-out times, who cares, your on the hook either way). You stand reserve 21 or more days a month. Not sure what the status of SFO is today (assuming a base for the CRJ exists because I hear a lot of OO folks). I assume it would go senior for the CRJ if it is not a reserve base. Basically, QOL = Sucks (until u get seniority).

- In 2010 it was pretty easy to hold a line at FAT for the BRO. If nothing has changed, you could pretty much do as you said, assuming you are a line holder.

- 2000 hrs is not much time, but a lot of airlines (i.e. SWA, AS, etc.) will allow you to compute an additional .3 or so if you have military flight time (review company website for specifics). Depending on what platform you are on, 2000 hrs could look really good if you are a heavy guy and an IP. Everyone will have differing opinions on the subject of "experience", but just apply and see what happens. IMHO you are more than "marketable" because I know what you had to go through to get your wings as well as the standards that are expected of you as a military aviator. The civilian world is kinda hung up on hours vs quality, something you will have to get used to.

- Sounds like u got a pretty good plan with solid back-ups. Make sure you network with your squadron mates and your squadron mates friends! You never know who u may meat that is a base chief pilot for major airline X. If I were you and you can get into OO, give it a try so you can at least say you tried it, who knows, it may work for your situation. Plus, u will fly with a diverse group of folks and make some great friends along the way. If it gets to hectic....just take some AT orders. By the way, thanks for your service to our country.

SKYWCRJCA

JC23 stop giving someone wrong info about SFO.

SFO LAX AND FAT are all pretty junior on the FO side now, more so on the bro. 11-12 days off on reserve depending on the month. Short call is a 2 hour call out, long call is a 12 hour call out. If you live within an hour of your domicile reserve is not that bad(I've done almost 7 years of it). Considering you're in the military you could pick up as much military leave time you want to supplement pay and the company cant tell you no. That in itself would make your life better than those who can't do that.

SongMan

Does Skywest allow their pilots to fly as a CFI on their days off?

rcfd13

You're supposed to ask the chief pilot for permission to do it, but I have met people who instruct on their days off.

rcfd13

Jc23, Skywest is an airline. Airlines change a lot in two years.

SFO is a normal base (not reserve base) on both the CRJ and Bro. There are 35 guaranteed lines on the Bro there right now. SFO is also the 2nd most junior base on the bro right now behind PSP. FAT is typically the most junior base on the Bro but seems to have gone 'slightly' more senior when they reduced the lines.

At 6 months seniority on the bro someone would be a lineholder in PSP and SFO and have a composite in FAT. LAX is a bit more senior but you can pretty much hold a line anywhere on the Bro within a year.

SKYWCRJCA

Pretty much frowned upon and I doubt any chief pilot would approve it since it specifically says in our FOM outside flying is prohibited. Unless you're a member of the inner circle brotherhood if you know what I mean?

rcfd13

That's probably true but I don't see why. When I was on reserve I was averaging less than 10 hours a month. 100 in 30 and 1000 in a year would definitely not be a problem no matter how much I managed to instruct.