Skywest vs PSA
02-05-2015, 06:22 PM
#11
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 39
Theswede,
My thoughts on this are based on your goal of getting a job with a major. Whatever company will provide you more flight time per year would be my choice. With more flight time comes more experience.
Plus, a company which you can upgrade in a couple of years will be a positive. Not saying you necessarily need TPIC time for a bigger airline, but it is rewarding on a professional level.
Working for an airline where you spend lots of time wishing you were airborne will get you paid. However, it will slow down your career progression.
Of course you have to do what is best for your scenario. Taking jobs to achieve your goal may come with risks. How long are you willing to wait for Compass to call?
My thoughts on this are based on your goal of getting a job with a major. Whatever company will provide you more flight time per year would be my choice. With more flight time comes more experience.
Plus, a company which you can upgrade in a couple of years will be a positive. Not saying you necessarily need TPIC time for a bigger airline, but it is rewarding on a professional level.
Working for an airline where you spend lots of time wishing you were airborne will get you paid. However, it will slow down your career progression.
Of course you have to do what is best for your scenario. Taking jobs to achieve your goal may come with risks. How long are you willing to wait for Compass to call?
02-05-2015, 06:26 PM
#12
Holding
Joined APC: Jan 2012
Posts: 208
If you're old enough (53 or older) to maybe become a regional lifer, than I'd consider Skywest. Otherwise I'd go with PSA.
And you might want to see if you can defer your class date a few months to see if Compass comes through. They have good movement, an LA base, and are I think a better operation than PSA.
And you might want to see if you can defer your class date a few months to see if Compass comes through. They have good movement, an LA base, and are I think a better operation than PSA.
02-05-2015, 06:26 PM
#13
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
Originally Posted by FlyinSailor
Theswede,
My thoughts on this are based on your goal of getting a job with a major. Whatever company will provide you more flight time per year would be my choice. With more flight time comes more experience.
Plus, a company which you can upgrade in a couple of years will be a positive. Not saying you necessarily need TPIC time for a bigger airline, but it is rewarding on a professional level.
Working for an airline where you spend lots of time wishing you were airborne will get you paid. However, it will slow down your career progression.
Of course you have to do what is best for your scenario. Taking jobs to achieve your goal may come with risks. How long are you willing to wait for Compass to call?
My thoughts on this are based on your goal of getting a job with a major. Whatever company will provide you more flight time per year would be my choice. With more flight time comes more experience.
Plus, a company which you can upgrade in a couple of years will be a positive. Not saying you necessarily need TPIC time for a bigger airline, but it is rewarding on a professional level.
Working for an airline where you spend lots of time wishing you were airborne will get you paid. However, it will slow down your career progression.
Of course you have to do what is best for your scenario. Taking jobs to achieve your goal may come with risks. How long are you willing to wait for Compass to call?
02-05-2015, 06:40 PM
#14
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by Theswede
I'd prefer to not wait. Is it a bad idea to go to one regional until Compass calls, and keep the application updated?
For me, I was called by Compass a day after I submitted my app. I say that because if a regional doesn't call right away, then you might be waiting more than you should.
Some choices do not come easy, but it seems like you are approaching this with an open mind.
Best of luck with the decision.
02-05-2015, 06:42 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2014
Position: CL65
Posts: 955
Training at PSA does not have a high failure rate. People that do not belong here fail out, that is true. The last statistics that I saw said that somewhere around 85% of the people that start training finish and end up flying on the line. Of the 15% that don't make it, only a small percentage of those are failures. Some people take other jobs, some quit all together, some lose their medicals, etc.
Right now, with more than half of the new hire classes at PSA being experienced 121 guys from other regionals, it is not uncommon for people to get hired at a major/lcc before they finish training.
Right now, with more than half of the new hire classes at PSA being experienced 121 guys from other regionals, it is not uncommon for people to get hired at a major/lcc before they finish training.
02-05-2015, 06:53 PM
#17
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
Originally Posted by fastback
If you're old enough (53 or older) to maybe become a regional lifer, than I'd consider Skywest. Otherwise I'd go with PSA.
And you might want to see if you can defer your class date a few months to see if Compass comes through. They have good movement, an LA base, and are I think a better operation than PSA.
And you might want to see if you can defer your class date a few months to see if Compass comes through. They have good movement, an LA base, and are I think a better operation than PSA.
Originally Posted by FlyinSailor
I do not know about lateral movements, but it seems to be common from what I have read on APC. Probably doesn't hurt if LAX is your goal. Just know that you will suffer twice going through 1st year FO pay if you do that. To top it off, then you are the junior guy again.
For me, I was called by Compass a day after I submitted my app. I say that because if a regional doesn't call right away, then you might be waiting more than you should.
Some choices do not come easy, but it seems like you are approaching this with an open mind.
Best of luck with the decision.
For me, I was called by Compass a day after I submitted my app. I say that because if a regional doesn't call right away, then you might be waiting more than you should.
Some choices do not come easy, but it seems like you are approaching this with an open mind.
Best of luck with the decision.
Originally Posted by CLT Guy
Training at PSA does not have a high failure rate. People that do not belong here fail out, that is true. The last statistics that I saw said that somewhere around 85% of the people that start training finish and end up flying on the line. Of the 15% that don't make it, only a small percentage of those are failures. Some people take other jobs, some quit all together, some lose their medicals, etc.
Right now, with more than half of the new hire classes at PSA being experienced 121 guys from other regionals, it is not uncommon for people to get hired at a major/lcc before they finish training.
Right now, with more than half of the new hire classes at PSA being experienced 121 guys from other regionals, it is not uncommon for people to get hired at a major/lcc before they finish training.
02-05-2015, 07:04 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: Canadian Alluminum Tubing Assistant Transporter
Posts: 164
IMHO your cons seem to far outweigh the pros for PSA.
If you want to stay west coast, SkyWest is a much better bet. PSA won't get you anywhere near the west coast for years to come.
Skywest's FO pay is better, and that's something you can count on if the music stops (not that it will anytime soon, BUT you never know...)
Upgrade time may be a a few years longer than PSA, but IMHO that con is not as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. If you're not happy where you're working, then what's the point of the quick upgrade? I'd rather be happy where I work and have a longer upgrade than somewhere I didn't want to be for a short upgrade in hopes of getting on with a major. Something to the effect of, don't forget to enjoy the journey not just the destination.
As far as the SkyWest QOL issues, I'm not sure what to say here. I read all the negatives from people like CCB about SkyWest, but I have several friends over at SkyWest who just don't seem to be painting a picture about SkyWest even close to the picture that CCB paints of the scene at SkyWest. Every regional is going to have their issues.
In the end, you need to decide what is best for you.
Just don't get so wrapped up in the end game that you forget to enjoy the moments you have now. You'll never get them back once they're gone.
If you want to stay west coast, SkyWest is a much better bet. PSA won't get you anywhere near the west coast for years to come.
Skywest's FO pay is better, and that's something you can count on if the music stops (not that it will anytime soon, BUT you never know...)
Upgrade time may be a a few years longer than PSA, but IMHO that con is not as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. If you're not happy where you're working, then what's the point of the quick upgrade? I'd rather be happy where I work and have a longer upgrade than somewhere I didn't want to be for a short upgrade in hopes of getting on with a major. Something to the effect of, don't forget to enjoy the journey not just the destination.
As far as the SkyWest QOL issues, I'm not sure what to say here. I read all the negatives from people like CCB about SkyWest, but I have several friends over at SkyWest who just don't seem to be painting a picture about SkyWest even close to the picture that CCB paints of the scene at SkyWest. Every regional is going to have their issues.
In the end, you need to decide what is best for you.
Just don't get so wrapped up in the end game that you forget to enjoy the moments you have now. You'll never get them back once they're gone.
02-05-2015, 07:06 PM
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by Theswede
Thank you. Assuming you work at Compass, do you like it?
Since I am currently living on the east coast and transitioning out of the Navy, I have no desire for that long commute. Maybe if I was younger and no family.
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