motormadness

Tl;dr

Pro tip, I am not a piece of property. In fact, I live rent free right in your head.

For the OP:

I'd probably stay out west if I were you. If your only options are SkyWest or PSA, I'd do SkyWest. As an outsider, I believe the negativity that's been brought up is overcooked. It's still probably a good place to work and has a solid history and most likely a decent future. If you have 0 121 time, 2 years is quick and that would probably be an understatement IMO. FaceBiter can spill it to you.

So in summary: If you want the west coast, go SkyWest. If you want Compass and you already go to SkyWest, there's nothing wrong with sliding to the right and continuing on. Just when you interview somewhere else in the future, tell them.

As for the quick upgrades at Compass? Well I guess it depends on what you define quick. From what I've read and heard, they're done with the <1 year deal. 2-4 years? Plan on that barring something major happening.

RidinNFlyin

Upgrades were never less than a year. I do believe quick upgrades won't be happening for anyone hired in the near future. Still somewhat quick, but I'd plan on around 3 years.

I would also go to Mesa over skywest and psa.

Luv2Rotate

Go to Mesa over SKW? I hope that quick upgrade pans out otherwise you'll be hating life... BTW, what's the scoop with Mesa's 175s? Lots of guys saying United is less than pleased, what gives?

tothebigblue

Didn't united just win a lawsuit regarding breech of contract with Mesa and their beloved 175s? not to mention they're canibbalizing 3 170s in IAH for parts....not very efficient operation

saturn

I dont think he was saying Compass upgrades were ever < 1 year. Its about 1.5 years at the moment with the latest award and dropping. What he is saying is that with 8 upgrades a week as planned, those who get CA classes this summer/fall may be here 1 year, possibly a little under a year. New hires shouldn't expect that for themselves.

Everyone here seems to plan on retroactive information. Mesa new hires won't be 1 year upgrades, neither will Compass. Skywest new hires wont be 7 year upgrades, probably will be a 4 year upgrade. Everything is cyclical, and depends on the era you were hired into a pilot group. Don't look too much into hire dates of the most JR captain, thats what the upgrade time was back when that guy was hired, not for you. Oh and one more thing, everything will look completely different by 2016.

PilotCrusader

This!!! I have been preaching this from my soap box for a while now.
To further add to it: airline recruiters, management, flight schools, and to much effect current FOs want to do their best to make that "sweet spot" seem so much bigger than it really is.

Generally if there is a fast upgrade somewhere, you have already missed the boat.

Like the guy above said: I'd look more for stability and a good contract.

I doubt SKW will be a 7 year upgrade.

Envoy won't either...not advocating them but it is a good example l, and being that I work here, I can expand: Envoy is currently a 7-8 year upgrade. 2015 is a shrinking year for us, but 2016 will experience a bit of growth from our bottom in 2015. We are losing more pilots to an automatic mainline AA flow than anyone else(compare our 20, soon to be more, per month minimum to PSAs 4). Envoy did not hire from 2008-2010. We also did not hire from late 2011 until 2013. By 2017, the upgrade at Envoy could easily be below 4 years, and it will likely drop from there. A new hire today would flow in 5 years, assuming the flow continues as it has.

Chasing a fast upgrade works for some, not for all. If I were you, I'd choose SKW.

tinman1

A couple of things on this...

1. Don't listen to anything FaceBiter has to say. Ever.

2. Pick two of the following:

living in current base (LAX)
good company
quick upgrade

After you've decided what is most important you can pick a direction to go. The tone of your post indicates that you're not too hot on the idea of moving/commuting. A short commute can be manageable for a lineholder but it depends on what is important to you. A transcon commute to a regional is a horrible idea, right up there with having unprotected sex with a hooker. I would not do that for ANY regional.

Right now it is a unique time at the regionals considering that pretty much everyone is hiring, so with that being said I wouldn't necessarily limit myself to SKW and PSA. Obviously it all depends on what you are looking for.

RidinNFlyin

Don't get me wrong, I think Skywest is a much better company, but might be a little shaky with contacts ending, still operating a ton of 50 seat aircrafts. Mesa is growing fast and will continue as long as they can keep up with staffing problems. I love seeing the regionals suffer. Good for us pilots. Should be an interesting few years.

I would ultimately say Compass as well. But you can't wait for ever and I personally would not jump from regional to regional unless it was well within the first year. Do you have a 4 year degree? I know Compass is still pretty big on that. Haven't heard of many getting on without it. But I don't think they'll be able to keep that up forever.

WesternSkies

You don't even work at expressjet anymore.
You were a babe in the woods when you showed up at ExpressJet.
You were impressionable at a time when all your captains were sour on skywest.

AlaskaBound

You've done gone lost your mind.