Hate to ask the question that gets asked every few pages here...been reading for awhile and just seeing what people say. Trying to get out what the recruiters say to what I should expect. Going to class Jan 2 on the CRJ. My CTP is Dec 7. I heard I'll get paid the minimum 65 hours and I'll get that check in my ground school, that's correct right?

I want to take a junior base on the CRJ preferably would like to live in MSP. Are the trips any different or QOL going to be drastically different between that or ORD? Also, I'm a cadet that has access to skywest online. I just can't figure out how to calculate the time on reserve like you guys do? I know how to find the vacancy report and senority list for bases but how do you guys figure out how long it is to hold a line? Also, you're saying the time to hold a line is including ground school, sims, IOE? I preferred trying to get DEN or COS but it seems like it might take a long time to hold those bases on the CRJ especially since they're cutting back flying out of DEN, it's a long shot I assume? Will someone help with this when we get into ground school?

Greatly appreciated!

Yes you get paid for CTP and ground. I think it took us 3 weeks before we saw a check but it was a hefty one. Three weeks worth I'm pretty sure.

tcco94

Have you found the PBS stuff? You can look through the pairings for each domicile as well as look at the bid info page which will show guaranteed/targeted line holders.

Yes. PBS page. Right hand side..

Is there any sort of bidding for an open/available reserve trip the day before with skywest?

Sweet, found the PBS page. On MSP it says reserve lines for MSP are 49 FO's on the CRJ. Sounds like a lot. How do you guys see how that equals how long you'll be on reserve for? I don't have access to how to bid and the pairings doc just looks like the schedules that are given out ?

It'll never tell you how long you'll be on reserve for. You can figure out how long it is for someone hired X months ago but that doesn't mean your move up the seniority list will be similar.

Junior base is relative as to what you are wanting now. Junior as in a makeup of mostly junior pilots is MSP, ORD, DTW. Junior as in when you can hold a line first is FAT, PSP, and SFO.

This info is from pilots I know in these classes...
ORD and MSP 2/16 classes don't have lines yet. 2/16 classes are just starting to get SFO lines. 5/16 class has lines in FAT and PSP. Any time we say time to hold a line we are talking from day 1 of CRJ class.

Trip wise MSP has the worst trips in my opinion. We have the lowest crediting 4-days (70% of our 4-days pay within an hour of min day). Also the MSP is mostly CRJ-200 trips, and they do not flow anywhere. In comparison, ORD has much more 700 trips, and they send you a little more around the country (IAH, DEN, etc). SFO has much more higher paying 4-days, that flow west->east.

Of couse how good a trip is does not equate to QOL. MSP is very liveable, inexpensive, and quick commutes. Neighborhoods by the airport are actually very nice (something you can't say about most places). Living in base short call reserve means you're really just getting paid to sit around. ORD gets you that big city vibe and is still relatively inexpensive. Neighborhoods around the airport are generally not the nicest (Cumberland, etc). Or you can live in downtown Chicago, about an hour by CTA and really enjoy yourself. Both MSP and ORD are liveable on min guarantee and you not working a minute (no per diem) if you budget correctly.

CRJ side has been in a tailslide ever since the beginning of the summer as flying goes down, and ERJ expands. Previous information about minimal reserves, junior bases, and probably what the recruiters experienced is probably invalid currently. Hopefully that helps.

Look at how many targeted line holders. Let's just pretend it's sixty. Look at the seniority list and copy number sixty's employee number down. Go to the employee directory at the top of the page and paste the number in the correct box and search. That will give you a date of hire. This will give you worst case for a guaranteed line. Does not account for senior people bidding reserve, leave, etc. Happy obsessing.

Where are 175 new hires getting based out of training?