It's always good practice to use all available resources at all times for redundancy and increased situational awareness. Especially at night. However. When it's clear and a million during daytime operations it's good to disconnect that AutoPilot and FD and use some hand flying and visual descent planning to keep the skills rust free. I love that the majority of My colleagues here turn off the auto pilot/FD for the majority of visual approaches. Some runways don't have glideslopes. And sometimes the glide slope is out of service. And sometimes you could be using the glideslope as a visual reference and it could go out of service. But always always have the pilot monitoring load an approach for redundancy. Don't want to land at the wrong airport. Not that that would ever happen...... when in doubt. Go around. We get paid by the minute.

Ugh, Now I'm motivated, haha.
Not sure I could take sitting for months, paid to convert oxygen to carbon dioxide...

Yeah, thanks. I see that, but then I run into a couple guys who say their times were double that or more. And no flying, less than 20hrs/month in PDX. I could still switch to the CRJ, last min, and be away from everyone, family. Decisions....

You won't probably get FAT out of training, but can make it back there inside a year.

Hi guys,

I am new to SKW and am looking for some tips. I'm new to the airline world and don't really know a whole lot as I'm the first pilot in my family. I'm assigned to the ERJ and from what I've heard is ORH is the junior base for the ERJ. Is it possible to live in DEN while based in ORH??
Also, any tips for a new guy to the airline world is greatly appreciated!!

Hey, welcome! Yes it is possible to live in DEN and be based in ORD. You will be a commuter, and making it to ORD will be your responsibility. There are lots of people who commute between DEN and ORD so plan accordingly. Don't plan to take the last flight to ORD for example. If you see a storm approaching DEN or ORD, you might want to commute a whole day early. You will probably want to get a crashpad in Chicago so you have a place to stay while on reserve or between trips (or for those days that you come early.)

Focus on getting through training and you will have lots of resources to get you through your first year.

Most people I know who gave up being a pilot, ignored QOL for "flying". It depends on your family situation for your decision, but if you have kids and a wife then you are making a mistake to not focus on QOL. If you are single, just move to ORD and don't look back.

PDX has E175 openings this month. People will be transferring back from ORD. It is a cycle. Go to ORD for 6 months, live in crashpad, transfer home and get paid while you wait for a line. Meanwhile,
fly observation flights, sit in on SIM training, and pick up as many trips as you can.

3 years from now, there will be (more than likely) a different junior base than ORD. You will upgrade to captain, live in a crashpad, transfer home after a few months and get paid while you wait for a line.

new hire
 

Gday out there, new to the forum and Skywest. I have read most of the forum, I cant wait to get on board. Aussie Pilot, not sure where to live? Thats the best part I reckon. Thanks to all who have contributed to this forum, great comments.
I am hoping to be on the 13May CTP course then ERJ June 08th. I cant wait......

Pretty much one or two guys from every class in the last year have gone to FAT out of IOE. You can also request to do IOE out FAT even if you were "assigned" DTW or somewhere out of training. So By the time you are done with everything, up to 4.5-5 months depending if you have a long wait for Sims or IOE, you can definitely hold FAT....................Cause it sucks ; )

Just be advised, DEN-ORD is one of the most senior commutes in the system.