What are the chances of getting awarded ERJ transfer after a year ?
I know there is a 2-year seat lock if you have an airplane preference, and 1-year if you don't.
And it seems that the trend as of now is pushing for CRJ for new hires.
I`m planning on coming to OO some time in September. I definitely don`t mind flying the CRJ for a bit.
But how likely are we to actually get into training for the ERJ after a year ?
And how does this affect our seniority/base and upgrade time ?

Thanks for all the help
Just being curious. Pretty open-minded and I`m away from home (Tahiti) anyway wherever I end up. Just looking to get good flight time and QOL

 

You can easily get the ERJ after your freeze date ends. It'll be no problem unless Skywest stops hiring and everything freezes. It will not effect you upgrade time as upgrade is based on your original date of hire. However, if you want the first upgrade the first will probably be available on the CRJ.

 

He's asking if he can transition before the seat lock. I think all new hires are getting a 2 year freeze now. Chances of a transition before that's up are pretty slim.

 

Saxman66 got it right.
I understand the seat lock, and not planning on forcing any transition before the lock is up.
Planning on taking whatever is given to me, that way only limiting to a 1-year seat lock.

 

Thanks for the help. That's awesome news.
Not too worried about fast upgrade. Just wouldn't want to go back into reserve if I moved to ERJ after a year; that was my main concern.
Thanks

 

The point was I don't think they're even giving the 1 year freeze anymore. From what I understand all new hires are getting a 2 year seat lock.

 

I interviewed in Sept last year and it was no preference = 1 yr seat lock and selection = 2 year seat lock.

I put in a bid for the 175 to see and I have a 2 yr seat lock.

I've heard they removed no preference though?

 

"Don't mind flying the CRJ"

I've never understood why people have a distaste for the CRJ after the ERJ showed up. It is still a jet, still has two engines, still flies 400-500 knots over the ground, and still has two flight attendants you can try to bang on overnights..

The ERJ makes you lazy, reliant on automation, and will not develop the skills necessary to become a proficient aviator if the ERJ is your first airplane faster than a 172. In my new hire class at brand x legacy, both people who washed out were former 175 pilots who had never flown anything but the 175. They had major major issues in the sim when it all went bad and had to fly raw data without auto throttles (amongst numerous other issues caused by lack of solid aviating experience.)

Do yourself a favor. Fly the CRJ, and drag your heels on accepting an ERJ slot, even if they beg you to take one. If skywest is still like it is now as when I was there, you will be flying a ton on the CRJ side and sitting at the crashpad watching guys with your similar seniority edge closer to upgrade.

If you got into this business with the dream of flying a 175 for a regional, then by all means find a way to get the 175...but if you, like most people, are using the regionals to finally one day find yourself in munich after flying a 777 there then don't shortchange your preparation and leave cracks in the foundation.

Lastly, remember, people still step into a 175 and say "ugh its a small plane."

 

It's that all-important "engine under wing time" that majors prefer

The ERJ (once you get off reserve/probation) is going to pay a bit better, and may have better quality trips on average than the 200.

But the CRJ will probably get you flying more and sooner, and if you want a fast upgrade that's going to come on the CRJ. You can upgrade from ERJ to CRJ, but you're incurring a noticeably higher risk of failing a training event and taking the PRIA hit trying upgrade on a jet you've never flown.

For those reasons, if you're upward-bound I'd do CRJ and then take the first upgrade. If you get stuck at SKW for some reason, you'll still have decades to fly the ERJ.

 

The problem today is new hires who have shiny jet syndrome. They don't want to touch a CRJ200 even though a lot of them have never even flown a turbine jet.

If you want a better QOL your seniority will move on the CRJ list, not ERJ list. Not sure where people get their information but if you want "hours" you're picking the wrong jet.

Seriously, we had this conversation with another poster. You guys want senior bases on the senior jet and don't want to sit reserve. Some guys on reserve in West Coast bases don't get called once in an entire month. I've seen them show me their schedules. Certainly one can argue that's a good QOL but not really for a commuter. If you live in base and don't care about flight time/reserve status then sure it's a great jet for you. But I'm always baffled when I hear "I want the ERJ for Seattle/LA/Denver so I can hold a line and grind hours"?! Then what upgrade on the CRJ?

From what I've heard also (makes sense too) the upgrade from ERJ to CRJ is a lot more difficult. Unless you plan on waiting the extra years to upgrade to ERJ it sounds like your best option is the CRJ. Just don't get that bad attitude ERJ "I'm a mainline pilot" and you'll be fine here.