Came here for LAX base. Got it. Easy commute.. I’d pay to have it this good. Any other regional didn’t work for that, except compass and they weren’t hiring when I interviewed around.

 

For those who have done ASE flying.. what are the pros/cons that you've noticed from it? Did you ever have time to ski on overnights? Can you upgrade whenever or do you have to give notice to get out of the program to do so?

 

The overnights are pretty short in ASE. You get in after dark in the winter and leave pretty early. You only get more time if there is some kind of IROPS. You can upgrade whenever.

Lots of pros and cons. PM me for more. The program is changing in December.

 

The JAC overnights used to be (maybe still are?) at a ski resort hotel, which would give you free skis and a lift pass if you were there when the lifts were open.

PLENTY of 19+ hour SLC overnights... hotel is a across the street from a ski rental shop and the city bus runs to the cottonwood canyon resorts (caution, if it's an epic day the bus will be full).

 

Aspen program just changed. They have LAX/SLC/DEN and Aspen flying bases. Pay is 1hr extra for each landing in Aspen. To early to tell how schedules will be. But sapa said it will pay verry well..??.. (heard fly 80hrs. Get paid 120).

 

I see looking at your other post you're at Air Wisconsin or will be starting shortly. They certainly have a nice bonus program for new hires. I guess the question there might be why do they have that and we don't? Yet we still attract way more new hires here.

A quick look at Air Wisconsin show only three domiciles, old 200s, and a short term new contract with one partner. Additionally staffing should run about 10 pilots per aircraft yet the pilot group totals under 500. That tells me they are 150 short. And that in my opinion is why they are offering so much to new - and they should. Supply and demand right....

A quick look at SkyWest shows the opposite. 16+ domiciles, with a large number on the west coast. A bunch of new airplanes with a bunch more coming. Four partners with long term contracts. 4500 pilots and growing. The reality of it that has attracted enough pilots here that they haven't needed to pay the big bonus yet to ALL new hires. Again supply and demand...

What's Air Wisconsin going to do when the 200s time out? And they can't get any 175s because of scope limits? Or costs.. Do you think the UA contract will get extended or some other carrier may underbid them next time around? It could be us or it could be Mesa... What if Air Wisconsin tells United they can't operate all 65 aircraft? They can only operate 50 because of a lack of pilots. Or 40. And your upgrade gets pushed off another year or two? Horizon is having this problem now. And guess who's flying their aircraft?

All of that plays into why pilots are still coming here. I'm sure Air Wisconsin is a good company to work for, but there are a lot more things to consider than just first year bonuses. I wouldn't be surprised to see those offered here at some point though.

 

Good points, but I have to give credit where it is due at Air Wisconsin.
-They are short on pilots right now due to a drastic change in operations- American to United. The company told them they would be getting a new contract but no one believed them and people left like crazy. Now that they have a new contract and pay is at the top of the industry, their classes are and will continue to be full again.
-Their insurance is second to none.
-Yes, they only operate 200s and yes they are old and tired, but we all know they can pull a bunch of replacements out of the desert that still have plenty of life left in them if they want/need to.

 

We all came here for stability. I came in the 2015 timeframe when Envoy and Endeavor were burning. Things have changed fast. There are better options now. Not surprised that we are losing potential candidates to higher paying regionals offering career progression. In terms of the health of the company, SkyWest is the best regional to be at if you seek a long-term career position. If you don't come to SkyWest, you won't have any less or better a career, though. Get some jet time from somewhere and escape as fast as you can. I have an interview with an LCC set up in the coming months. May take it, may not, we shall see. I feel as if any regional could have brought me to this point in typical pilot career progression.

 

Sometimes better options burn you. I went to Eagle in 1998. Flow through upgrade in 2 years.. then bam. That truned into down grade, and 16 year flow.... whats good today could be rotten tomorrow... regionals are regionals. You can’t put lipstick on a pig... have fun while you are there. But go to get in and out as quick as you can...

 

Well said. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones.