Skywest announces IAH and MSP bases.

[SkyNation]

Just curious when is it up to Skywest pilots to fix the ridiculously low compensation that both your capts and especially your FO's take home?

SkyWest FOs are the highest paid in the regional biz. (Had a 7 year FO the other day who will make about 63K this year). Capts are more in the middle.

We've been over this.

 

[KSwift]

As a long time member, rare poster, but frequent reader of this forum, I just wanted to pass along my experience with all of this.

Since 1999 I have been through 4 regionals and one legacy carrier. I worked for Commutair, was interviewed and hired at Air Whiskey (in Aug 2001). I flew for Piedmont, ACA/Indy, and Comair. After my Commutair and Piedmont experiences (furloughs) I decided to go to a regional I could "retire" from if that's what it came to. Having finally "made" it to CAL that thought process was a huge mistake. I am fully aware of CAL's reputation in the past as the bottom Legacy, poor contract and pay, etc.... All that being said, my time at Continental has been 100% better than all of my regional airlines. It really is the difference between the minors and the majors. While I do still work a lot, it is not nearly as exhausting as the work done at commuters. It's far less cycles which actually equates to less work. For the most part, there is no comparison in the hotels we stay at. The layovers are longer and mostly in large cities with lots to do (no offense to cedar rapids, sioux falls, peoria, erie, etc...).

While the pay could be better, (at year four I make 86/hr. for large narrowbody), I will make in the mid 90's this year while flying about 700hrs. I suspect this is on par with or more than most RJ captains.

I write all this to say that while I thought getting on with one of the "good" regionals was a potential career move, it is not. Life is FAR BETTER at even a mediocre legacy carrier. At the regionals your flying is never your own. You will always be subject to the major partner (either management or scope). Ideally we would all be under one list or have a national pay scale or something that made the cost of flying airplanes a fixed cost and management would actually have to manage. That won't happen in my career. Scope will benefit us all. I believe that. Good luck to everyone.

KSwift

 

[STINKER]

As a long time member, rare poster, but frequent reader of this forum, I just wanted to pass along my experience with all of this.

Since 1999 I have been through 4 regionals and one legacy carrier. I worked for Commutair, was interviewed and hired at Air Whiskey (in Aug 2001). I flew for Piedmont, ACA/Indy, and Comair. After my Commutair and Piedmont experiences (furloughs) I decided to go to a regional I could "retire" from if that's what it came to. Having finally "made" it to CAL that thought process was a huge mistake. I am fully aware of CAL's reputation in the past as the bottom Legacy, poor contract and pay, etc.... All that being said, my time at Continental has been 100% better than all of my regional airlines. It really is the difference between the minors and the majors. While I do still work a lot, it is not nearly as exhausting as the work done at commuters. It's far less cycles which actually equates to less work. For the most part, there is no comparison in the hotels we stay at. The layovers are longer and mostly in large cities with lots to do (no offense to cedar rapids, sioux falls, peoria, erie, etc...).

While the pay could be better, (at year four I make 86/hr. for large narrowbody), I will make in the mid 90's this year while flying about 700hrs. I suspect this is on par with or more than most RJ captains.

I write all this to say that while I thought getting on with one of the "good" regionals was a potential career move, it is not. Life is FAR BETTER at even a mediocre legacy carrier. At the regionals your flying is never your own. You will always be subject to the major partner (either management or scope). Ideally we would all be under one list or have a national pay scale or something that made the cost of flying airplanes a fixed cost and management would actually have to manage. That won't happen in my career. Scope will benefit us all. I believe that. Good luck to everyone.

KSwift

Good post KSwift ..civil and to the point.

 

[rfa]

As a long time member, rare poster, but frequent reader of this forum, I just wanted to pass along my experience with all of this.

Since 1999 I have been through 4 regionals and one legacy carrier. I worked for Commutair, was interviewed and hired at Air Whiskey (in Aug 2001). I flew for Piedmont, ACA/Indy, and Comair. After my Commutair and Piedmont experiences (furloughs) I decided to go to a regional I could "retire" from if that's what it came to. Having finally "made" it to CAL that thought process was a huge mistake. I am fully aware of CAL's reputation in the past as the bottom Legacy, poor contract and pay, etc.... All that being said, my time at Continental has been 100% better than all of my regional airlines. It really is the difference between the minors and the majors. While I do still work a lot, it is not nearly as exhausting as the work done at commuters. It's far less cycles which actually equates to less work. For the most part, there is no comparison in the hotels we stay at. The layovers are longer and mostly in large cities with lots to do (no offense to cedar rapids, sioux falls, peoria, erie, etc...).

While the pay could be better, (at year four I make 86/hr. for large narrowbody), I will make in the mid 90's this year while flying about 700hrs. I suspect this is on par with or more than most RJ captains.

I write all this to say that while I thought getting on with one of the "good" regionals was a potential career move, it is not. Life is FAR BETTER at even a mediocre legacy carrier. At the regionals your flying is never your own. You will always be subject to the major partner (either management or scope). Ideally we would all be under one list or have a national pay scale or something that made the cost of flying airplanes a fixed cost and management would actually have to manage. That won't happen in my career. Scope will benefit us all. I believe that. Good luck to everyone.

KSwift

Good post - thanks.

 

[rfa]

SkyWest FOs are the highest paid in the regional biz. (Had a 7 year FO the other day who will make about 63K this year). Capts are more in the middle.

We've been over this.

You are such a tard dude - looking at you sig makes me want to puke. ...ashamed we work for the same company.

 

[SkyNation]

You are such a tard dude - looking at you sig makes me want to puke. ...ashamed we work for the same company.

It's tongue in cheek. I love 'tards' like you that don't get that. Guess I'm only part of your cool guy club if I constantly whine, piss, moan and spank to the ALPA mag, eh?

 

[AWACoff]

SkyWest FOs are the highest paid in the regional biz. (Had a 7 year FO the other day who will make about 63K this year). Capts are more in the middle.

We've been over this.

And do you know why you make the money you do...? It's because of all of the UNION airline pilots that have risked their families financial well being. All you have done is ride their coattails. You provide nothing to further this profession. Please have your union card handy when trying to jumpseat.

 

[SkyNation]

And do you know why you make the money you do...? It's because of all of the UNION airline pilots that have risked their families financial well being. All you have done is ride their coattails. You provide nothing to further this profession. Please have your union card handy when trying to jumpseat.

riiiigggghhhht. keep tellin' yourself that, tough guy.

I guess it doesn't have anything to do with company profitability at all, right?

Union thuggery raises it's ugly head, sadly, again.

 

[txpilot1974]

Skynation: If you can't tell we are in quite the sticky situation here at SKYW....a situation that most here don't want to be in. Do the rest of us a favor and lay off. Coming on here and stirring the pot helps no one.

 

[SkyNation]

of course we are. but doouchebag comments like that the one I replied to help...how?