Applying to skywest

[~~~^~~~]

ummmmmm............I don't think buying old Independance Airlines planes has much to do with anything

ummm, not unless you were an ASA pilot flying that airplane after your airline was acquired and SkyWest's President demanded pay cuts or you would lose that airplane. When ASA pilots refused to cut their pay in the face of record corporate profits the airplanes were transferred. Yeah, some 50 seaters too.

As far as the Delta and United being upset with SkyWest thats not accurate either.

Heard it with my own ears from the source. For independent verification I guess you could stop by a pilot lounge at DAL or UAL and ask a Chief. I don't think it's a secret considering SkyWest was notably absent from Richard Anderson's recent webcast which was posted on this board.

Yeah, so anyways I'm all for encouraging young pilots to better the profession but I don't think flat out lying to people is the way to do it.

ExpressJet takes along time to get back to people also. At SkyWest it has more to do with the meet and greet interviews taking president over the sent in applications than anything else.

Do you mean G.W. Bush, or precedence?

As for my "lying" let me encourage this future SkyGod to find a well informed pilot at either of SkyWest's two customers and ask, or call in to a Chief advising he is trying to map out his career and ask for advice.

In the past I've recommended SkyWest. Not any more, I think the market has moved on and both the SkyWest pilots and management have behaved in a way that reduces their opportunities going forward. Look at the comparative stock performance of the two; Republic Holdings and SkyWest. Apparently I'm not the only one who has these concerns.

 

[SKYWRJGUY]

1) We have three customers [um, fact].
2) Those aren't crickets you're hearing, they're violins [um, not fact, but likely true--and they're playing my heart bleeds for you]
3) To the yes-men, if you have strong scope as you all hope to have [and the iron-clad contracts], you should haven't to worry about losing flying you have, just about the flying that's up for grabs. All the benefits you suggest available by the union should protect you from the ununionized work-force, especially with 60,000 people on your side [um, fact, pilots do not enter into business agreements with other airlines, aircraft manufacturers or the like].
4) Our company simply has flexibility yours do not, and to this point, though that could change--things haven't been that bad, ceteris paribus.
5) I didn't know UAL and DAL were so unhappy with us, and, aaaahhhh, fact: neither do you [speaking of objective facts or lack thereof].

Generally, your posts make sense. This is not one of those times and I understand you're probably just frustrated by your own decisions. Why else would you feel the need to feel so protectionist and anti?

 

[~~~^~~~]

I know of 2 people that got a call from ALPA CAL this week from non-union SKYW. Guess you are wrong again there, Finzie.....

Just the truth, no emotion.

PS. I voted for it as well.

There are good folks at SkyWest who did vote for inclusion in the profession and they deserve credit.

It is the unfortunate nature of this business to paint pilot groups with a broad brush. As recruiters and pilots on hiring boards make the generational change there will probably be an adversion to GoJets and SkyWest pilots. I'll admit this bias is entirely unfounded without knowing the individual.

Still, I would not want to work for SkyWest when Republic Holdings and other carriers with a better reputation and future are hiring.

Besides, call in legitimately fatigued and get harassed until fired? Who would want to work for that outfit without some support?

 

[~~~^~~~]

1) We have three customers [um, fact].

You are right. Should have noticed that when writing about all the paint N688BR has had on it. Like the boy in orthopaedic shoes, "I stand corrected."

3) To the yes-men, if you have strong scope as you all hope to have [and the iron-clad contracts], you should haven't to worry about losing flying you have, just about the flying that's up for grabs.

They don't have very good scope. They did not listen to me. But you are blaming the victim for getting raped. I'm trying to tell her to put bullets in her gun. She isn't listening to either of us.

4) Our company simply has flexibility yours do not, and to this point, though that could change--things haven't been that bad, ceteris paribus.

You mean the flexibility to undercut other pilots agreements with your parent company to take their jets? Or you mean the flexibility of working without a contract? Not sure I follow you and my Latin was never good to begin with.

5) I didn't know UAL and DAL were so unhappy with us, and, aaaahhhh, fact: neither do you

It surprised me when I heard the presentation. Guess you can ask around or wait for the headlines - but this is the airline business - SkyWest was the flavor of the month, as was ASA a decade ago. Things are guaranteed to change.

As for me, SkyWest's imitation of Sherman's visit to Atlanta motivated me to bail. I no longer have a dog in the fight (or would I ever admit to ever having any dog in any fight these days) but SkyWest simply is not the first choice it once was due to the actions of its management and pilots. Proverbs 16:18-19 pretty much sums it up.

 

[JoeMerchant]

My good friend Fins, with all due respect, you are way off base on this one...... You yourself supported a lawsuit against ALPA because of it's failure to represent the ASA and CMR pilots. In light of that, how can you blame the Skywest pilots for taking a pass on ALPA?

Why hire a union that is being sued by ASA and CMR pilots for DFR violations? The Skywest pilots were smart IMHO......

You cannot support RJDC and then question the motives of regional pilots who choose to not vote in ALPA.... Even the RJDC sees that this was a failure of ALPA, not the Skywest or Colgan pilots......

 

[JoeMerchant]

You mean the flexibility to undercut other pilots agreements with your parent company to take their jets? Or you mean the flexibility of working without a contract?

PMFJI, but be careful Fins..... ALPA groups have been undercuting each other for years.... Can you post the Delta EJet rates?

 

[Skaff]

I've heard that SkyWest is revamping their interview procedures. I havn't heard what it intales, but I don't think that your not getting a call. SkyWest has continued growth and attrition planned. SkyWest will continue to be a great place to work. By the way, I voted yes.

 

[~~~^~~~]

A: OK, did any of the SkyWest pilots vote against ALPA due to ASA and Comair pilot's lawsuit over the shennanigans at the ALPA 2000 Board of Director's meeting? Did anyone at SkyWest vote against ALPA as a result of Delta CY96 Section One provisions that restricted ASA from 105 to 50 seat jets with limited 70 seaters and subsequent actions that opened RJ flying to the lowest bidder? Can any SkyWest pilot even describe (one word will do) what the RJDC litigation was about?

B: Or did you vote in the hope that SkyWest would get more than the 26 jets already taken from ASA?

Please let us know before Joe's head explodes.

 

[duck_killer]

Worse, their motives continue to be driven by the hope of securing aircraft from other pilots who currently fly those aircraft. Growing by putting others out of work. Some of their Midwest jets are on their third, airline livery.

How well do those Comair 700's fly? After all your company will have 8 of them by springtime. Are these stolen aircraft?
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/major-national-lcc/asa.htm

Objective enough you clown?

To the original poster of this thread good luck getting on with SKW.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Duck Killer: Don't know, never flew 'em. Two got held up and all are being replaced by CRJ900's.

You have a point, but it is a distinction without a difference. ASA did not take pay cuts to secure those airplanes. In fact ASA stood strong on rates and still got airplanes, proving you don't have to engage whore mode to get flying.

In the real world those airplanes were moved by Delta to protect them during bankruptcy - someone had to take them or they were going back on the market. Delta could only "cross collateralize" a limited number of 200's against the 700's.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Can you post the Delta EJet rates?

Find me one and I'll bid the son of a gun, then let you know.

Truly it is incredible that the pilot who does IOE on a 150,500lb jet makes the same money a IOE LCA makes on ASA's CRJ200. No wonder SkyWest management has been figuratively seen around skunkworks with a copy of the PWA a gas can and matches.

 

[duck_killer]

Look I agree with your frustrations to a point, but to liken us to GOjet is preposterous. We didn't have any guys jump seniority for an upgrade, we don't have rock bottom rates and we never voted for a paycut. We trusted management which up to that point had been trustworthy and we got screwed.

Earlier you called for objectivity, and now your leveling all sorts of hair brain accusations for the failed ALPA vote. How do you reconcile that obvious hypocrisy?

 

[~~~^~~~]

My good friend Fins, with all due respect, you are way off base on this one......

Would you, as an experienced observer of this industry, suggest that a friend trade their precious youth for a SkyWest seniority number over the other options out there now?

That is the question.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Look I agree with your frustrations to a point, but to liken us to GOjet is preposterous.

Where is the line? You explain the vote then.... I wrote that pilots on hiring boards should evaluate the individual pilot, but you and I both know SkyWest guys will all get painted with the same brush.

The majority of votes won and I assume the majority of pilots are happy with the outcome.

 

[dbchandler1]

Where is the line? You explain the vote then............The majority of votes won and I assume the majority of pilots are happy with the role they play.

You would be incorrect. The majority of pilots are becoming disillusioned with the status quo, however ALPA has failed to prove itself as a worthwhile investment for a regional pilot. You can argue that SkyWest pilots are wrong, but in the end, ALPA hasn't done enough to sell themselves lately.