Life on the Skywest Brasilia

[Snaab]

Yes, as a former Saab guy who flew a few summers in the NE in dark blue Airways livery, yes an APU would be great!!

Never flew a Bro, but I'd say that my days in a somewhat similar plane were the best- hands-down! Doing 4, 6, 8 leg days in a prop are a lot of work but trust me, you'll look back and smile when you think about them. Seriously... And, the guy who talked about younger people flying the Bro...Very true. I fly at Colgan, and many of the CAs, FOs, and FAs I few with were def. on the young side, and were a BLAST to fly with. I got hired in my early/mid 20s and had a blast flying the Saab around for a few years. The Q400 is a great machine, but the cameraderie (sp?) ain't nothing like the Saab days. Sure there are some great crews still, but the Saab group was fun. I'm sure it was a lot like the SKYW Bro flying is. I'd go for it if you make the move!

On a sidenote, I visited a buddy in San Diego not too long after I was hired at Colgan. First time out there, I was smitten with the whole SoCal/gorgeous tan women thing on my long visit. I thought I was going to bolt, get into SKYW and try to get to SAN and fly the Brasilia. But the CA I was flying with at the time at Colgan talked some sense into me and I upgraded about a year later in the Saab. Things worked out pretty well, glad I stayed put (PIC in the logbook). But I can imagine that SoCal prop flying is a blast!

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[crj567]

I fly the bro now. I left the rj to do it and haven't looked back. I think everyone should get the opportunity to do an 8 leg day in the summer on a brazilia. I really am happy with my choice to fly the bro.

You can have it, Bro...

If you left the rj to go back to that turd-burner and actually like it better-I'd say you need to start taking those little orange pills again!

 

[Goose Egg]

I fly the Bro in the SLC system. She's a good airplane, but quite a handful. I enjoy the flying... rather, I would enjoy it more if it weren't for the fact that we fly to the same seven freakin' airports all the time. I'm thoroughly bored. If it weren't for that and these crappy 17 hour 4 day trips that we've been getting lately, I'd probably be enjoying it a lot more. Getting a little anxious for a change. Anxious is putting it lightly.

In the SLC system, get ready to deice, and deice, and deice.

 

[cfi_greg]

I fly the Bro in the SLC system. She's a good airplane, but quite a handful. I enjoy the flying... rather, I would enjoy it more if it weren't for the fact that we fly to the same seven freakin' airports all the time. I'm thoroughly bored. If it weren't for that and these crappy 17 hour 4 day trips that we've been getting lately, I'd probably be enjoying it a lot more. Getting a little anxious for a change. Anxious is putting it lightly.

In the SLC system, get ready to deice, and deice, and deice.

If your that bored transfer to the cali system.

 

[joe_pilot]

My favorite is getting the triple chime - red lights flashing - "ENGINE CONTROL" aural warning just after rotation. First thing in the morning. Better than caffeine.

Both are natural laxatives

 

[Goose Egg]

If your that bored transfer to the cali system.

It ain't so simple. I shouldn't have to tell you that. You can have your fun Cali flying, I'll take my base in a city that I'd actually like to live in and deal with the rest. It's all a tradeoff.

 

[Jet_Dreamer]

Would somebody please tell us what it's like to fly around California on 1500 bucks per month? Do you use tents or RVs?

Saw a skywest crew picked up in santa barbara by a KOA van, they all had backpacks and tents.:laugh:

 

[Brasilia Pup]

I didn't fly for SkyWest, but did fly the Brakillya. "A hot rod with wings." is the best way to describe it. Fun/fast plane to fly, but if you weren't careful, it could turn around and bite you in the a$$ real quick. Pitch, power, RUDDER TRIM...a habit you'll learn in no time. Very rudder sensitive. I can tell immediately if someone never flew the Brasilia based on watching how well they keep the brick centered. Most non-prop trash pilots think those pedals under their feet are for their comfort.