Captpetefam:
See skywestpilot.com for answers to some of your questions.
Pay, benies and quality of life : decent but under threat. $19.02 per hour first year new hire, $27 and hour 2nd year Brasilia, more in the jet. 11 days off per month minimum (reserve). 13-16 typical for lineholders. Training is great. SLC, FAT and LGB. High pass rate but they no longer pay during training (I think they do provide hotel though).
Bases : PDX,SLC,FAT,MRY,SBP,DEN,SAN,PSP,SBA, IAH for the Bro. Most new hire Bros going to IAH. Not sure about the jet.
SLC,DEN,FAT,SBA,TUS,PSP for the jet.
70 seaters arriving january. I think as many as 20 new airplanes next year. Good growth (200+ pilots a year) but 5 per new airplane being offered to UA furloughs and also some to Coex for the IAH flying so not many off the street at the mo.
New hire class 11/3 due to Coex recalls.
I think with the pool and the UAL hires, you need someone to walk your resume in... You can get hired with the minimums, several in my new hire class did - but you need to impress at interview.
Good luck!
Seatrumpeter