Skywest in IAH

[lowlycfi]

Can any IAH Skywest pilots answer a few questions for me? How long does it take to get off of reserve in IAH? How are most of the hard lines in IAH constructed? 4 days, 3 days, turns? What are the average number of days off per month and the line construction (i.e. 3 on 4 off, etc.).

I want to apply at Skywest in the (hopefuly) near future and believe it or not, IAH would be my first choice. I'm based in HOU for SWA now, so you can see why IAH would be my choice of bases. Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[sewerpiper]

SWA to skywest? Did I read that right? I'm confused???

 

[lowlycfi]

Check out my profile, I'm a F/A at SWA.

 

[Obi-Wan]

Well, you also have the choice of applying to Expressjet and being based in IAH. Its a much better bet.

 

[lowlycfi]

Yup,

Planning to do that as well, and I'll be interested in the same info for XJet. Just trying to get as much info as I can and not put all of my eggs in one basket.

 

[vmc-hound]

Can any IAH Skywest pilots answer a few questions for me? How long does it take to get off of reserve in IAH? How are most of the hard lines in IAH constructed? 4 days, 3 days, turns? What are the average number of days off per month and the line construction (i.e. 3 on 4 off, etc.).

I want to apply at Skywest in the (hopefuly) near future and believe it or not, IAH would be my first choice. I'm based in HOU for SWA now, so you can see why IAH would be my choice of bases. Thanks in advance for the info.

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Why not just stay with swa and try to get on there? Do they have an enternal hiring process?

 

[catIIIc]

The difference between Skywest and Express Jet is that IAH is the junior base where IAH, I believe, is the senior base at Express Jet. Good luck where ever you decide to go.

 

[lowlycfi]

Re: Re: Skywest in IAH

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Why not just stay with swa and try to get on there? Do they have an enternal hiring process?

No, we do not have internal hiring for pilots (unless I could magically get 1000 hours of turbine PIC and a 737 type). I have to meet the same minimums as everyone else that applies. Plus, I don't really want to end up at SWA for a career.

 

[SigAV8R]

Internal Apps

Does Skywest hire internally for pilot slots and are people actually getting hired right now from the internal ranks? Anyone know the times?

 

[skydog]

is IAH a CRJ base or a EMB base for Skywest??????

 

[Rogue5]

SkyWest is interviewing quite a bit from internal rec's. I just had two friends interview and get on. One was a low time 121 guy (around 100 hours) with about 1700 total, and the other was a CFI with around the same total time.

IAH is a Bro base only and most likely always will be. Its a code share with CAL, and any jet flying there would mostl likely be done by XJET. On the other hand, it is at-risk flying so whatever aircraft SKYW wants to use on those routes is probably OK (although I don't know the details of the agreement).

 

[SWEMB120]

Hey Obi-wan!

Tell me if X-press Jet is better how come a second year Brasillia FO makes more at SkyWest than a Second year RJ Fo at X-Jet? Plus Skywest is Expanding so much Upgrade is right around the corner. Please post and tell me different oh ya and now worries about flow backs here

 

[Bluto]

I think Obi-wan was suggesting that getting based in IAH is a better bet with XJT, not that flying for them is necessarily better than Skywest.

 

[Obi-Wan]

It's a small base with 9 aircraft, approximately 32 crews,

on the average 1-2 are always in the maintenance hangar. I saw them everyday from the training center.

Tell me if X-press Jet is better how come a second year Brasillia FO makes more at SkyWest than a Second year RJ Fo at X-Jet? Plus Skywest is Expanding so much Upgrade is right around the corner. Please post and tell me different oh ya and now worries about flow backs here

maybe because our contract was signed in 1997 and your employee handbook came out in 2001. Also, last time I checked XJT had 225 jets on board with another 50 comming in the next 2 years and options for 100 more. The flowbacks are on their way out. The other thing we have at XJT is this thing called a union. The same union that got fuloughed XJT and UAL pilots jobs at Skywest with no interview, you might have heard of it, ALPA. My friends that work at Skywest and have been there 3 years are not jet capt's yet. Last time I checked we are doing 48 upgrades a month. Oh yeah, and we dont fly props.

 

[lowlycfi]

I think Obi-wan was suggesting that getting based in IAH is a better bet with XJT, not that flying for them is necessarily better than Skywest.

That's what I was thinking when I started this thread. Seems like most XJet new hires go to EWR and Skywest go to IAH. Just trying to get the skinny on quality of life in IAH flying for Skywest. RJ or EMB I don't really care about. They are both airplanes and burn Jet A. And yes, I understand that the RJ schedules are generally more appealing, but hey, I've flown SWA HOU pairings for 10 years so I think I've got some stamina for multi-leg days.

So, If you are a Skywest pilot in IAH and can shed some light on what your flying schedule is like I appreciate your input.

 

[Chairman]

Mostly a mix of locals, stand ups, 3 day trips and 2 day back to back trips. Wouldn't be suprised if 4 day trips come back. FO's haven't been sitting reserve more then a month movment pretty quick with people transfering out. No new Captains in IAH since the SEPT class and staffed faily well right now. Great group of people down in IAH and a fun base. I would even go as far to say it is some of the best EMB flying in the company.

 

[Truckdriver]

The only thing SKYW has on XJT is better bases. I would kill for some of the SKYW bases. As far as growth and quality of life go XJT is a much better place to be IMHO. 275 Jets by 06 with options for another 100. 3000+ pilots by mid 05. 75 Hour guarantee vs 70 HR at SKYW. 11 days off as a reserve (soon going to 12) vs 10 days at SKYW. Initially this means more money and more time off while sitting reserve. The flowback stuff was all cancelled when CAL ownership dropped below 50%. Once the current flowbacks are gone, there will be no more coming back EVER! We are currently upgrading about 50 guys per month and upgrade time is about 4 years right now. When CAL gets the flowbacks out of here that number will drop.

In the Raymond James conference and the Goldman Sachs conference last month management floated the hint that XJT was exploring options to do flying on their own, and some hub by-pass flying for CAL. Look for the majority of those 100 options to be converted to E-190's and flown by XJT in the CAL-DAL-NWA-XJT code-share deal that will be signed.

 

[Rogue5]

75 Hour guarantee vs 70 HR at SKYW.

We have a 75 hour guarantee in the CRJ, 80 in the EMB.

Also, SkyWest has never furloughed a pilot, ever. Something to think about in this industry...

 

[nimtz]

That's what I was thinking when I started this thread. Seems like most XJet new hires go to EWR and Skywest go to IAH. Just trying to get the skinny on quality of life in IAH flying for Skywest. RJ or EMB I don't really care about. They are both airplanes and burn Jet A. And yes, I understand that the RJ schedules are generally more appealing, but hey, I've flown SWA HOU pairings for 10 years so I think I've got some stamina for multi-leg days.

So, If you are a Skywest pilot in IAH and can shed some light on what your flying schedule is like I appreciate your input.

There's probably a very good chance of getting IAH out of training. EWR probably won't grow too much bigger, because we are pretty much max out in both flying and facilities. IAH on the other hand is slated for some pretty serious growth. In fact I think we are actually putting jets on some of the cities that Skywest serves. If you did get EWR I would not imagine being there much more then two months.

 

[Bluto]

"In fact I think we are actually putting jets on some of the cities that Skywest serves."

I've heard this too, from Skywest sources.

 

[Paul R. Smith]

We have a 75 hour guarantee in the CRJ, 80 in the EMB.

Also, SkyWest has never furloughed a pilot, ever. Something to think about in this industry...

I think you should tag on the word YET ..to read..."Also, SkyWest has never furloughed a pilot yet."

 

[ILStoMinimums]

Just to confirm....SKW does not fly ay flights on their own, right?
And what is DAL/UAL view of SKW - would you guys predict any danger of being dropped by UAL/DAL or CAL in the future? Would SKW be able to restructure to start flying totally on their own?

 

[Chairman]

Well with the money in the bank and the fact that we are 1 of 3 airlines that can do leverage leases if we had to go on our own I would be we would have a better chance then most. How many other airlines have had the same managment for 30 years and had the growth and profitability.

 

[ATRCA]

I'll settle this:

SKY and XJT are both great companies with fantatstic people.

But my Johnson is bigger than everyone else who has posted on this thread.

Done.

 

[TankerPuke]

She said the same thing to me

PUKEing

 

[ATRCA]

Oh boy,

I'll take it real slow.



PUT DOWN THE GLASS AND STEP AWAY FROM THE COOL-AID!

 

[Sam Fisher]

It's a EMB base and never will have SkyWest RJs, at least as long as ExpressJet's pilot union doesn't want it to be. I understand that part of their contract stipulates that all RJ flying done for Continental at their 3 bases, IAH, CLE, and EWR be done by them.

While we do not want Skywest doing any of CAL's flying naturally, our Scope Clause does not prohibit you guys from doing any of that flying, and neither does the CAL pilot's Scope Clause. However, out Capacity Purchase Agreement, which is the marketing agreement between CAL and XJT management does provide for HUB JET EXCLUSIVITY for XJT to be the sole source provider of feed up to Jan 1, 2007.

Sam

 

[lowlycfi]

Thanks for all of the info. I'm planning to apply at both XJet and Skywest when the right time comes and it's good to have some insight into the work environment at these companies ahead of time. I appreciate everyones contribution. Hope to see you on one of these campuses someday.

Now if I could just get some more multi time.......

 

[Waborita]

The reason for this is that SkyWest needs a couple of airplanes on overnights in IAH to do maintenance on them. The replacement flying consists of RONs on just two cities (San Angelo and Abilene). SkyWest will still be flying the other daily flights into and out of these two cities. Maintenance can't keep up when all of the aircraft are overnighting in the outstations. SkyWest asked Continental to have ExpressJet take over the two RONs to allow those two airplanes to be in IAH for maintenance scheduling. I don't know of any other schedule changes where ExpressJet is taking over other flying though I may be wrong.

Here is a link to SkyWest's 4th quarter earnings report for 2003 including a year end report of 2003. They have around $480 million cash on hand which puts them in a great position financially making them able to grow, and/or create their own LCC possibly in the future.

4th Quarter Earnings Report

I think you meant to say XJT is taking "BACK" their flying not taking OVER?!

Skywest "TOOK OVER" flying to these XJT cities in XJT EMB-120's.

This is a VERY touchy subject for us at XJT. XJT and CAL have 0% SCOPE. I can guarantee you with help from CALALPA XJT will have SCOPE on this new contract!

Can't guarantee you anything about CAL because their half of CALALPA is so dysfuctional. I am suprised FOX TV has not made a reality TV show of the IAH LEC's Follies!

Kind of hard to run an ALPA MEC when 2 entire LEC's are made up of SCABS and the negotiatiing committee are SCABS, Oh yeah and the MEC chairman is a SCAB!

 

[Saluki Dawg]

I just rode into ABI the other night on the Jet and couldn't help but notice Eagle overnighting a E140, so I think that this is probably the reason we started flying back into these cities again. Eagle also flies a E140 into SJT once a day. As long as Eagle keeps doing this, I think that this flying will eventually return to XJT, but only time will tell.