Skywest or Express Jet

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

Interview at ExpressJet. Then after interviewing make your decision. Don't limit yourself, not yet. Interview, get the job offer, then decide. Plus you'll have seen both companies from an interviewee's perspective and better be able to make a decision.

 

[minrest]

I think your upgrade times are compatible at each. Both airlines are adding pilot and airframes. Basing your decision on the upgrade times today in the wrong way to go. When I was hired at ExpressJet, upgrade of Props was 1 year. It took me 1 year 9 month to hold it and I ended up going to Jet Capt before the Prop training slot opened-up. On Sept. 10, 2001, jet upgrade was about 1.5 years! It's now about 4.5 years. What will it be in 4.5 years; who knows.

Take the ExpressJet interview. If they offer you a position, then sit back and weigh your options. I think both airlines will be around for a while and will offer similar pay, benefits, and upgrade times. An advantage to Skywest is that they still have Turbo-props and you'll generally find that upgrade times on Turbo-Props are faster than jets. But then again, who knows.

Be more concerned with which bases better suit you and which company you'd want to spend a career at (you never know). It's a personal choice, good luck. If you get both offers, you're way ahead of the pack.

-minrest.