SkyWest or Horizon?

[Sioux115]

I have a major dilema I need help with. I am currently in training with SkyWest which is a great company, but not getting paid and first year pay lower than mesa. Then Horizon calls me last week and wants to interview me for a jan. or feb. class. Horizon is always where I have wanted to work. Plus I have a chance to move back to the northwest. Skywest seems like a great company with good upgrade time, but I'll end up commuting. Horizon is a great company with a horrible upgrade time but I can move my family home. Iam really torn, any suggestions from pilots currently flying for each company? Thanks for the help.

 

[crzepilot]

In my opinion I think you should go to Horizon because even though the upgrade time is horrible it is a very stable company and the pay isn't all that bad. So if you have a family I would be more concerned with stability along with pay. Although I hope you like sitting reserve, I have friends there that have been there over a year now and have not been able to hold a line, BUT they are still bringing in around 30k with all of the incentives.

 

[crzepilot]

Go Sioux

Just to add go SIOUX!

 

[generaltso]

I would stay at Skywest. People say Horizon is stable but you just never know any more. People always said Air Whisky is stable but they may lose their flying.

In addition, I would stay at SkyWest because:

- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
- You are already building seniority at SkyWest
- SkyWest is hiring and growing more. More hiring, more growth, means QOL will get better faster.
- Captain pay sooner. You have a family. You need Captain pay. FO pay is not gonna cut it.

I don't work at either places and I don't have a family, so take this advise with a grain of salt. But this is how I see it.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

If your goal is to remain at a regional for your career then Horizon might be a good bet. They offer better pay and retirement but it takes at least twice as long to upgrade. If your plan is try for a major then SkyWest offers a quicker upgrade. Don't get overly hung up on first year. Look at the 3-7 year picture. That's how long you'll probably be at a regional. Also consider domicile. If you want PDX or SEA then Horizon is a no brainer. SKYW offers potential for growth in SLC and DEN.

 

[qxpilot]

Stay at Skywest. You already have the job and your not guaranteed to pass the interview here at Horizon. Pay isn't that much better here at Horizon. If you think starting at 20-some thousand dollars is a lot and then being an FO for the next 6-7 years at low pay is a good thing, then go for it. Stay at Skywest, upgrade, fly a jet and enjoy what you can. I think they're only hiring for the 200 or the 400 right now and that is what you will fly for those 6-7 years. Horizon isn't some "great" company to work for. It's no different from any of the other regionals. We've actually had several FO's go to Skywest after being here for a couple years. That should tell you something.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

As a former SW pilot I would have to say that you have a pretty good thing going right now. I will agree that not being paid during initial training is a hardship (and I question the legality of that practice). Even though SW is a good company, you need to decide where you want to live. If you get on the CRJ you'll probably be based in TUS, ORD, SLC or DEN initially. I can tell you first hand that commuting gets old real quick. In fact, it sucks! Would you rather live around PDX or SEA? While it is true that SW does have a PDX domicile, it is VERY senior. Just get on SWOnline and find out how senior.


I would argue that it might be quicker to upgrade at Horizon in PDX or SEA than to go to SW, get PDX and wait to upgrade in PDX.

Bottom line...if you want to live in the northwest, go for Horizon.

Cheers!

GP

 

[Ameriagle]

If you have a family and quality of life is a factor in your decision I would make that a HEAVY consideration. Skywest may have a quicker upgrade now but it is never a guarentee (Sp). If you are looking at it as a stepping stone, and you do get the quicker upgrade, your next job is certainly not a lock. Hmmm....how many individuals on the market with 1000+ PIC in a regional jet or other? Thats not to mention many other qualified folks who want the same job you do. You will be a dime a dozen. The point is....ask yourself where you would rather spend the rest of your career because that is the other possiblity nobody seems to want to think about. I would bet the majority of pilots in the regional ranks never planned on being there more than a couple of years and now many of them will be making it their career!

I made the decision to give up 3 years of senority and start over again and, for me, I think it has been a great decision and improved my quality of life imensely! Was about 150 numbers to my upgrade on 9/11. Soon I was looking at another 5 years (minimum) to upgrade and living 2000 miles from home. I decided to make a change, and ironically, took a job that had been offered to me 3 years earlier. Hope some of this helps you in your decision making process. Good luck.........most people would love to have a choice between SKywest and Horizon!

 

[Erlanger]

Why are you worried about it now? Here's what you do. Keep your job at Skywest. Go interview at Horizon. If they hire you, then come back to this site and ask the question all over again. Till then...

 

[f9driver]

The Horizon Interview is much tougher than the SW one. Tough sim....

 

[Southbound]

For the record I work at QX and though I am no fan of Horizon's vision for the future I agree with Erlanger and believe you should go to the interview in Portland and then have this conversation with yourself.
Here are some of my opinions based on my friends experiences at Skywest. The pay and work rules at QX are better than Skywest and QX has the protection of a union contract (Skywest decides to reduce the uniform allowance or insurance or 401K contribution or pay or rigs there is nothing you can do about it but start flying a little slower).
That being said, Skywest will mean a faster upgrade (more $$), to a jet, maybe and Skywest is a very solid company financially. United could decrease capacity and have Skywest buy 80 more Rj's or United could decide to send all the regional flying to some lower cost regional or Skywest could drop their pilot pay to get more flying or........who knows Horizon could find some more Frontier type contract flying or the Alaska pilots could agree to on their contract and Horizon could fill in more west coast AK feed buying more airplanes or.....get my drift?? Who could guess.
Both are probably the best options in the regional business so go to the interview and listen to your gut and to your family, make the decision and don't look back. Just make sure when you interview at Horizon,they understand Horizon is the ONLY place you want to work or you may not have this choice to make. BTW, the interview is very friendly, just know how to fly the stupid Frasca.
Good luck.

 

[Mookie]

The pdx emb domicile isn't as senior as it has been the last few years for fo's. I know of someone hired two months ago who is already holding it and a few new hires in the last class got it out of ground school. emb ca on the other hand...fughetaboudit. if you are married to the northwest, then go to horizon and be happy. if you are at all interested in flying elsewhere, and want to upgrade sooner, go to skywest. depending on the hiring cycle, you could upgrade here at skywest in a matter of months to 2 years if you are flexible on where you want to live.

Mookie

 

[kman]

I at least go to the interview. QOL is way more important than money. Which isn't too bad at Hor. first year pay is 27 hr as jet or prop fo, 2nd year pay is 40 on the crj and 31 on the dash. I would choose qol, my marriage and my kids over the chance to upgrade quicker, just my 2 cents.

 

[Sioux115]

Thanks for all the replys! I think I'll go with Erlanger's advice and go to the interview, see if I get hired and then ask the question all over again. Thanks again.

 

[Tabex]

I just thought I would chime in and offer some advice. I have had the somewhat rare oppurtunity of working for both Horizon and then Skywest, I also know 2 other close friends who have made the same switch. We were all furloughed from Horizon a number of years ago. Some come to Skywest right awoy others more recently. I have really enjoyed Skywest, the people and schedules are really good compared to Horizon. I always felt Horizon wanted to control to much of my life. Here are some of my observations.

Horizon- Also a good company. Work force is somewhat to very disgruntled, a number of FOs I know are ready to quit. Schedules are bad. Line holders get 12 days off in 35 days -that is minimum but I here it is common. Not much better than reserve at Skywest and nowhere near the 15 days off in 30 that I am used to here. Not to mention the time awayfrom base numbers at Horizon can be very high. It is true they have bases in the Northwest, and if you dont want to move that is something to consider, commuting isnt fun. Also the captians are very professional and the company has excelent training, maybe the best I will ever see. They have much better benifits thatn us as well.
As for pay, believe it or not I think you will make much more at Skywest over the next 7 years. First year is better at Horizon by about $10,000. Second year is better at Skywest by about $13000, in the jet and maybe $3000 in the Brasilia. I have upgraded after two years at Skywest so 3rd pay is better to much better here as well. The problem is the pay scale at Horizon for FOs is based on senority, so friends have been there 3 yrs plus are still on the lowest of three tiers somewhere around $31 an hour, regardless of what aircraft they fly. No real riase in pay tiers in three years.

As for upgrade times, skywest in the EMB is about 2yrs, in the jet 3-4yrs, depending on domicile. Horizon is very long. Right now my freind is figuring on upgrading in 2008, based on aircraft deliveries and retirements. He has been at the company 4yrs already. Upgrade about 8 yrs.

Lastely becareful about bases. Horizon often awards CRJ Denver to new hires and it may take years to get back to CRJ Portland. Seattle is only DHC200s and since FOs cant really switch equiptment easily you wont see Seattle untill you upgrade-in this senerio.

Well that is it. Hopefully I can be of some help. Horizon can be a good choice if you never want to leave the Northest and are not concerned about upgrading quickly. Not commuting is important. However there are some draw backs to consider as well.

 

[OR_MEI]

Tabex,
You are wrong about many things. Some line holders have up to 19 days off in the 35 day bid although 15 is more common. 12 days off is for those on reserve, never seen a regular line with less than 14. Portland is short on CRJ FOs and the last two clases that they had in the spring they gave PDX to whoever wanted it in the CRJ. Almost anyone who is in Denver wants to be there. Everyone who I fly with has a great attitude and really likes working for the company. Things are kind of on hold right now until the Alaska pilots settle theie contract and management knows how the money is going to shake out but things could grow if the decide to do some more contract flying for other Legacy carriers. Or they could stay stagnant as they have for the past four years. Either way it is great here.

 

[24/7]

Thats an easy one, go horizon! You dont want to have any regrets. Plus thats one more opening for me at skywest....

 

[SIR MILO]

Tabex,
You are wrong about many things. Some line holders have up to 19 days off in the 35 day bid although 15 is more common. 12 days off is for those on reserve, never seen a regular line with less than 14. Portland is short on CRJ FOs and the last two clases that they had in the spring they gave PDX to whoever wanted it in the CRJ. Almost anyone who is in Denver wants to be there. Everyone who I fly with has a great attitude and really likes working for the company. Things are kind of on hold right now until the Alaska pilots settle theie contract and management knows how the money is going to shake out but things could grow if the decide to do some more contract flying for other Legacy carriers. Or they could stay stagnant as they have for the past four years. Either way it is great here.

Yeah just stay there in your nice little world in Denver in the RJ...All those captains your flying with are happy because they came from Portland in which they were flying planes other than the RJ...About the only thing your right on is that a reserve line holder is guranteed 12 days off and that the captains your flying with are happier with their schedules in Denver...Just wait, your day will come, somebody has to work in this company and it's generally the rest of us who voted no or you came from UND and didn't vote......THANKS

 

[OR_MEI]

If you don't like it leave. The day I get an attitude like yours I'm gone. The pay and lifestyle aren't worth it if you don't enjoy it.

Why all your assumptions?
I am not in Denver and I did definitely did not go to UND. I did 2 years as a freight dog before I cam to QX ( in the ice and fog of the great NW).

 

[crashpad]

Bravo OR MEI;

That being said, I'd go with Skywest for job security and upgrade time.

Good Luck