SkyWest PDX or FAT trip

[NWaviator]

Could someone please pm me what a trip based out of PDX or FAT looks like in the Brasillia. How many day trip, destinations and duty times. Thanks in advance.

 

[doug_or]

My buddy on the bro said the PDX trips are pretty low value. Mix of 1-4 day trips, going to GEG, SEA, EUG, and whatever Medford and Bend are. FAT trips are much higher value with a lot of 8 leg days.

 

[myflyby]

The FAT trips have decent value. They vary in length from locals that pay over 7 hours, 2 days that pay 13+, 3 days that only do up to 18, and 4 days that do over 23. These are some of the higher end examples, but there are quite a few of them. Can't speak for PDX.

 

[SKYWRJGUY]

As you probably know by surfing here, PBS--and thus the good pairings--is at the whim of seniority. Even if there are good ones there, at the bottom, you probably won't see any of them for a while. However, is that really important? If you're already hired, go look at the PBS pairings; if not, don't get the cart before the horse.

 

[seatrumpeter]

What's good now might be garbage tomorrow. Choose based on where you live and ease of commute. Right now, PDX schedules are OK - locals, two days and 4 days. The four days pay 20, start around noon and finish at 3pm on day 4. The northwest flying is hard to make good pairings as there are a lot of short legs. Sometimes we flow south to SFO region but that brings it's own problems in winter with sometimes lengthy flow delays.

Right now the FAT pairings consist of a lot of 4 day trips which pay between 21 and 24 hours. Many are commutable but now all.

I would choose domicile based on where you live and what your ambitions are (i.e. content to be an FO for a while and enjoy QOL versus eager for upgrade). If you choose on the basis of pairings, you will be disapointed when everything changes next month.

 

[NWaviator]

Thanks. I live around Seattle and I am looking for something commutable from that area. I am hoping for PDX but I am aware that it is fairly senior. The upgrade will come but I am hoping to have a good QOL. I like flying in the NW due to the marine layers and diverse areas. If anyone has a schedule of any Brasillia trip to share that would be great.

 

[indianboy7]

Thanks. I live around Seattle and I am looking for something commutable from that area. I am hoping for PDX but I am aware that it is fairly senior. The upgrade will come but I am hoping to have a good QOL. I like flying in the NW due to the marine layers and diverse areas. If anyone has a schedule of any Brasillia trip to share that would be great.

The portland trips for October had all oregon/washington flying. basically, you start in PDX and go to medford, redmond, eugene, or seattle. out of seattle, we only go to GEG and PDX. Basically, all the four day trips had mostly 6 and 4 leg days, with a couple 2 and 8 legs days thrown in there. Most days have about 6-9 hours on duty with a couple 8 leg days going up to 11 hours.

as for PDX being senior, the most junior FO there was hired this summer.....you could probably hold it after a year (worst case). If you're hoping to hold captain there though, you'll have to buy a shotgun and a map of the captain's houses....imp:

 

[FlyingToIST]

I am in the same boat as NWAviator but I'd rather maximize the pay and the hours in the first year. I guess somewhere FAT and nasty will deliver that Just going to GS tomorrow...

 

[myflyby]

Even if there are good ones there, at the bottom, you probably won't see any of them for a while.

I don't agree. I know plenty of people at large and small bases that shouldn't get good trips cause they are at the bottom, but due to the rediculous bidding software we are all stuck with, they can get schedules that they would never get with hard lines. It's not one or two people either. It's enough to question the validity of peoples' bids or the software itself.

 

[SKYWRJGUY]

The software seems to work correctly if you know how to use it, quirks and all. Yes, it's harder than picking a line, but it ain't that difficult. From what I have read and seen (by people who ask for help), those who don't get what they want usually have overlapping priorities from layer to layer or they are too much of a generalist/limiter when picking options or pairings (or they forget to remove a specific pairing or day off when they meant to do so).

I'm ~38/150 and have always scored P1&P2, with the number of days off always granted, including Wednesdays off; no PN, CN or any other N. I spend some time deconflicting layers and priorities within a layer, but that's what it takes.

For the propsed new guy: junior people generally get leftovers when bidders work the system correctly.

 

[Jay79]

PDX is not as senior as everyone thinks for FO's. THe last 2 Bro classes had 6 or 7 people get assigned to PDX. SLC and DEN seem to be going senior in the Brasilla now.

 

[NWaviator]

Are they still going seniority with the last 4 digits of your SSN for the class your in or is it age? Are the ASA guys that are going over going to the RJ mainly? Thanks.

 

[Jay79]

Yup, its your last 4 digits. High number = no good.

AS a rule of thumb they put 121 guys into the RJ and the CFI's into the BRO, but it seems random at times and they just need to fill classes.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

The northwest flying is hard to make good pairings as there are a lot of short legs.

...and if much of the flying is performed by crews from other bases does making good pairings get easier or harder?

 

[NWaviator]

Dave,
I remember a couple moths ago you told me to suck it up and study and go back in and interview when my 6 months is up. Well, that was great advice, only 49 days left and I am studying each day. I feel that things will go a lot better than last time.
NW

 

[seatrumpeter]

Dave - I didn't here any complaints when we had great 3 day trips that stayed in California almost exclusively.

Feel free to email me on Skywestonline with your suggestions to make the trips better.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Dave - I didn't here any complaints when we had great 3 day trips that stayed in California almost exclusively.

Feel free to email me on Skywestonline with your suggestions to make the trips better.

I got an idea on how to make reserve better. What's with 5 on 2 off???? That blows!