SkyWest Pilot Group Interviews for Jan 2005

[RoyalAviation2]

It's what you make of it guys. It's what you make of it.

 

[Floatplane]

Qol

QOL, yes indeed Skywest at one time offered such a thing. It has declined in the last several years and the crewmembers are the one's feeling the changes. Unproductive trips, fewer days off, same pay on the CRJ-700, no pay for new-hire's, and a uncertain future with mainline partners. These are just some of the reasons I left there.

When I was hired there it was the only place I wanted to work for the rest of my career. But as the QOL declined and my time away from home increased, I felt that it was time to move on. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. Skywest was no longer the place where I wanted to trust my family's future to. Unfortunatly, Skywest has become much the same as Comair, ASA, COEX, and other big regional airlines. The only thing that seems to matter there now is the bottom line and executive compensation. All at the expense of the crewmembers and their QOL. It is too bad, because Skywest had for a very long time offered one of the best places to work in the regional airline business.

I hope for everybody that has decided to stay there that they can be proactive in trying to increase the QOL for everyone there. For those of you that are trying to get hired at Skywest, don't get me wrong, it is still a good place to work. I just wanted to give you some perspective from someone that has been there. It is not the same company that it once was. Still, it is a good place to get some great experience and work with some of the best people in the industry. But don't be fooled into thinking that the QOL there is a whole lot better than any other regional airline.

Good luck & Cheers!

 

[Russ]

A romantic notion, and in all honesty I'm glad your able maintain a positive POV. I tried, but the past two years has been tough. My perspective allows me to see the steady decline of the past few years. All the while we are making large profits, Lord help us if we fall on hard times.

 

[ClearRight]

[insert sarcasm]
Yeah, life sure sucks! I hate getting my paychecks every two weeks- it's a shame that I can pay the mortgage, my car payment, groceries, insurance, school bills, even enough to sock away for retirement and the kids' college funds...maybe my wife should go to work and let daycare raise the kids. I hate going to work every week with the same happy-go-lucky crews that just want to laugh and have a good time at work- we need more crews that complain about how they have to get up early or go to work four days a week! Sheesh, I don't even like getting home every other night! I hate flying equipment that's well maintained. I sure wish I our mechanics did the minimal amount of work on our airplanes- we ought to be just keeping them together with yellow MEL stickers! I should have followed my buddy years ago to Northwest- today we could be recounting the olden days while the boxes are loaded in our purple-tailed Caravans. Yep- this job sucks. With that whole "open line of communication" thing management has- they need to disconnect their phones and hold their meetings somewhere where none of us can see them. Their interaction with the pilot group just lowers them to our level! We can't have VP's fraternizing with the work force! I need to become a pessimist- that way my tainted views can not only affect my professional life, but my presonal life... maybe then I can join the masses of divorced pilots- will life be good then??
[end sarcasm...]

 

[Russ]

I'm glad its woking for you.

 

[RoyalAviation2]

I'm glad its woking for you.

Hannibal...I ain't gettin no airplane sucka! I pitty the foo!

Right on ClearRight! Tell'em!

Seriously though, I was walking into SFO crew lounge from our medford flight the other morning thinking to myself...."I naturally smile everyday at work......in the morning.....flying around all day.....at the end of the shift.....in the crew lounge......NO OTHER JOB I"VE WORKED AT CAN DO THE SAME FOR ME! NONE!"

Thats worth a huge amount of QOL. When I worked retail putting myself through college and ratings I HATED coming to work. Constantly having to put up with power tripped managers.......stupid stuck up customers.....constant back stabbing.....and I always worked holidays.

I've basically taken out everything on that list except working holidays. And in another 4-6 months I'll probably be holding a line that would be considered enviable.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE.

If you don't like it.....no ones holding you from leaving. The problem is most people are happy.....its the few that are disgruntled that make big noise and it seems a lot bigger than it actually is.

 

[jayme]

I'm loving life. Been here less than 2 years and getting weekends and holidays off, grossing $4000 per month, work 15 days a month. I'm a mid-seniority FO. I'm sure if I took upgrade as soon as it was available, I'd be singing a different tune. You sleep in the bed you make.

 

[Splert]

Forget it...you'll learn for yourself. In a few years feel free to check back in.

Splert

 

[jacko123]

What's the upgrade time? Are any new hires getting ORD?
Thanks

 

[ClearRight]

Most recent new hire CRJ pilots went to ORD, COS, and TUS.

Most junior EMB Captain: IAH based. Hired 8/11/2003
Most junior CRJ Captain: ORD based. Hired 8/1/2001

 

[bluefin]

I remember when I was number 200 on the list there and then went to UAL. I am sure glad you guy's are enjoying your job while I am watching my career go down the tubes. I think I need to find the truckmaster number! Enjoy, but remember you guys have a job because I and about 8,000 others have lost our careers.

 

[SSDD]

Nice try Bluefin, but it won't fly!!! We've all made career choices. There are thousands of reasons why things are the way they are, but to blame it on the regional pilots is total horse$hit!

 

[bluefin]

There was a reason for the scope clause and now you are seeing it. Yes, we all make choices and things are not always greener on the other side. But what do you account the Skywest growth too? Luck? no, the shirt off my back and many of my fellow pilots.

 

[jayme]

I account the growth to UAL management decisions. Sorry about your situation, Blufin. Everybody agrees it sucks. But nobody asked me or my fellow pilots what UAL should do. Wanna blame somebody, look to your management.

 

[Smoked Toilet]

Im in the same boat as jayme above. Although not making quite as much (still on first year pay... for 3 months 1 day more), I am very happy where Im based and crediting 100-120 hours per month. Work hard on 1st year pay and you can bring in close to 30k. Its what you make of it. I dont have the days off that others have, but I can pay my bills and work with some bad as$ people.

Bluefin - i understand what you are saying. I know that many people here, myself included, have a lot of respect for the UAL guys. We have a lot of them working here now. I know they cant wait to go back, and I plan to follow as the times change. The times now suck, but hopefully they will get better soon. Not all of us want to be in the regionals for life, and the bigger they get, the longer we are here. I cringe every time I see a e170 (aka guppy killer) next to a 737. Hard to tell apart from a distance, but the pay seperates the two like a 747 to a pitts. thanks chaniqua/republic/whatever.