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ranger17

ranger17

Active member
Joined
Nov 21, 2003
Posts
41
I am thinking of making a lateral move to skywest and have a few questions about the company. I was looking to find some answers from some people on the line instead of from recruiting. I have been told that upgrade time is 6 mo. or so on the brasillia and 1.5 yrs on the RJ, is this true and do you think that it will hold true for someone hired in the next few months. Also I would like to be based in DEN, is it hard to hold as a newhire and how long is reserve there. If I would happen to make upgrade to the brasillia in a short time how senior is DEN for CA/ how about for CA in the RJ. Last how do you all like it there, I come from an ALPA carrier and am alittle apprehensive about it being Me vs. The company. Do you have any protection there or if the company is pressuring you into something thats against the contract are you just SOL. Before I get flamed about SJS and all the like I have been at my current employer for almost 3yrs with no upgrade in sight. I am very leary of chasing an upgrade, but I am also worried that I am on a sinking ship here. Thanks for any advice and info.
 
Get your ATP and go to NetJets. Much better than any regional and might be better than some majors. If you can manage to live in LAX you could be put into a class quickly. A regional is a regional.
 
most junior brasillia captain was hired 3/06 and has been done with training for a couple months, currently about 90 on the list for upgrade. Class that was hired in August got denver for january in the emb. They will probably be on reserve for a couple months. Denver should be easy to get as a new-hire on the jet after a month or so. Probably at least 2-3 years to hold captain in DEN as of right now.
 
DEN CRJ FO is pretty junior, should be able to get it by the time you're done with IOE. I think EMB CA will stay at less than a year for quite a while. Lots of people are getting hired at low time and will take more than a year to meet upgrade mins. DEN EMB CA is pretty senior as far as EMB bases go. It looks like about 2 years for that. There isn't much in the way of reserve right now, at least where I'm based. In COS we've only had reserves 1 month in the past 6. This month there were 60 trips in open time and only 38 FO's based here.
I've never been in a union so I can't tell you the differences. I've never felt pressured by management to do something I didn't want to. I've never met my chief pilot and the only time I talk to him is when I'm taking Military leave and they're really cool about that. I'm sure there are some people that have had bad experiences with management but MOST people do just fine without a union
 
Skywest is a great place, who cares if you have SJS.

Mookie
 
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What are the current upgrade times for SKW 2500? In addition how about the EMB our of SLC for a FO? Would that be likely? If my understanding is correct SKW is still putting those without any 121 experience in the EMB while those who have 121 typically get the RJ? If correct how long would it take to go from the EMB to the RJ in a base such as ORD for a new hire (based in DEN for training then wanting to move to ORD as soon as possible)? In addition what is the word for MKE as a new base, has there been a lot of interest generated from the current base of pilots wanting to fly out of there or no?
 
meyers9163 said:
What are the current upgrade times for SKW 2500?
Click to expand...
2500tt with 1000 crew turbine. If you got hired at mins, it would be at least 1 1/2 to 2 year upgrade.

In addition how about the EMB our of SLC for a FO? Would that be likely?
Click to expand...
Not sure what you're asking, but upgrade mins are the same. I think Brasillia FO in SLC is pretty easy to get right away.
If my understanding is correct SKW is still putting those without any 121 experience in the EMB while those who have 121 typically get the RJ?
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Pretty much. There are a few CFIs that get the jet right away, but not many. Others have been corporate, cargo or military.
If correct how long would it take to go from the EMB to the RJ in a base such as ORD for a new hire (based in DEN for training then wanting to move to ORD as soon as possible)?
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There is a 1 yr seatlock, but those have been lifted on occaision. I was in class with 3 guys that had it lifted
In addition what is the word for MKE as a new base, has there been a lot of interest generated from the current base of pilots wanting to fly out of there or no?
Click to expand...
Not a lot. I think only 20 or so people bid MKE as a specific choice. There were a total of 35 or so on the list including those that bid "any." I think most of the interest in MKE is from senior FOs in ORD and DEN who want to shave a few months off their upgrade. Others are sort of watching from the sidelines to see how the schedules are.
 
meyers9163 said:
What are the current upgrade times for SKW 2500? In addition how about the EMB our of SLC for a FO? Would that be likely? If my understanding is correct SKW is still putting those without any 121 experience in the EMB while those who have 121 typically get the RJ? If correct how long would it take to go from the EMB to the RJ in a base such as ORD for a new hire (based in DEN for training then wanting to move to ORD as soon as possible)? In addition what is the word for MKE as a new base, has there been a lot of interest generated from the current base of pilots wanting to fly out of there or no?
Click to expand...

Upgrade: 2500 TT and 1000 crew/turbine.

EMB FO anywhere is very likely due to growth. If you don't get what you want right away, you should get it in a month or two.

If you have 121, significant 135 or turbine time, you will probably go to the jet, otherwise EMB.

An EMB FO is seat-locked for one year before being allowed to transition to CRJ FO. With current growth, after one year you would have enough seniority to hold jet FO anywhere.

I'm guessing that MKE will go pretty junior. ORD is probabaly easier to commute to, and the SKW pilots in the Midwest system might very well lose their DAL and UAL travel benefits!
 
MarineGrunt said:
I never thought of that.....
Click to expand...

Depends on whether SKW can or will integrate their trips to include some DL & UA flying on a regular basis like they currently do with the DL and UA domiciles. Probably much harder with the MKE routes. Also depends on how tolerant DL and UA are...
 
Am I the only one that saw this thread topic and thought maybe SKW had announced something about getting rid of the Bro in favor of the Q?
 
flyboyzz1 said:
so you can be based in DEN and fly the EMB?
Click to expand...


From the skywest careers website:

EMB domiciles:

Salt Lake City, Utah
Denver, Colorado
Portland, Oregon
Fresno, California
Palm Springs, California
San Diego, California
Monterey, California
San Luis Obispo, California
Sacramento, California
Santa Barbara , California

Pretty much any of these are possible right out of training, especially PSP and FAT
 
WalterSobchak said:
Am I the only one that saw this thread topic and thought maybe SKW had announced something about getting rid of the Bro in favor of the Q?
Click to expand...
That too. "It's a done deal." Really - I heard from a "reliable source."
 
Well, I dont think I have the patience to wait for the Q to replace the EMB. I'm gonna go back to Colgan to fly the Q.
 
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Thanks for the replies. I do believe you hit it right on the head there with the "seat lock" for a year. I never heard of the exact term for it but that makes sense. Reason I ask is when I do eventually apply I'll be a CFI/CFII/MEI and live in Indiana. I have a pretty darn good base of high pilots there as far as recommendations go and just really want to find my way back to IND as quickly as possible. I dont care to be flying out in CA at all and love the midwest. But reason I really want SKW is becuase of the guys I know who have been there for 20 yeras (some of my family friends) absolutely love it and have expressed their interest in me going there eventually. Anyways yeah I just was wondering if it would be possible to get out of the "seat lock" because SLC in the Bro would be ok for a year. DEN would be an ok comute as well but I just want to be ORD/MKE as soon as possible if i were to work there.
 
meyers9163 said:
Thanks for the replies. I do believe you hit it right on the head there with the "seat lock" for a year. I never heard of the exact term for it but that makes sense. Reason I ask is when I do eventually apply I'll be a CFI/CFII/MEI and live in Indiana. I have a pretty darn good base of high pilots there as far as recommendations go and just really want to find my way back to IND as quickly as possible. I dont care to be flying out in CA at all and love the midwest. But reason I really want SKW is becuase of the guys I know who have been there for 20 yeras (some of my family friends) absolutely love it and have expressed their interest in me going there eventually. Anyways yeah I just was wondering if it would be possible to get out of the "seat lock" because SLC in the Bro would be ok for a year. DEN would be an ok comute as well but I just want to be ORD/MKE as soon as possible if i were to work there.
Click to expand...
I'd say if SkyWest is really where you want to be, get your time up to where you can get hired on at a place with lower mins - around the 500/600tt mark. Put in a few months there and you can make the move to SkyWest. With the 121 experience, you'd probably go right to the CRJ and right to ORD/MKE. The crappy deal about that is you would be on first year pay for about 18 months (6mo at your first place then 1yr at SkyW).
 
Yeah but then you get into training contracts and that stuff. I think I'll wait for the 1000/100 spot and just try. You never know what could happen. In addition I mean if I were to get the EMB it wouldnt be bad as long as I got a DEN/SLC. Both of which are doable commutes from IND/CVG. I was wondering though are there any agreements as far as jumpseats on Frontier Airlines? Because I know they have at least 3 flights a day out of IND to DEN? J/w more or less.
 
meyers9163 said:
Thanks for the replies. I do believe you hit it right on the head there with the "seat lock" for a year. I never heard of the exact term for it but that makes sense. Reason I ask is when I do eventually apply I'll be a CFI/CFII/MEI and live in Indiana. I have a pretty darn good base of high pilots there as far as recommendations go and just really want to find my way back to IND as quickly as possible. I dont care to be flying out in CA at all and love the midwest. But reason I really want SKW is becuase of the guys I know who have been there for 20 yeras (some of my family friends) absolutely love it and have expressed their interest in me going there eventually. Anyways yeah I just was wondering if it would be possible to get out of the "seat lock" because SLC in the Bro would be ok for a year. DEN would be an ok comute as well but I just want to be ORD/MKE as soon as possible if i were to work there.
Click to expand...

California flying is probably the easiest flying you'll ever do....it's fun too......
the seat lock only applies to the equipment..there is no "base lock"......you can realistically get to den or slc within a few months of serving california "time"......
 
Well thanks for the info sounds like the recruiters aren't too far off on what there saying. Couple more questions for ya,

1. What do you generally average pay wise on that great 1st year pay? (trying to figure out if I will be able to have anything besides Romen to eat for a year)

2. What are the nonrev polices do you have to pay per leg? Do UAL or DAL have unlimited j/s policy.

3. What do you get paid while in training and do you get per diem right away or have to wait.

Thanks again for the info.
 
ranger17 said:
Well thanks for the info sounds like the recruiters aren't too far off on what there saying. Couple more questions for ya,

1. What do you generally average pay wise on that great 1st year pay? (trying to figure out if I will be able to have anything besides Romen to eat for a year)

2. What are the nonrev polices do you have to pay per leg? Do UAL or DAL have unlimited j/s policy.

3. What do you get paid while in training and do you get per diem right away or have to wait.

Thanks again for the info.
Click to expand...

1. Count on around 17-18k. Ramen noodles can be prepared many different ways.

2. J/s is unlimited and free. DAL charges an annual nonrev fee and UAL charges by the flight.

3. Don't know.
 
So in all honesty what are a instructors chance of getting hired for SKW with a high internal recommendation (top 20 pilot) and just having the mins of 1000/100? I know the EMB will most likely occur when that does happen but I thought why not ask you guys who might know more about the HR at SKW.
 
Your asking the impossible. Just put your stuff in and see what happens. If you don't like what you hear at an interview about an aircraft assignment, don't accept the job.
 

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