Hired at SkyWest!!

aceflyley

aceflyley

New Member
No... not as a pilot (with my 1.4 hours
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), but I interviewed for a ramp job this morning and I just recieved a call a few minutes ago saying I got the job (if I pass the drug and background check. I'm not too worried).

I've been trying ever since I graduated to get a job out at DIA and I'm happy to finally get one. I interviewed with Mesa and United and they both sort of rubbed me the wrong way (Mesa in particular). SkyWest looks to be a really good outfit and the people are really nice. Their benefits look great, the pay is OK (well, compared with Mesa), the uniforms are free and it's full time (Mesa and United were part-time, which I didn't want). SkyWest seems to have a pretty good reputation cause 3 of the 6 people at the interview were current employees at other airlines who wanted out (I won't say which ones).

Anyway, just wanted to share that with you all...
 
Hi sorry if this is a dumb question. What is a ramp job? I know its probably something on the field but I dont know what. Is the goal to get in with an airline so when you get your ratings you get hired? How much does a job like that pay?
 
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Hi sorry if this is a dumb question. What is a ramp job? I know its probably something on the field but I dont know what. Is the goal to get in with an airline so when you get your ratings you get hired? How much does a job like that pay?

[/ QUOTE ]

Loading bagage, fueling planes, driving the Tugs, Ect.

You work out in the weather all day, so it can be really hard work.

Pay is useually OK, but not great.
 
Thanks MA...

A ramp job is working out on the tarmac, loading and unloading planes, marshalling aircraft in and out of their gates, driving around the baggage trucks, etc. (and less desireable stuff like cleaning puke off the seats and cleaning the lavs
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)

I'm not expecting that they'll just automatically hire me as a pilot because I worked on the ramp, but it can't hurt that they know you. SkyWest pays $9.75 an hour to start. Not so good, but they have good benefits (not to mention that you can fly pretty much any airline for free too). I can afford to take a low paying job like that with me having no family and stuff... If the whole pilot thing doesn't work out I certainly wouldn't rule out a ground-based career with an airline, so this would be a good start.

Beat me to it USMC
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Good Luck to you. If nothing else some day when you are in the left seat, you will understand what the ramp agents go through. I worked the ramp for over 2 years at a hub. Most of the pilots there had no appreciation for what we had to put up with. I am now a Dispatcher and talk to crews all the time. Again good luck to you and have some fun.
 
Working the ramp is hella fun, even in the nasty wx. Most importantly, it gives you a foot in the door with the company, which puts your resume at the top of the stack when you've met their hiring mins--JC's own MrIVC took a ramp job with SKYW last fall and now he's got a groundschool date, if he's not already in the middle of it now. On the flipside, you can burn yourself too, so think of your time as a SKYW ramper as part of your pilot interview...have a great personality, befriend everybody, the whole bit. Congrats and good luck!
 
I am not a fan at all of hot weather, so the summer will probably be my least favorite time out on the ramp, but as far as rain, sleet, snow, freezing cold... I say bring it on!

Yeah aloft, I agree about this being part of the pilot interview. Most of the other people that were interviewing with me were like "I'm just applying for this job to get the flight benefits," but I'm gonna really take this job seriously and try to impress them with my "mad ramping skillz"
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The guy who was conducting the interviews (and is the personal director or some similar position) started out working on the ramp less than 2 years ago, so there are definitely opportunities for advancement.
 
If you SkyWest folks pass through SFO and run into a CSR named Kai, tell him I said hello. Great guy.
 
Thanks mrivc, are you flying for SkyWest yet? Where are you based out of? Well, I'll keep an eye out for you...
 
Ramper can be a tough job, but I don't regret taking it for a minute. It's a foot in the door with the company, even though I'll have to leave SWA first to get the flight time to come back. The bags can be heavy, and the weather will get to you. It was steaming hot when I got to work today, and it wound up raining on me for about a solid 5 hours the rest of the day. That being said, I've learned more about the insides of the airline industry in just two years than I ever thought I would as a lowly ramper. Use it as a networking tool. Most of the FOs I wind up talking to while we're waiting on the plane to get to the gate are super cool and love to talk flying. There are the few that would rather you left them alone, so I do just that. Luckily, I've managed to avoid lab duty, and cleaning puke on the seats isn't part of our job description. If it's one of your job requirements, make sure they send you to a blood borne pathogens class. You'll learn to like towing planes (if you have to), and there's just something about the power pushing back a pax airliner. Oh, and $9.75 isn't all that bad. SWA starts out at $8.25, but there's a huge jump in pay your second year.
 
Don't worry about showing 'em "mad ramping skillz", dude; it's all about having a great attitudem regardless of how crappy things get. Get scheduled for back-to-back doubles? "No problem, glad I could help." Gotta do that inbound's turn solo? "No sweat, I'll have you outta here on time." As long as you go in there with the mindset that you're there to make everyone else's life easier, you'll do fine.

Now that I think about it, are you gonna be working at COS? If so, that's SkyWChris' new domicile, so you'll probably meet him a time or two! (Great guy, btw--and can definitely give you a few pointers on the company's pilot interviews!)
 
Welcome aboard, Ace!

Tony- Kai is the resident guru for everything pertaining to non-rev travel on the company forum. Seems like a great guy.
 
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(and less desireable stuff like cleaning puke off the seats and cleaning the lavs )


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Lol. How often does someone have to clean vomit off a seat in an aircraft, or how about how often does a passenger throw up in an airliner?
 
I've cleaned vomit, sick sacks full of urine, leaky dirty diapers left in seatback pockets, almost had to clean a folded over newspaper full of poop but the captain said, "S'alright man, it's going to Plattsburg for heavy maintenance!" and, get this, a DEAD EEL in Madison once.
 
Congrats on the new job. I too once worked the ramp and I now flying for a regional. You will make a lot of good connections. You are make a lot more cash then the PSA rampies in PIT.
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Just remember one thing! IF YOU DON'T KNOW, ASK SOMEONE. I don't care how many times a line guys or rampie asks a question about loading or a planes limts. I would rather have him ask 10 times then not ask and screw it up and cause a safety issue or an even longer delay...
 
Ditto on the welcome aboard!

I'm sure I'll be through Denver more once I get to COS (looks like Aug. 1- sold our house TODAY!!!).

Seeya on the ramp!
 
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