I need your help!! Thinking about quitting XJT

GreenDayPilot

GreenDayPilot

Well-Known Member
I've been thinking of quitting XJT and moving over with SKYW. It will suck going through training again and starting at the bottom of the list at another carrier, but I think it might be a choice.

The main reason is that XJT stuck me at EWR and initially it was only gonna be a couple months before I can get my base of choice (LAX or ONT), but now that that they stopped hiring and won't start back up until maybe spring/summer it might take a long time. I don't know how long I can stand this 5+hour commute to get home, sometimes for only 30 hours in LA. Of course, its 30 hours during the week when all my friends and family are working so I really dont get a chance to hang out with anyone. Upgrade is now looking to be at least 3 years. If I move to SKYW, which is hiring through 2008, I'll be based west of the mississippi (better commute) with upgrade as low as a year. Hell, I'd actually love to fly the e120 over the jet (although I doubt they still have classes going for that).

Anyway, this EWR base is killing my life. I'm sure a lot of people will say to just stick it out and what not, but its really not for me.

What do you guys think?


jtrain and shortone, I don't know how you guys are dealing with it.
 
GreenDayPilot said:
I've been thinking of quitting XJT and moving over with SKYW. It will suck going through training again and starting at the bottom of the list at another carrier, but I think it might be a choice.

The main reason is that XJT stuck me at EWR and initially it was only gonna be a couple months before I can get my base of choice (LAX or ONT), but now that that they stopped hiring and won't start back up until maybe spring/summer it might take a long time. I don't know how long I can stand this 5+hour commute to get home, sometimes for only 30 hours in LA. Of course, its 30 hours during the week when all my friends and family are working so I really dont get a chance to hang out with anyone. Upgrade is now looking to be at least 3 years. If I move to SKYW, which is hiring through 2008, I'll be based west of the mississippi (better commute) with upgrade as low as a year. Hell, I'd actually love to fly the e120 over the jet (although I doubt they still have classes going for that).

Anyway, this EWR base is killing my life. I'm sure a lot of people will say to just stick it out and what not, but its really not for me.

What do you guys think?


jtrain and shortone, I don't know how you guys are dealing with it.
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if u arn't happy leave man. i did leave after a year and gave up an upgrade the same month because i wasn't happy. i wasn't at XJT though, its a good company to be at if they stick around and continue to grow a little. skywest doesn't look like its going anywhere and folks are beating down the door to get in.
 
Do what is best for you and your family. Remember the probation period is for both you and the employeer.
 
Yeah, thanks.... SKYW IS hiring through 08 so at least I'll have some seniority there at some point... I'm dead last in EWR and its been like that since I got here
 
I'm fairly new here at Skywest, but here's some info that might help:

GreenDayPilot said:
If I move to SKYW, which is hiring through 2008, I'll be based west of the mississippi (better commute) with upgrade as low as a year.
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If Skywest hires you, and you're assigned the CRJ, you will initially be based in Chicago or Milwaukee. On the most recent bid award, there were a handful of awards for DEN, SLC, FAT and COS. One or two PSP and TUS. Looks like most of these folks were hired 3-4 months ago. (All initially based in ORD or MKE.) All of the California bases seem to be fairly senior for FOs, with the exception of FAT.

On upgrading: Upgrading on the CRJ after a year (+ or -) might happen, but you'll have to go to MKE or ORD for it. Otherwise, 2-3 years for DEN OR SLC. I'm pretty sure all of the California bases are extremely senior for captains.

GreenDayPilot said:
Hell, I'd actually love to fly the e120 over the jet (although I doubt they still have classes going for that).
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I would guess that classes will continue on the E120. It seems like a good number of bro FOs forsake an upgrade in lieu of a CRJ FO seat after their first year. Flying the bro is probably your best chance at a faster upgrade and west-coast base, however I've never heard of a new hire choosing their airframe at Skywest.


GreenDayPilot said:
Anyway, this EWR base is killing my life. I'm sure a lot of people will say to just stick it out and what not, but its really not for me.

What do you guys think?
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I know what you mean about the commute, man. I live in Seattle and the commute to ORD is tough, especially being a newlywed. (Finding a flight is easy... it's the long flight out here and being away from home so much that kills me.) None the less, I'll probably stick it out in Chicago for a while, since that's my best chance at holding a line and having a good schedule quickly. What's the lesser evil: reserve in FAT, SLC or DEN or having a line in ORD? Question of the year for me.

As for your own situation, you never know what the future will bring. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results, as mutual fund managers like to say. Hiring might screech to a halt at Skywest any day.... and it might explode at ExpressJet. However, I will say that in the short time I've been with Skywest, I've moved up the seniority list surprisingly quickly. (20+ people below me in base and I've only been off IOE for 2 weeks)
 
Do you live in LA? Remember, SkyWest has only 2 or 4 reserve pilots in LA. After that its just the Bro in PSP and SAN (PSP jet is super senior). Who knows how long the bro will be around.

Yeah life sucks right now, but you've got the potential for no commute. If you come to SkyWest you'll be commuting till you move or quit.

my 2 cents
 
WAFlyBoy said:
On upgrading: Upgrading on the CRJ after a year (+ or -) might happen, but you'll have to go to MKE or ORD for it. Otherwise, 2-3 years for DEN OR SLC. I'm pretty sure all of the California bases are extremely senior for captains.



I would guess that classes will continue on the E120. It seems like a good number of bro FOs forsake an upgrade in lieu of a CRJ FO seat after their first year. Flying the bro is probably your best chance at a faster upgrade and west-coast base, however I've never heard of a new hire choosing their airframe at Skywest.
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People have requested the Bro with 121 time. Depending on when they ask, who they ask, and what they've been flying, they might be denied or given the bro with an option for an earlier jet class. Look for jet upgrades to go up a across the board; I wouldn't expect the opportunity to upgrade for at least 2 years in MKE/ORD. DEN is getting much more on both FO and CA sides. Been here a year and not sure if I'd be composite as an FO there. Bro upgrades are a wild card; depends on what happens with small base closures, retirements, and possible LAX jet base opening (rumor).
 
Good additions Doug, thanks.

It wouldn't surprise me if upgrades do start pushing 2+ years across the board. It seems like ORD is getting pretty heavy on both CAs and FOs. A buddy of mine a few months senior to me said there was no reserve when in ORD when he finished training. Now it looks like I'll be on reserve for at least 2 bids.
 
i live in LA, and if I were you I would just stay. a few months ago who knew that XJT would stop hiring and upgrades would slow down. Same could happen to skywest few months from now. IF you leave not only are you giving up your seniotiry, you are gonna have to live in year one pay again. XJT second year pay is something like 34 an hour isnt it? Is it worth it to live at 19 a year just cuz you couldnt wait a few months for LA?

XJT is a top tier regional. its not like you are flying for mesa or tsa. I would just stay because XJT has to LA bases. Where skywest only has a reserve base for like 4 pilots.

isnt ONT and LAX junior bases? You weren'ut it able to hold it out of class?

ultimately its your choice. but I would stay. and if you do leave dont be surprised if your sitting in new hire initial at SkyWest and movement happens again xjt. Thats just how this industry goes.

Good luck
 
Personally, I'd stick it out and move onto something bigger. You can throw a lateral pass all you'd like, but until you get past the line of scrimage, you're pretty much just blowing time.

Remember, the grass is always greener, but it's not.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Personally, I'd stick it out and move onto something bigger. You can throw a lateral pass all you'd like, but until you get past the line of scrimage, you're pretty much just blowing time.
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Sounds like something John Madden would say. Good advice. Shaweeet Avatar!
 
From an unbiased bystander I'd say leave XJT yesterday and go to SkyWest. They've continued to sign additional agreements and will most likely benefit the most (if) UAL kicks Mesa.

In addition they have bigger airplanes which are currently in demand in todays marketplace. 70's and 90's are where the growth will be IMO.
 
Thanks for your input, guys. I'll take it all into consideration...

I care a lot more about QOL than pay or upgrade. Even if I get stuck in ORD on the jet, I'd have a more commutable route home. Since SKYW plans on hiring a lot through 08 I'd have more seniority by summer at SKYW than at XJT. Luckily, I'm still young enough that IF I do make a move and it turns sour on me, I have a lot of time to bounce back.
 
If you're not married and have no kids, stay where you're at. Make new friends. Seniority is king.

If you are married or have kids -- reduce your time away from home to as close to zero as possible. That will permit you to STAY married and SEE your kids. :)
 
ZapBrannigan said:
If you're not married and have no kids, stay where you're at. Make new friends. Seniority is king.

If you are married or have kids -- reduce your time away from home to as close to zero as possible. That will permit you to STAY married and SEE your kids. :)
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What about a serious 6 year relationship? It feels like marriage, hah!
 
The other thing to consider is what your resume will look like to a major when the time comes. Seems to me you've already got a fair amount of job-hopping to explain....
 
aloft said:
The other thing to consider is what your resume will look like to a major when the time comes. Seems to me you've already got a fair amount of job-hopping to explain....
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As a veteran job-hopper I think I take offense! :banghead:
 
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