Finally received my class date at Skywest after a year.

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zone_of-danger@reddit

When did you sign the contract? I was told that they go by date you signed your contract not when you receive your CJO while assigning class dates.

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

I signed the contract in August of 24

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Not sure on the exact date

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RaidenMonster@reddit

Best job I’d ever had til I got this one. Your first 121 training is gonna be an experience, try to surround yourself with good people and fun people, preferably those who can fill both roles.

That 2 month slog can be rough. Someone who can make you laugh helps a lot.

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

It’s definitely going to be rough. Haven’t been away from my family that long.

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Bredyhopi2@reddit

If you went to ERAU FL- the pilot program there has both an CRJ and a320 type rating option

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

I’m hoping for DFW

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iflyfreight@reddit

To temper your expectations my buddy has been at OO for a year and a half and still can’t hold anything besides short call there.

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indecisivepansexual@reddit

You’re looking at around 9-12 months to hold DFW as an FO, just FYI.

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Fritzy421@reddit

9-12 months to hold the most junior reserve line. I’ve been here over a year and I am still 10 people from the bottom in DFW. Probably another year until I get a line.

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BigRedjmc14@reddit

https://www.skywest.com/skywest-airline-jobs/career-guides/pilot-jobs/#seniority

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RaidenMonster@reddit

Good deal, don’t recall it being a super senior base. The flying was pretty mid (COS based) but whatever, you learn a lot.

Good luck if you get Keith A for sims, not as bad as he seems but still a tool.

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Thank you!

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Rough_Engineering743@reddit

Congrats .

Dont psych yourself out, it is possible to over study.

1) flows and call outs 2) memory items and limitations 3) sop 4) systems

Know Memory items and limitations cold by day 1 of indoc.

Break 3 and 4 up and read up on those between now and your class date if youre able to get a hold of that stuff early. Take good notes, and by the time class comes around, you can polish your knowledge up.

Memory items and flows/ call outs you can look at with quizlet and practice on a poster. The flows arent hard. A weekend inside, and youll have them down. You can use the weekends during ground training to really get into flows and callouts with the mock ups.

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landingKSEA@reddit

Congrats! ERJ or CRJ?

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

CRJ

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airlinetw6839294@reddit

The CRJ had both my best and worst moments at the airlines.

Congrats.

Hopefully they put the newer keyboards in them, otherwise they ttyyypppeee llllliiiikkkeeee ttthhiisss.

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iflyfreight@reddit

They’re very slowly putting the good keyboards in. And new LCD screens on and handful of 200s which are quite nice. Way easier to read in the sun

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airlinetw6839294@reddit

I’m assuming the new screens don’t blank out anymore lol

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Metharlin@reddit

They do. Turns out that is an issue with the computer that sends that data to the screen, not the screen itself

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BigBadPanda@reddit

Did they update the CRJ200s to dual FMCs?

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iflyfreight@reddit

Yep! We got some old Go-Jet birds that are single FMS but those are 550s. All 2/7/9 are dual these days thank the lord

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ArikStocks@reddit

I’m also CRJ and 9/22 class

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

I start CTP 9/26 and Indoc on 10/06. What base are you trying for?

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BigRedjmc14@reddit

You might want to temper expectations a little bit with base selection. Everyone 6 months or newer on CRJ is in ORD, DTW, or MSP.

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ArikStocks@reddit

I hear Junior bases are ORD or DTW so either one of those since I’m in Midwest

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Impressive-Ad3348@reddit

Congratulations! Cooperate and graduate!

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CompassCardCaptain@reddit

You should definitely brush up on your bicycle skills, and read the book of mormon cover to cover.

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cbrookman@reddit

Hello! My name is FO Grant! I would like to share with you the most amazing FOM!

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OnionDart@reddit

Orlando!

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propell0r@reddit

Did you know that Jesus lived here in the USA!? Hello!

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Sticky_Corvid@reddit

Turn it off, like a light switch!

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hypnotoad23@reddit

I still have maggots in my galley!

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CaptUncleBirdman@reddit

That second suggestion in particular is a good one. Fabulous book.

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Octo_CJ@reddit

Seconded

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elmetal@reddit

Yes but, it's really not that bad. It was a lot easier than the EMB120....

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changgerz@reddit

i highly recommend the "transitioning to turbine (turbojet?) aircraft" chapter in the airplane flying handbook.

the CRJ is a good plane to learn for your first jet (im assuming). very simple and easy to fly. do you know if you do sims in the 700/900 mostly and then -200 differences?

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elmetal@reddit

Opposite. All 200 we ith 7/9 diff

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changgerz@reddit

oof

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elmetal@reddit

Why is that an oof? The majority of your flying at skw will be in a 200.

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SnooMuffins8181@reddit

Because a lot of people view the 200 as the ghetto version of the CRJ .

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elmetal@reddit

I'm aware. Thousands of hours in it at the Mormon air force

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SnooMuffins8181@reddit

I haven't flown a CRJ before, is the 200 that bad ? And which version is your favorite to fly ?

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elmetal@reddit

It is that bad. There's plenty of posts explaining why. I can't get into the details at this specific point in time.

Favorite is crj7

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changgerz@reddit

Why is that an oof? hmm It is that bad.

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GoobScoob@reddit

Congrats. It’s a good place to be a regional pilot. As others have said, training is comprehensive but fire hose paced. As soon as your get your iPad and materials start memorizing systems, limitations, and all the memory items from the QRC. Take out your cockpit poster and quiz yourself on every single button/switch/lever/hatch on there. Before you even get there you want to know what every single one does. Do as much of the flash card/rote memorization stuff you can before you get there and it’ll significantly reduce your workload initially.

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iflyfreight@reddit

I can appreciate this may work for some but I feel like I need to put in there that some people should NOT do this and do what they tell you when they tell you. Cramming up front can sometimes cross the wrong wires. Learning switch positions is fine. But I wouldn’t touch flows until they want you to. Whatever works best for the individual of course but your way would’ve made it more difficult for me personally

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grumpycfi@reddit

Have solid fundamentals. No airline is going to teach you how to fly an ILS and what bleed air is. They're there to teach you how to fly an ILS in the ERJ for SkyWest and how bleed air on the ERJ provides pressurization.

So just make sure you have the appropriate base knowledge for going into a type rating program. Basic IFR knowledge and perusing some basic turbine systems, even just on Wikipedia, and you'll probably be fine.

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ATACB@reddit

Alice likes it rough Road island l a

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iflyfreight@reddit

This guy 200s

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Fat_Dave69@reddit

I mean… Skywest did do a pretty good job teaching ME what bleed air is. Maybe that’s not the norm

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itsyournameidiot@reddit

Yep I had to relearn instrument during initial and it was definitely twice as hard for me

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Worried-Ebb-1699@reddit

Buy the “everything explained for the professional pilot” book. Look up things like:

ISA
climb via
sid/ stars
systems

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TheBadgersWake@reddit

How this book keeps getting recommended I’ll never know. It is, hands down, the most poorly formatted book in the history of books. Not only did my eyes get cancer but my glasses cracked too.

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Outrageous-Wolf-2599@reddit

It also includes some blatantly wrong information.

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jg19915@reddit

I’m just curious, what wrong info does it have?

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Outrageous-Wolf-2599@reddit

There was a list at one point, can’t remember all but a lot of it was weather related. For example, the equation it gives for relative humidity is just literally false.

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21stcAviator@reddit

I find it formatted so aggressively visually “bad” that it’s like getting punched in the face— now I know I’m in a fight

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Derpicusss@reddit

See it was intentional. You learn best when your body thinks you’re about to die.

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

👍🏻

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honkeytonk1212@reddit

Take it serious, know those limitations and flows hard after a week of indoc. Take that extra time to understand what the jet is doing when the you start cockpit training, and chair fly again and again. The mental reps really gets you prepared.

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Flounder719@reddit

SkyWest did a really good job of giving me a workload that kept my head just above water. Trust their process, they are really good at taking CFIs and making them jet pilots. Follow their study guide and unless it absolutely doesn’t work for you don’t run off and do your own study method or try to learn everything before you show up.

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Standard-Reply-1788@reddit

Nice! What day in August of 2024 did you sign the contract and what day did they give you your class date email? I’m very close to getting called so want to see what day they’re currently calling

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JollyWishSporty@reddit

Long term OO training department veteran here

Know your Emergency Procedures and Limitations cold on day 1. Make your flash cards and use them multiple times per day before you show up. The training comes at you fast, so you won’t have time to learn them during training. Learn them NOW. Beyond that, study hard, use the resources available, and be humble. If something isn’t clicking ask an instructor for help. It isn’t as bad as others make it out to be, but it can feel intense.

You’ll do fine, just don’t spend too much time socializing. You have a job, and your job is to learn to fly that airplane. Do it. It’s a great company, and you’ll look back fondly on your time there.

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Reasonable_Hippo9163@reddit

Congrats. Were you a cadet?

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Negative

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BrandynJR@reddit

Congrats! When did you sign the training agreement?

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SnooMuffins8181@reddit

Hey OP I'm wait for a class date as well, did they send you an email before the actual class date email. Because I received an email talking about updating my hours, and what to expect in in training payment wise and travel benefits etc . Did you revieve one like that before your actual class dates email?

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UTpilotlife@reddit

Started my initial CRJ training 4 years ago, just embrace the stress and let it keep you focused. You should listen to what’s going on any given day, and only preparing for the next day. If you wander off the trail they’ve made for you, you’ll get lost! It comes together more in each phase of training, and next thing you know you’ll be out on the line. Then blink and you’ll be a captain. Keep up the good work that got you here 👍🏻

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GummoRabbit@reddit

Being one month out from class, there's nothing profound you can do now that will drastically change your performance. So take the time to relax and clear your head. Take care of any personal business now. Personally, I would take a good two weeks off of whatever you're doing and go on a cool road trip.

When you get to class, just do what they say. Know your flows, memory items, and profiles cold. Chair fly. Have a good attitude. That's it!

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Also another question. Does Skywest give iPads or Microsoft surface? I’ve heard both

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elmetal@reddit

Used to be surface, now ipad

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Thank you! That makes me feel better

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SnooCupcakes1591@reddit

Memorize the FO creed to really impress the instructors

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Frosty-Brain-2199@reddit

Fly good don’t suck

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Skrait up

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Apprehensive-Gift-36@reddit

Congrats, i have had friends find training at Skywest exceptionally difficult. Make sure you study on the FMS of the CRJ, it is particularly antiquated. When in training hope they do not switch your training partners, instructors or cut you short on sim time.

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MartonianJ@reddit

Congrats!

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Metharlin@reddit

Congrats. I am at OO right now. The training is very thorough. It does come at you fast. That said we only lost two guys (of 45) that I am aware of. The first was a cocky bastard who thought SKW needed pilots so badly they would never fire anyone. This was a few years ago in the middle of the hiring craze, but he did prove that if you phone it in, they will let you go. The 2nd guy was nice enough and definitely had his head in the right place. I just don’t think he was able to internalize the material fast enough. This is a broad generalization, but the people in my class that seemed to do well (at least in SIMs) were those that had a lot of IFR time. The ones that struggled more in the SIMs had less. If you have been flying IFR recently and you are willing to study a LOT, you can do it. Remember, they DO want you now. Just stay focused and you’ll be fine. Oh, and welcome aboard.

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Thank you! I do have quite a few hours actual ifr and used to fly it a lot more than I do now. I’ll need to brush up for sure.

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Easy-Trouble7885@reddit

Show up on time. Study the material. Don't be a smart ass. And congrats!

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

No truer word have ever been said my man. Thanks!

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NewFirefighter7051@reddit

Just wanna say congrats

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CauliflowerSweaty524@reddit (OP)

Thank you! I’m definitely looking forward to it

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

Received a cjo 9/24 just got the email I start class 9/26/25. Is there anything I should brush up on? Tips and tricks? I have been waiting for what seems like forever. Now that it’s here I’m extremely nervous. Thanks in advance.

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