What is life like at Skywest?
Posted by OccasionTiny7464@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 24 comments
Hello,
I’m trying to figure out if SkyWest would actually be a good fit for me long term.
I’m a “career 2.0” pilot — 38 years old, switched from being a middle school teacher. Right now I’m flying Part 135 building time. The job is honestly great: 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off and about $100k a year. The big thing is I live in Alaska and don’t want to leave.
I’m currently a SkyWest cadet and have done a few of their Zoom workshops, but I’m trying to get a realistic sense of QOL. My ideal scenario would be flying in Alaska out of Anchorage — I really don’t see myself living anywhere else.
I’ve talked to Horizon, and they basically told me they’re only hiring cadets or people with 121 time right now. So it seems like the path might be SkyWest first, then try to move to Horizon later? Their cadet pipeline feels pretty narrow.
Commuting is the other big concern. I could maybe make Seattle or Portland work from Anchorage, but I’ve heard junior FO life at SkyWest isn’t very commuter-friendly, especially on reserve.
For anyone at SkyWest (especially commuters or Alaska-based folks):
- How realistic is commuting early on?
- What does first-year QOL actually look like?
- Am I thinking about the SkyWest → Horizon path the right way?
- Is skywest a good stepping stone to Kalitta or Atlas?
Appreciate any insight — especially from people who’ve actually lived it.
Relevant-Train5317@reddit
Overworked and underpaid with a constant fear of being fired while being told you should thank your lucky stars for the opportunity.
blanc84gn@reddit
Constant fear of being fired? I was there 6 years, 3 as a CA and felt like I’ve had the most autonomy and control over the FD I’ve ever had.
Relevant-Train5317@reddit
I had a friend from new hire get fired for calling fatigued while in his first year, and another because the captain bent a tow bar.
BasilProfessional09@reddit
Yeah what? I’ve been here almost 4 years. Never felt the pressure of being fired. Only reason I’ve heard of people getting fired is excessive training failures or non compliance issues after getting warnings.
weimerjp@reddit
I’ve got a line month 3 out of IOE and 15 days off this month. I can’t really say I’m overworked and I don’t have any fear of being fired. I’m even in a more senior base. We are slightly underpaid but not by much and new CBA next year.
Relevant-Train5317@reddit
Slightly is a stretch, especially when compared to the regionals that pay more AND start giving FOs captain pay when they hit 750 hours.
Soggy_Vast230@reddit
This. Terrible contract, have to lie and say you want to work for them long term to get hired, pretends that a crj type is worth 80k, shitty bases, and forced upgrades. No thanks. Not heard one decent thing about this crappy company.
TristanwithaT@reddit
Shitty bases? Maybe if you never want to leave the northeast…
blanc84gn@reddit
Crappy company? It isn’t perfect but by far skywest is a place you should want to be if the music stops and the doors elsewhere shut.
Fritzy421@reddit
The pay is essentially the same as any other regional and so is the work. 18 days a month AT MOST is not “overworked”. If you want to work more than 18 days you certainly can bid for that, but the company has never scheduled me over 18 days before in a month. I also work 6 days a month at a guard facility, so my normal month is about 22 days of work and I still don’t feel “overworked”. 16 days a month normally and on track for 110k this year while picking up 0 open time. Pretty solid for any young person in their first jet job.
sniper4273@reddit
A reminder that SKW has a 5 year contract right now. So if you get in, by the time you finish, you’ll be Alaska Airlines material not Horizon.
If you want Horizon you need to start jumping through their hoops.
Otherwise keep building 135 time and hope for Atlas. Commuting at any airline sucks balls, SKW is no exception.
JimLeylandsCiggies@reddit
First day of Indoc they turn you Mormon
Might_Kai11@reddit
I mean commuting is definitely possible. Would it be enjoyable that’s another question entirely. When I started at Skywest I was going up nearly 6-8 percent every month for the first few but that was 2 years ago. SEA isn’t necessarily super junior so it may take a couple months to get there.
Frost_907@reddit
If you’re in a position where you can log prior qualification time under 121.436 then Horizon could be an option for you. I’d look into that as the prior qual time doesn’t need to be 121 time specifically, certain 135 PIC time also satisfies that requirement.
Horizon also has an Anchorage base that’s pretty easy to get awarded.
JumboTrijet@reddit
Atlas pilot here: We have a ton of former SkyWest pilots here, so yes, it would be a good stepping stone. We’ve also hired pilots with only a 135 background. However, no hiring right now. The rumor is hiring before the end of the year.
As much as I love it at Atlas, you know that UPS has an ANC base, right? They’re hiring.
c402c@reddit
Wait for horizon if you don’t want to commute and need Alaska.
SecureAsk8297@reddit
This. Commuting sucks. If you're not in a hurry to fly a shiny jet, then wait. Or else you will hate your life
OccasionTiny7464@reddit (OP)
So I talked to them at the gathering and they said they only hire people with 200hours of 121 time or cadet. The cadet program has a 3 day window once a year. Doesn't seem like an easy pathway to get in. I know about a dozen pilots who got in with Skywest.
c402c@reddit
Sounds like you know more than me. But I don’t know if I’d pin all my hopes on getting out of SkyWest at 200 hours.
c402c@reddit
I’ll add, you’ll probably be based in Chicago or Detroit for your first 6 months or so. If you’ve got a 135 gig you’re happy with, and end goal is ACMI at ANC, I would say SkyWest is not the easiest path.
blanc84gn@reddit
Stay and get some TPIC at your 135 and make the move to the ACMI if you feel you need to stay in Alaska.
SkyhawkPilot@reddit
Do you have your ATP? Multi turbine time? If you’re getting those now you could look at ACMI after gaining some more time. Not guaranteed though.
Someone in my initial class commutes to a OO base from ANC. Sounds rough. With most classes being CRJ now, you definitely wouldn’t be based anywhere west of Denver. Personally, I would move instead of doing that commute. My QOL is great, but I live in base 20 minutes from the airport.
Ornery-Ad-2248@reddit
Why not go to QX? Qx has a anc base so if you go lift up at a regional and are better off not commuting for 27 years
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hello,
I’m trying to figure out if SkyWest would actually be a good fit for me long term.
I’m a “career 2.0” pilot — 38 years old, switched from being a middle school teacher. Right now I’m flying Part 135 building time. The job is honestly great: 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off and about $100k a year. The big thing is I live in Alaska and don’t want to leave.
I’m currently a SkyWest cadet and have done a few of their Zoom workshops, but I’m trying to get a realistic sense of QOL. My ideal scenario would be flying in Alaska out of Anchorage — I really don’t see myself living anywhere else.
I’ve talked to Horizon, and they basically told me they’re only hiring cadets or people with 121 time right now. So it seems like the path might be SkyWest first, then try to move to Horizon later? Their cadet pipeline feels pretty narrow.
Commuting is the other big concern. I could maybe make Seattle or Portland work from Anchorage, but I’ve heard junior FO life at SkyWest isn’t very commuter-friendly, especially on reserve.
For anyone at SkyWest (especially commuters or Alaska-based folks):
Appreciate any insight — especially from people who’ve actually lived it.
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