checkgear

Plenty of guys and gals already doing that so I don’t see an issue.

Amg4me

I have wondered about how ethical this is and if there are any lasting repercussions to doing that. Would be interested to know. I mean if a company invests in your training is it not the ethical thing to do to stay with them for at least a period of time so they can recoup their investment? Which wouldn't be that long really. I know some regionals require you to pay it back if you leave before 24 months, like GoJet, which is really too long, and should stop most from considering GoJet, But I do wonder if this reflects the whole "a pilot is just a number mentality", i.e., so dysfunctional, there is no trust from either side.

cornerpocket

This is not meant to be taken as a "Pro-Company" response. One issue I could see is how would you explain this IF it came up during an interview? I don't even know if it's likely to come up during an interview.Interesting times, indeed.

journeybird

Yeah, just go to swol. You can still log in.

C340

From my experience thus far, ethics are non-existent in the airline business. Don't necessarily go out of your way to purposefully screw the company, but do what is best for you. That is what SkyWest is doing. It is what they did when they didn't respond to my numerous emails asking for updates over the course of a couple months, only to get back to me a week after I quit my previous job in preparation for working at SkyWest, letting me know my class was delayed indefinitely. Now I am unemployed until they resume new hire training, or until I go elsewhere. And I understand why they did this from an operational perspective, but it sent a crystal clear, unmistakable message. SkyWest looks out for SkyWest. And it's not personal, it's business. Any airline will ****can you if it helps their shareholders.

Coming from the much smaller world of part 91 corporate aviation, having an owner pay for your training and then bailing out is can really tarnish your reputation. Owners aren't usually in the aviation business, and so when they invest tens of thousands of dollars in a pilot, and that pilot bails immediately, they don't take it well. They tell all of their rich buddies who also own jets (and they all seem to know each other). That pilot will probably never fly private jets again in that region. But doing this also leaves a bad taste in the mouths of the owners, and suddenly they aren't as trusting of pilots. This has very real repercussions amongst that pilot community, and it can ruin things for everyone.

But SkyWest is in the aviation business, and you can bet that the grab n go pilots are built into their operational and financial plans.

majorpilot

You seem a thoughtful and fair person. Does it affect your analysis that an airline, which 100% controls the access to sims, facilities and trainers for its operation, will unilaterally shift assets around to suit its needs without regard for the individual planning to begin training and start flying? Many (not just SKW) do this all the time, open and close bases, change business plans and do myriad other things to advance their shareholders’ interests over those of individual employees. And that’s their job.

If the market supported it, rest assured these companies would be charging you for training, locking you in for years of substandard wages, and other tricks endured by many on this board. If they wanted to impose some type of restriction, they’ve got smart lawyers who could figure it out…that they haven’t isn’t because it’s unethical, it’s because they wouldn’t be able to sustain hiring in this market.

Be your own shareholder, and put your business FIRST. If it’s not illegal or fraudulent, it’s not unethical to put your economic interest first. It’s smart and the way capitalism is supposed to work.

mazerRack

Oooh sooo scarrrry.

Several people in my class group bailed right after training, not to mention half the upgrade classes finish with pilots never flying an hour of PIC because they have job offers as soon as they updated their apps.

SkyWest could make new hires sign a contract like some other regionals, but they don’t. There is no obligation to stay here and no list to be scared of.

pangolin

It was a joke.

Amg4me

I agree with being your own shareholder, but one should consider that sometimes economic interests are secondary to integrity, reputation and safety (in fact, maybe always, secondary). If one only considers one's own economic interests doesn't that lead to a whole host of abusive practices such as the ones you are describing and far, far worse as we've seen historically? It consistently amazes me that a well-educated, highly skilled workforce can be so underserved for so long as it is for regional airline pilots. Of course, that is what has led to where we are today. But would you not agree that it has now come back to bite the airlines in the butt and had they treated their employees with more integrity and respect and compensated them fairly all along we wouldn't be here? So, how do you want to run your own business, like theirs? Or do you run your own business better?

Flyawaywayback

Run my own business ethically and contractually correctly to the letter. However, just as the late great Ray Liotta, as Henry Hill, in the classic film Goodfella’s said, “f@$! You, Pay me!”