wrxpilot

Yes, I've talked to a few people that do that. I think the most recent LAX EMB FO was hired within the last few months at the most.

rcfd13

LAX is one of the more senior Brasilia bases, but on the FO side "more senior" doesn't really mean much. So many guys transition that you can hold a line in almost any base as a Brasilia FO within a few months.

April 2012 hires got lines in FAT this month, and have had a line in PSP for at least a month now. My friend who is an October 2011 hire Brasilia FO is bidding 35% in FAT and would be a line holder in any of the big bases including LAX as of this month. Unless movement really slows down you can expect to hold a line quickly on the Bro. It's rare to find FOs who have been on it much longer than a year so you're really only competing with guys a few months more senior than you. By one year of seniority you're bidding close to the top. The RJ side is a lot different.

There are loads of flights between SAN and LAX. It probably wouldn't be too bad to commute to SFO either from SAN.

Don Ramon

Fixed that for ya!

etflies

Word to the wise, keep driving it in mind, PSP is 2-2.5hrs (roughly) driving wise and tends to be more junior than LAX on the Brasilia. The SAN-LAX flights are almost always full. SkyWest uses the Bro for almost every flight, which means full flights and weight restrictions on the United side. The Delta side has been hit or miss for me, its jets which helps but there is often a fellow SkyWest pilot commuting, and theyre usually pretty senior. Between SkyWest, United and Delta pilots trying to commute it can be tough. Eagle seems to be a bit better, all jets and fewer commuting crew from my own experience.

SFO is usually fairly full on UA but they also use the Airbus frequently so with 2 jump seats it helps. Ive seen a fair amount of commuters here too, UA and VA mostly. Virgin and Southwest also have a handful of flights daily, plus OAK is a possibility in a pinch.

Just food for thought, these are my own observations!

PA31

Impossibile to say. You need to first get hired and staffing needs will dictate which aircraft your placed on, not prior experience. Assuming you get the CRJ, you'll have to wait until your number can hold one of these more senior bases.

Paid2fly

Most of the flights are full, and the drive sucks! The SAN/CLD domicile should never have been closed!!

FlytoSurf

I am now in the EMB sept 3 class, if anyone else is, let me know. Hoping to hold a line in within a few months.

Electra

The EMB is the way to go if you want to hold a line quickly and quite frankly, make more money starting out as 1st year pay is the same on all equipment and holding a line on anything anywhere pays better than sitting reserve. Bring your A-game to class and expect that you will work harder flying that plane than you have ever worked in your life, often for very little respect from your passengers and the occasional pilot who wasn't good enough to have had the chance to fly it ;-)... But having said that, some of the best times I have had here were flying on the bro my first year. Many of the overnights can generally be regarded as the best in the system, the costal flying can be breathtaking, and my experience was that the crews were usually a bit more fun (shared misery being junior on a turboprop surrounded by shiny new-er jets?). Seriously, though, welcome to SkyWest! We really are glad to see new pilots coming in. Don't be afraid to ask people for advice or for help if you have questions, and for heaven's sake be careful what you choose to eat at Lofte's!

wrxpilot

Excellent decision! As a Cali guy, your QOL will be way better now. Ditto everything Electra said... Have all your limitations and memory items down cold before Day 1, and be prepared to work your butt off the next few weeks. The instructors are great, they'll take care of you as long as you put in the work.

AZFlyn1

OMG, he's so right about Lofte's!! Just got done with recurrent, forgot how bad it can be! If you're a fan of Mexican, try Red Iguana, really good stuff there