After successfully completing my simulator checkride, I was sent off to initial operating experience (IOE) to fly with a company check airman for a couple weeks. IOE is used to further evaluate what you’ve learned in training and to make sure you are ready to be released to fly with other line pilots. My IOE consisted of two separate four-day trips throughout our system, taking me from San Francisco to Charleston, South Carolina, and many points in between. It was not only fun, but a great opportunity to see how the system works in motion and finally be able to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in training.
After being released from IOE, I was sent to my domicile (LaGuardia/LGA) and placed on reserve. How long someone is placed on reserve can vary greatly depending on the airline, the type of aircraft flown, and numerous variables, which can change even monthly. Within 40 days of being at LGA, I was awarded my preferred domicile of SLC. Had I decided to stay in LGA, I would have been a line holder the following month.
Many folks ask, why SkyWest? SkyWest is the largest regional in operation today and works with four partner airlines: Delta, United, American, and Alaska. Due to its large size, there are tremendous opportunities for upgrades and mentoring in the Pilot Pathway Program, for being a training instructor and even joining the pilot recruitment team, which I hope to someday participate in. Every airline will provide a paycheck, but I wanted more and culture is extremely important to me. With a choice in aircraft and multiple domiciles in the vicinity of where I live, SkyWest is a great fit. I feel extremely fortunate it provided me the opportunity to demonstrate the value, skill, and knowledge the civilian helicopter pilot market has to offer for future employment.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Because we occasionally provide information to our readers on the topic of airline rotor transition programs, we sometimes receive questions asking why we are “promoting” helicopter pilots leaving the industry when helicopter operations are short helicopter pilots. Naturally, we do not see it that way. On one hand, we recognize the state of the shrinking labor pool in the helicopter industry; it’s a state brought on by many factors that include a reduction in civil pilot training, military pilots not leaving service, Vietnam-era pilots retiring, as well as helicopter operators not being as competitive.
On the other hand, being positive-minded ambassadors of the industry, we would much rather pilots not leave our industry, but stay and thrive in their rotorcraft careers. Having said that, the airlines’ competition for the industry’s personnel is a reality and may be an opportunity for some helicopter pilots. We at Rotorcraft Pro had nothing to do with creating the situation, but we do have a responsibility to our readers to offer accurate information that reflects all sides of the issue. If we did not offer relevant, accurate content, someone else would provide content that might not be so relevant or accurate. In the end, we provide information and our readers make up their own minds. – Lyn Burks, editor in chief
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