Tag Archives: SkyWest People

May 01

SkyWest Family Shows Up During Time Of Need

“If you ask why I choose SkyWest, I’ll tell you it’s the culture!”

Those were words written by Kirksey Hagan, a new SkyWest CRJ first officer in training. She joined the SkyWest team last month and had an immediate introduction to the SkyWest family going above and beyond after she experienced a medical emergency.

When Kirksey woke up in serious pain a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to a friend she had made in training class, Brent Blackmore. It was a very early morning wake-up call after several rigorous days of training, but Brent stopped at a pharmacy to pick up some medicine before driving Kirksey to urgent care. She was advised to go straight to the emergency room, and Brent drove her there and waited with her until she was diagnosed. Training Admin Manager Jen Baron left work immediately to meet them there.

Kirksey and Jen

Kirksey needed an emergency appendectomy, and her family was not be able to make it to the hospital in time. Jen stayed at the hospital through the surgery, working with the SkyWest Travel Center to coordinate travel to Salt Lake City for Kirksey’s family. She also contacted the training and housing teams to fill them in on Kirksey’s situation. She even offered for Kirksey to stay with her family to help her recover over the Easter weekend. After surgery, another classmate also drove to the hospital to bring an overnight essentials bag and check in on her.

“In a time where I felt my lowest, I had my SkyWest family taking care of me,” she said. “They truly honor and stick to their Guiding Principles, and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to, and made the decision to, come to SkyWest Airlines.”

Kirksey’s story is just one example of the more than 13,000 SkyWest employees who continually make it a priority to take care of each other. Learn more about the SkyWest team: http://ow.ly/3TU450hdoBQ

Jan 09

In the Flight Deck with SkyWest: Behind the Scenes

Justin Giles
Corporate Communications Coordinator

Recently, we showed a glimpse inside the flight deck with two of our SkyWest pilots. This rare behind-the-scenes footage was captured with six cameras mounted throughout different areas of the aircraft, giving our viewers the best seats in the house to watch our pilots in action!

A total of four cameras were placed inside the flight deck and helped to create a unique viewpoint. Two of those cameras were mounted to the handle on the ceiling and provided a view of both the Captain and Line Check Airman. The two images were then stitched together to create a full 360-degree, movable sphere of the flight deck to show our pilots at work during each step of the journey.

There were also two GoPros, one mounted to the wind screen and the other below the throttle. Finally, two cameras were then pointed out over the wings. On all of the cameras, we collected approximately four and a half hours and 65GB of collective flight footage!

This particular flight was operating as a test flight (with no customers) from Sun Valley, Idaho (SUN) to Boise, Idaho (BOI) aboard the E175. Sunny skies and warm temperatures at both locations for the day made for a beautiful flight!

Haven’t seen the video? Watch it below for a glimpse into what it takes to be one of SkyWest’s more than 4,500 professional pilots.

Interested in becoming a SkyWest pilot? Learn more in our career guide: http://ow.ly/f7VP30fq6mx

Dec 30

A Year of Giving Back

The Spirit of SkyWest has always been its people. Never has that been more evident than in 2017, when teams came together to give back to deserving causes around the SkyWest system as well as help team members who faced unforeseen tragedies.

From helping build homes alongside Habitat for Humanity to mark 45 years of flying, to softening the impact of Hurricane Harvey through donating to SkyWest’s non-profit organization, the SOS: Crisis Fund, SkyWest people showed what truly makes the airline great.

Through events around the system, SkyWest people made a positive impact: donating over 85,000 hours building homes alongside Habitat for Humanity; bringing the miracle of flight to 50 special passengers as part of a first-ever Wings for Autism event in California; raising money for The Special Olympics in the ultimate tug of war competition: pulling an Airbus A300 weighing nearly 180,000 pounds; introducing the excitement of aviation to girls aged 8-17 in multiple locations as part of Girls in Aviation Day; proudly displaying what it is we do day-in-and-day-out to SkyWest children at Bring our Kids to Work Day; supporting the fight against breast cancer; donating meals to those in need; and of course, banding together in relief efforts to help SkyWest’s own who were impacted by the hurricanes, fires and other unforeseen tragedies of 2017.

The year of giving didn’t stop there. SkyWest people also provided SkyWest Scholarship funds to 45 outstanding students, brought the joy of the holidays to children in need, and shared life-changing experiences with our passengers.

It’s these and stories like them that have shaped 2017 and 45 years of flight at SkyWest. We look forward to 2018 and the opportunities it holds for continuing to give back where SkyWest people live and work across the country.

Dec 19

SkyWest Team Provides Thousands of Meals through Holiday Donations

SkyWest people have worked all year long to give back in our communities as we celebrate 45 years of flying, making 2017 one of our most giving years ever. As we wrap up a year that has included building houses with Habitat for Humanity in Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, and Los Angeles; donating thousands to support Hurricane Harvey victims; giving $45,000 for the SkyWest Scholarship Fund and transporting some very special passengers to the North Pole, SkyWest team members got in the spirit of giving once more this December, raising more than $15,000 for the Utah Food Bank, including a dollar-for-dollar match from the SkyWest, Inc. C-suite!The donation will have a large impact on fighting hunger, providing nearly 55,700 meals for those in need this holiday season and beyond.

“Not only have we had an incredible year operationally, we’ve also had a tremendous year of giving back,” said SkyWest Vice President of People Lori Hunt. “The giving hearts of our people is another attribute that sets SkyWest people apart as the best in the industry. Thank you all for your generous time, volunteering and donations to help others both inside and outside the SkyWest team.”

The Utah Food Bank, a member of the nationwide network, Feeding America, feeds 392,000 children, families and seniors who are unsure of where their next meal will come from. They are one of several food banks that delivers food to their partner agencies free of charge and are a member of the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief network.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed and joined the fight against hunger! You can continue to make donations to the Utah Food Bank through the SkyWest team page by clicking here.

Nov 21

SkyWest Pioneer Captain Mary Conti Retires After 32 Years

After 32 years of dedicated service, Palm Springs (PSP) Captain and SkyWest’s first female captain Mary Conti retired on Saturday. Captain Conti was one of the first female pilots at SkyWest and the longest-tenured female pilot in SkyWest’s 45-year history.

“I want to thank Captain Conti for her leadership and professionalism over her decades-long career here,” said Tracy Gallo, Vice President – Flight Operations. “Captain Conti is a role model to countless female pilots at SkyWest and across the industry over the last 32 years. We thank her for her service and wish her the best of luck in her retirement.”

Captain Conti began her SkyWest journey during the SkyWest/SunAire merger in 1985 after being rejected at other companies strictly because she was female.

“There were corporate jobs and you knew you were being turned down because you were a female. They could actually tell you that back then,” said Captain Conti.

Her initial training at SkyWest was completed in one of SkyWest’s first hangars at the old St. George, Utah airport in 1985. Following training, she went to PSP to fly, where SkyWest’s acquisition of SunAire was still in transition. Nine months later, she and two other female pilots upgraded to captain together, becoming SkyWest’s first female captains. Bringing her journey full circle, Captain Conti completed her final flight last week from San Francisco (SFO) to PSP with an all-female crew.

The first SkyWest employee Captain Conti happened to meet when she got to PSP was a check airman who soon became chief pilot. He is now her husband of nearly 30 years and they have one daughter.

After her first two years at SkyWest, Captain Conti says she knew she wanted to stay and was based in PSP her entire career – with the exception of a few months after upgrades and transitions.

“Working at SkyWest is like working with family. I never get sick of my crews!” said Captain Conti. “You can have a bad day but the people you work with just makes it all better. Coming to SkyWest was the best decision I could have made. If I could do it all over again, I would without a doubt.”

“Like most pilots, I love what I do,” continued Captain Conti. “It gets in your system and it’s hard to let it go. Doing it with amazing crews like the ones at SkyWest makes it even more special.”

Please join us in thanking Captain Conti for her more than 32 years of dedicated service. Congratulations, Mary!

Nov 07

SkyWest People Support the Fight Against Breast Cancer!

Last month was Breast Cancer Awareness month and SkyWest employees from around the system teamed up to support the fight and bring awareness through generous donations and events!

Throughout the month, team members donated to the American Cancer Society for a chance to win a SkyWest CRJ200 aircraft model and SkyWest matrix jacket. Congratulations to Chicago CRJ Captain Taylor Hinson, who came away with the aircraft model, valued at $300, and ERJ First Officer Benjamin Ruth, who will take home the matrix jacket!

At the 2017 Komen Colorado Race for the Cure, employees on team “Denver Flyers” got moving for the cause, gathering donations and participating in a 5K event. At SkyWest headquarters, employees got busy in the kitchen, making treats for the annual bake sale and cooking up chili for the competitive Chili Cook-Off! While the competition was hot, hundreds of dollars were raised to benefit the American Cancer Society.

And of course, what would Breast Cancer Awareness Month be without pink? Crewmembers purchased hundreds of pink items to go with their uniforms, with funds benefitting cancer research. Pink ties, scarves and socks were proudly worn to raise awareness and remember fighters and survivors. In the air, passengers were able to buy special food and drink items with their purchases helping the fight against cancer.

Together, SkyWest people raised thousands of dollars for cancer research in October in a display of solidarity for each other and those we serve onboard each of our 2,000+ daily flights!

Sep 29

SkyWest at Girls in Aviation Day

On Saturday, Sept. 23, SkyWest people celebrated Girls in Aviation Day at events held around the country. Girls in Aviation Day is held by Women in Aviation International (WAI) each September and looks to bring the passion, exploration, learning and excitement of aviation to girls aged 8-17.

This year, SkyWest sponsored two WAI Girls in Aviation Day chapters: Purdue University and Stars of the North – Minnesota. It was a privilege to take part in the day’s activities and share our passion for aviation with future aviators!

At the Purdue Girls in Aviation Day event, SkyWest pilots flew an Embraer E175 to the university airport, giving the girls up-close experience with state-of-the-art jet aircraft. Our pilots met with the girls and talked about their flying experiences as they showed off the aircraft, providing hands-on learning with everything from the controls in the flight deck to the massive engine underneath each wing for the awestruck group of girls.

At the Girls in Aviation gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the SkyWest team shared information about aviation STEM careers like airline pilots, mechanics and the variety of technical positions that keep an airline running!

“It was so inspiring to see so many girls with the drive and passion to be involved in the aviation industry at such a young age,” said SkyWest Recruitment Specialist Emma Morris. “Watching them talk about their dreams to become pilots, mechanics, dispatchers, programmers and more was really inspiring. Then being able to introduce them to our pilots and have them ask questions about the work here at SkyWest was even more of a treat.”

SkyWest is a proud equal opportunity employer and is home to more than 12,200 of the best professionals in the airline industry. Those who are ready to pursue their aviation career can apply online at www.skywest.com/careers.

Sep 22

SkyWest Teams Strong at ORD Plane Pull for Special Olympics

As part of SkyWest’s Appreciation Week festivities, Chicago based crewmembers joined together to raise money for The Special Olympics in the ultimate tug of war – competing to pull a plane by a rope.

Teams “SkyWest” and “SkyWest Strong” put their muscles to the test pulling an Airbus A300; no easy feat considering it weights nearly 180,000 pounds! Beyond raising funds for a great cause, a good time was had by all!

SkyWest believes in supporting the causes our people are passionate about through the Spirit of SkyWest: Our People in Action program, which is set up to allow SkyWest contributions for any SkyWest team member participating in an eligible charitable 501(c)(3) cause. It’s just one of the many ways SkyWest gives back to the communities we serve through our amazing people.

Sep 09

SkyWest Bands Together in Relief Efforts

In recent weeks, Mother Nature has made her presence known across the states, with Hurricane Harvey making landfall and devastating parts of Texas and Louisiana, then Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria following in Florida and Puero Rico respectively. In true SkyWest fashion, people stepped forward immediately asking how they could help their team members in need.

Thankfully, all SkyWest people are safe. However, several have experienced tremendous property loss due to the historic flooding. SkyWest is offering a myriad of resources to support our people, from personal outreach from leaders to SOS: Crisis Fund resources for those in Harvey’s path. Additionally, SOS: Family Assistance is available to those on an approved personal leave of absence to take time to rebuild and recuperate from the flooding. Family Assistance allows SkyWest team members to donate their user and vacation hours to those on an approved leave.

SkyWest Crisis Fund Recipients Rebuilding

Since the hurricane, SkyWest people have donated $15,000 to the SOS: Crisis Fund, with those funds going directly to SkyWest employees who’ve experienced loss from Harvey’s path. SkyWest has already granted more than $50,000 to our people and we continue to receive and fund applications as the harsh realities of the storm’s effects settle in.

In addition to directly helping our people, we’ve worked with the Red Cross and donated $10,000 to help provide aide and an American Red Cross Emergency Vehicle in flood areas. We continue to work with the Red Cross and other relief organizations to coordinate efforts on support and relief.

No matter the challenge, SkyWest people are a family and rise to support each other in times of need. And that is the Spirit of SkyWest.