Guard Dude

Skyone,
Thanks for the words of wisdom. I don't plan on getting out of the Guard anytime soon. I just went over 12 years service(3.5 enlisted/8.5 commissioned all at the same Guard base). Plus, I just found out I am on the Feb list for Major. I should pin on in June. Also, my Guard unit sent me to UPT so I have pretty high level of loyalty to them. I am going to have to step down as the Chief of Tactics but that's fine by me. All my unit's leadership, which one is a Delta dude, is pretty much all airline dudes so they are all in the same boat. They have all been great mentors.

Your situation, earlier retirement, sounds similiar to my Dad's. He punched early from AA when they started talking about taking retirements. His accountant told him "The only thing you have to gain by working to 60 is leaving more money for your kids when you die". He talked to his CP a few days later and told him "I have flown for 35 years (USAF/AA) without bending any metal and I just assume keep it that way. I'm retired." It cracked me up when he told me this. So, now he is retired and moved to a golf course about 15 minutes from me and he hates golf. My Mom is the golfer. He won't sit still though. He mountain bikes, waterskis competetively, goes hiking, goes rowing, and yes, golfs (but not with Mom). Mom is a stickler for the rules and Dad likes to use a "foot wedge" from behind the tree while having a beer.

CVG767A

Congrats on getting hired, and welcome aboard!

I think commuting into or out of CVG sucks no matter where you're going. Atlanta has more mainline service, so it's probably an easier commute. There are alot of employees going back and forth for training, however, and they will have priority over you.

Frequently, getting to JFK involves flying to LGA and catching a cab across town. Usually, other guys are doing the same thing, so you can share the cost of a cab. As an MD88 guy, you'll have 3 airports to cover, which may complicate the situation.

Commuting on RJs can be challenging. They are frequently either full, weight limited, or running behind schedule (crew shortages?). CVG-ATL has six flights per day (1 or 2 of them are RJs). CVG-JFK has 4 flights (3 RJs), and CVG-LGA has 7 flights (4 RJs).

Overall, though, you'll get seniority more quickly in New York, and that may make commuting easier, and gives you better QOL.

LOBO

Did Delta say how long traing was?

BubbleEyes2

CVG767A, thanks for the welcome! I did not know that the 88 JFK base meant a 3 airport coverage.

Lobo, as far as length of training, I've been given a lot of information, some of which I can't make heads or tails of. Like sim codes. But as far as I can put it all together, we've got 10 days of indoc, so I assume that's the next 10 business days. Then I have a hodgepodge of training starting with FMS on Jun 14, and sim through July 17 or 19 (I'd have to look it up again). So as best as I can figure, I'll have a break of between 2 and 3 weeks when I'll be studying (distance learning cds etc) but wherever I want. Anyway, this is just what I've put together from emails and letters, and not having actually been to class yet, so ......

LOBO

Thanks for the info. That's more then what I knew previously

HawgDude

All,

I start DAL training 4 Jun. (Been lurking this thread for a couple days now.) I was just wondering ref the above...REALLY!?!?! You haven't even shown up for class yet and you got your assignment??!! Wow...even the USAF gives you the illusion that it's kind of a "collaborative effort." I guess I'll have to keep an eye on the old mailbox the next couple of weeks. Congrats to you and I'll probably be seeing you at the training center in a bit.

Man!!! I hope I'm fortunate enough to wind up in ATL soon. Commuting to anywhere from where I live via the airlines would be a pill. (I'm in the reserves - "semi-close drive" to ATL.)

See ya!!

WhyFlare

What background were the others you interviewed with? Any non military guys?

BubbleEyes2

Hawgdude,

yeah, it floored me too. Now, that's not to say that it's final, and not subject to change. All I know is what the letter tells me. We may know more tomorrow. Congrats on the date!

BubbleEyes2

flying_wendell

Just got an email on Friday and will be calling tomorrow to schedule the interview. So it's time to step up the preparation, so...

Those of you who have interviewed, what did you do to prepare for the interview? I've read the gouge info. on WFFF, Airline Interviews, etc. Lots of good stuff there and on this thread. As a summary from what I have seen on the gouges, these seem to be the most recommended sources to study:

1. Mental Math for Pilots
2. Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators
3. Checklist for Success
4. FAR/AIM
5. ATP/FE Writtens

Some of those sources are pretty all encompassing and lengthy. Any areas of particular emphasis that will definitely be seen at the interview?
Is there anything else you would recommend particularly in regard to the written testing?


Thanks.

Guard Dude

For me, there were five of us (four dudes and one dudette) the day I interviewed. Two were Military only, two were civilian only, and one was both, Guard & Regional dude. So by my interview group, I would call it a 50/50 split, civ vs. mil backgrounds. Three of us got conditional jobs. Without trying to embrass anyone, one mil dude and one civ dude did not get the job offer. (Please use that info constructively.) So your flying background really does not matter as long as you are qualified. FWIW, what helps is if you have a solid internal rec or go to an AIR INC Job Fair to get your foot in the door.