Originally Posted by Airbus_Driver
I am leaving NWA on a voluntary furlough March 31st and starting at JetBlue in April. A couple of questions to JetBlue pilots...
1. Can anyone tell me how long training is in MCO?
2. How much, how convienent and clean are crash pads in JFK?
3. How long can I expect to stay on A320 First Officer Reserve in JFK?
4. Current length before A320 Captain upgrade if I take it ASAP?
Just some questions me and the wife would like to have answers for. I appreciate the assistance.
Let see....
First, Welcome aboard....
1. Five to six weeks for Training in MCO, then three days of academics/orientation in NYC, then a week or two of IOE and line check. Then you are done. No probation. Then it is welcome to the ranks of the reserves and any base you can get (most likely JFK, but you can try LGB (pretty senior), FLL (it varies), BOS as of 01Jun06 (who knows).
If you are already an Airbus driver (as your handle and profile indicate), then you should find the training a breeze and be sure to bring your golf clubs. Plus a good chance to bring the wife and kids to MCO and go to Mickey's house. JetBlue has crews in training stay in several hotels near the airport and they have van service running between the hotels, the airport and the training center. If you have the $$$, your own rental car is nice to get you away from the van. Gives you more freedom and flexiblity. Maybe once you get there see if you sim parterner wants to split the cost. Just a suggestion.
2. There are some crashpad near JFK that you can ride the AirTrain to the employee parking and walk to. Most JB crew members have crash pads in Kew Gardens. Most of them are pretty nice, but it depends on who is in the pad also. You can check the JB intranet pilot page when you get to training. Plus you can check the bulletin board in the JFK pilot lounge for postings.
3. The last I heard it was running between 2 and 4 months right now. Not too bad when compared to other carriers. Only bad side is that our current FSG and Crew Services treat you like slave labor. Our work rules for reserves are not very good (they suck!) They more like a commuter airline vs a major airline. We have had promises from Crew Services, the Chief Pilots Office and Operations (VP Dave Bushy) for years that they are going to fix them. Yet we have seen little improvement over the last few years. (lots of talk and promises, but little action/changes).
4. I would estimate that the first chance of Capt upgrade in the A320 for someone coming on right now would be 2.5-3.5 years. I don't know how the flow into/out of the E190 has/will effect this. Currently pilots that take Capt upgrade in the A320 at the first available time sit reserve 12-14 months.
I hope that helps. Good Luck
FNG