1- What are the chances of a new hire getting based in ORD?

Good. You will probably do some time in Most junior reserve pilot in ORD was hired in March, which means they were awarded it before starting IOE. Most junior ORD line holder was hired in September of last year.

Most junior MKE line holder was hired in December.

Most junior IAD line holder was hired in May of 2017.

2- How is the schedule? Pretty commuter friendly? I will be doing a 1 leg commute.

Depends on the base and if you are on reserve. MKE schedules will not be commutable on at least one end. Most will not be commutable on either end. You might get lucky and be able to commute home on the last day of reserve, but you will most likely need to be in base the night prior.

3- How long is the upgrade time?

Nobody knows, too many variables. For somebody hired today it could be 16 months to 60 months. I believe it’s somewhere between 16-18 months, many others on here will tell you that is a pipe dream.

4- If, for some odd reason, I’d opt to leave after my first year is complete, how much of the bonuses need to be paid back?

All of it.

5- How long is the training timeline? I will need to complete the ATP-CTP course.

6 weeks for ATP-CTP/Indoc/Systems. 1 week for CPT. 2 weeks of sims. That assumes no sits or hiccups. It’s possible to go from sitting in class to IOE in 2 months, but 3-4 is probably a more realistic scenario. It took me 3.5 months.