Originally Posted by
FLYandDIVE
Thanks for posts.
I’m not a cadet, so I know I’m behind them. Have 950 qualifying hours - so fairly high seniority behind cadets. Was originally told I would be DEC, but they say they have their quota of CAs now, so I come in as a NEC (near entry) - means an FO with CA bonus and upgrade when seniority hits.
Will be commuting from STL - hence wanting ORD. The 175 sounds great, but QOL and Base seems a higher priority for me now. Really trying to grasp the seat lock/displacement stuff. Haven’t been exposed to how it works at Envoy.
Do
NOT take the 175! You will not make it out of training before being displaced to captain in the 145. Your life will be infinitely easier to go through the same aircraft you just learned.
Displacement-movement that is not your choice. You have the time, so again, YOU WILL be forced to captain in the next vacancy. They are the beginning of every quarter, so around first week of July. You will only have seniority for the 145 as captain, likely ORD, but that’s where you want. You WILL be on reserve for the next 16-24 months until your peer group gets hours to upgrade.
A displacement means you are not equipment locked. You can choose to ACCEPT an equipment lock, which will get you an extra five hours pay for 24 months. (Duration of the lock) It will likely be close to that long before you have seniority to hold 175, so you might as well take advantage of it.
One small bright spot to initial on 175 and upgrade on 145. The upgrade would be long term, so it will use up about a month of time you would otherwise be on reserve. Is a second consecutive long term worth that price? Only you can decide that one.