Originally Posted by
BigWiscGuy
Thank you everyone for the information. I took a voluntary furlough during covid and ended up resigning due to family reasons from another regional. So I have not flown since covid. While commuting to NYC is not desirable, many of the others with bases in MKE and ORD, it is difficult to hold as a DEC. At least with NYC there are numerous flights a day.
How long is the flow projected at the moment for DEC? I have heard many numbers, just wanted to see if anyone had something updated for DECs? With being as short as 9E is on captains, how often would I have to end up getting a room during a reserve block? Are you typically built a trip since so short? Thanks!
Hard to say on flow. Of course the minimum is 24 months, but if you think that will happen… it won’t. The last of the original flow pilots needs to be given the option to do so before any of the pilots under the CAP program will flow. And the last flow pilot likely has more than 24 months still. Then, every CA senior to you that has 24 months as a CA will also flow before you. While I don’t know those numbers, I would guess it’s a least 100-200 at this point. That’s another 5-10 months. So best case, probably 3 years. However, during that 3 years, you will likely be on Reserve the majority of it as every current FO passes you when they upgrade.
As for reserve trips, right now CAs are getting used and abused. You will many times know your trip before you even begin a reserve stretch. It may only be 1 or 2 legs, but it will
likely grow from there to take up your entire stretch.
My advice, go to a ULCC if you can. Even with the gap in flying, I bet you’d be competitive. If you can’t go to one of those, decide what legacy carrier you want and go to the other ones WO. So if you want AA or UAL, come here. But if you want DL, go anywhere else. You’ll probably be able to get current flying again, and be hired at a major within months. Don’t wait on the flow in your position.