Originally Posted by
HigherPurpose
Any current insights about Junior FO base assignments? Recently hired and considering bidding on either MIA or DFW. I prefer MIA due to proximity to home however, I've heard that it being a more senior base, and if awarded, I may fly less and have longer upgrade times. Does anyone know the current upgrade timing and roughly how much flying new FOs can expect at either MIA or DFW? Any other advice about either base that I might want to know, how long on reserve till I could get a line, etc?
You will upgrade as soon as you have the hours unless there is a major downturn in the industry in the next couple years. I do think pilot hiring is slowing and attrition will likely slow a bit but the big things that affect the industry are usually unexpected like Covid.
I think it's a crapshoot whether you will get those hours faster in MIA or DFW. I have heard that MIA is seemingly understaffed and they frequently send DFW FOs to MIA to help cover the flying, therefore their reserve FOs must be flying frequently. On the other hand, the staffing projections say Miami is expected to lose 10 lines of flying over the next 5 months and DFW is supposed to gain another 13 lines of flying or so. From that perspective, you are likely to hold a line faster in DFW. I think MIA is more senior on the captain side, it would take a lot longer to hold a captain line in MIA than DFW if that matters to you.
I think you should bid the base you will be happy to live in for awhile.