MKE or ORD?
#2
Banned
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,291
#3
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 35
Milwaukee reserve time is shorter at the moment. Somewhere between 1-3 months. Reserve time in Chicago is longer because most commuters can get there easier and it's simply a larger base.
Schedules in Chicago have pretty much every variation under the sun. Milwaukee is almost exclusively early starts and late ends. First plane out of maintenance is a 6a departure. That means be at the airport at 5:15a. Then there's a 7:15 & 8:30a. The last planes to come back to MKE typically don't land there until 8:30, 9:30, & 10:30p. Your 3-4 day schedule in Milwaukee will always start and end with one of those flights.
Somewhere during your days, you have a 20ish hour overnight where you swap from the early morning shift to the afternoon/evening shift. Most folks would like to stay on the same shift given the choice (1st shift start early/end early or 2nd shift start late/end late). The longer overnight and swap to 2nd shift causes some to complain about the schedule.
If you live in between, give MKE a try. You will get off reserve faster and probably be offered an upgrade faster. Lots of people don't want MKE for a lot of reasons. Mostly commuting and schedules. If you are willing to put up with the inconvenient schedule, the rewards might be a little higher.
Schedules in Chicago have pretty much every variation under the sun. Milwaukee is almost exclusively early starts and late ends. First plane out of maintenance is a 6a departure. That means be at the airport at 5:15a. Then there's a 7:15 & 8:30a. The last planes to come back to MKE typically don't land there until 8:30, 9:30, & 10:30p. Your 3-4 day schedule in Milwaukee will always start and end with one of those flights.
Somewhere during your days, you have a 20ish hour overnight where you swap from the early morning shift to the afternoon/evening shift. Most folks would like to stay on the same shift given the choice (1st shift start early/end early or 2nd shift start late/end late). The longer overnight and swap to 2nd shift causes some to complain about the schedule.
If you live in between, give MKE a try. You will get off reserve faster and probably be offered an upgrade faster. Lots of people don't want MKE for a lot of reasons. Mostly commuting and schedules. If you are willing to put up with the inconvenient schedule, the rewards might be a little higher.
#6
I look at this as a stepping stone for whats next, what works well for my commute, & family life. I expect to be at Majors in 2-3 years based upon my prior flight time and experience. I could care less about bonus checks and profit sharing at a regional level. Nearly $300k first 3 years isn't bad as an FO at AirWisky considering starting wages were $15k just a few years ago.
#7
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2018
Posts: 32
We all should be out of here soon and onto a Major making $$$, but if his goal is ORD, should he settle for the bottom regional airline in the country or go straight to a place that wont force him to ever leave ORD and flow right to AA in about 6-7 years or should he come to a place that has the lowest moral among the bottom feeders? Maybe moral will improve soon......we have operational excellence and a new crew room, and not to mention a new base to commute to if JR.
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,948
I look at this as a stepping stone for whats next, what works well for my commute, & family life. I expect to be at Majors in 2-3 years based upon my prior flight time and experience. I could care less about bonus checks and profit sharing at a regional level. Nearly $300k first 3 years isn't bad as an FO at AirWisky considering starting wages were $15k just a few years ago.
#9
I understand there is a lot of bitterness from guys embedded in the industry the last 10, 15...20 years that waited 15 years or longer at a regional for that Major job. But times have changed. Several buddies have made the leap in 2-3 years. I tend to be an optimist. I was smart at flew part 91 and didn't succumb to the trenches of regional life 1990's - 2000's. It's gotta be a little painful watching these kids upgrade and move onto majors at age 23 to 25. Good for them.
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,948
I understand there is a lot of bitterness from guys embedded in the industry the last 10, 15...20 years that waited 15 years or longer at a regional for that Major job. But times have changed. Several buddies have made the leap in 2-3 years. I tend to be an optimist. I was smart at flew part 91 and didn't succumb to the trenches of regional life 1990's - 2000's. It's gotta be a little painful watching these kids upgrade and move onto majors at age 23 to 25. Good for them.
You’re one busted checkride from being stuck like everyone else. I fly with plenty of very qualified people who can’t get calls.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post