avi8tor220

Any updates on Air Wisconsin? Are they still hiring? If they are hiring, how easy would it be to get PHL or LGA out of training?

DryMotorBoatin

From what I've heard there are plans to hire alot in 2013. Hiring for attrition only so that could change of course for better or worse. Lga would be easier than Phl out of training but Phl would not be out of the question. If not Phl right away then maybe a month or two later. Just be prepared to sit reserve a really really long time in Phl as opposed to lga.

avi8tor220

Thanks. So is there any plans to close LGA with airways reducing a bunch there or is LGA gonna be always there? Rumors we keep hearing here at pinnacle is Air Wis will take over some of our Delta flying when we shut down.

DryMotorBoatin

I don't think ive heard that rumor here but who knows, it would certainly surprise me. Management has said there are no plans to close LGA. That to me means one of two things... it could stay open for the foreseeable future or there could be an announcement tomorrow that it is closing.

JaxUAviator

So I'm curious...how's the schedule at AirWis for someone who lives in base? What about for someone who commutes? What is the length of most trips (how many days)? Are there a lot of turns? How much flexibility do you have in your scheduling (i.e. how hard is it to drop trips on days you don't want to fly and pick up trips on your days off)? How long does one generally stay on reserve? How is the schedule for a typical reserve guy (again how easy or hard is it to drop/pick up reserve days)?

I know these are a lot of questions, but I'm trying to get a good feel for what the QOL is like in regards to the typical pilot's schedule.

Thanks!

DryMotorBoatin

Did my best. I'm sure someone will come along and tell you all the opposite of what I told you but this is all from my experience. It doesn't mean its true for everything. That said...I've been on reserve for going on one year and my QOL hasnt been that bad and I've been a two leg commuter. I'm definitely ready for a line though.

ALTsel

What are the odds of being placed in DCA for a newhire?

jackal24

[QUOTE]Fairly decent, but you never know. New hires have been put into all bases over the last year, and you can usually get the base you want within a few months, just be prepared to be on reserve longer at some bases. You will get a line quickest at ORF, slowest at PHL.

Moonwolf

LGA- becoming junior
ORF- junior
Phl/dca - more senior

jackal24

Living in base always is a huge benefit, but don't count on any base to always be there. RDU was just shut down and a lot of the pilots there are now commuters.

Depends on where you live. ORF would be a 2 leg commute for me (sucks), but the other bases are all single leg. ORF trips are usually less commutable too. LGA trips used to be commutable, but I have heard they are becoming less so. I'm near the bottom of lineholders in DCA and most of my trips are commutable on one end. Not sure about PHL.

Most trips are 4 days. Average 3 off.

Range between 2 and 6 legs a day.

Depends on the month. Some months I have had great luck. Other months not so much. When I was ORF based, I was able to trade 60% of my trips for DCA or PHL trips for easier commuting, but your mileage will vary based on staffing and the schedulers moods.

Depends on your willingness to change bases (especially if you don't mind ORF) and on where you are hired in relation to a hiring wave. I was hired a little over a year ago and got a line in ORF in 1 month and a line in DCA within 6 months. Others hired a few months after me are still on reserve in DCA. I would only be halfway up the reserve list in PHL.
Most reserve sequences are 5 on. 2 or 3 off. I never tried trading days on reserve, so I can't help you there.