2018 hire, my hotel was paid for.


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OE still wouldn’t be considered training until you are signed off.. so how many nights would one end up being responsible for?

Think you meant to say “would” there?

So on the Airbus I had to pay for 2 hotel nights in SFO (2 OE trips). On the 737, my hotel in SEA was paid for through the end of my scheduled OE. If you needed more time on OE, I don’t know if your hotel would be covered. I’m sure someone smarter than me can answer that.

It’s a relatively new thing since 2017 or 2018. Before that, neither VX nor AS paid for hotels in training.

Base/Airframe Assignment
 

Sorry if this is a repeat, couldn't find it in the search function. When do you find out your Base/Airframe assignment? First day of training?

Indoc. The first few days. I can’t remember the exact day.


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We found out after the morning session of the company-wide Indoc you sit through on day one. Basically a welcome to Alaska in a huge room full of every new hire starting that day (pilots, FAs, rampers, etc). They pass around a sheet of paper with openings (oldest goes first) and you write your name on the line.

Perfect, thanks.

Training Timeline
 

This is nerdy but can someone layout the training schedule/timeline: Indoc(How long and what does it consist of), Ground School (how long?) Sim phase (how many rides and how long?), etc.?

Word is, there’s no longer just a systems test for the 737. Some clown messed it up and now you’ll be required to take an oral. Best of luck!

This is true, I have a friend who just finished systems and had to do an oral. Mostly limitations, memory items and basic systems knowledge. Apparently the guy who screwed this up for everyone went to the training department and said he had the test with the answers highlighted. There always seems to be some guy who screws it up for everyone else.

YGTBKM! :eek:

Heard he was talking about having the test and answers while in the presence of a POI lol.

You can't fix stupid.

And somebody that stupid NEEDS an oral anyway.

Looks like this is the type of pilot Alaska is now getting in the doors. So sad.

Time for some good ol’ fashioned yoke clip humiliation.

Sounds like future management to me

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Training Material
 

So I just got a CJO to Alaska. I know things aren’t great with the pilots contract right now, and that sucks. However, I was wondering where I could get any training materials? I’d like to start training a little early but as I understand Alaska won’t hand them out until I first start.

I wouldn’t. Something will be incorrect and that’s probably the way you’ll remember it for the rest of your time at AS. Law of primacy I think…

Do your best to enjoy it. If I can pass, I know you can.


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2 things….you will be off probation before we go on strike. That is good for you. Do not try to get a jump on training. Things change, frequently at times and you dont want to unlearn…For better or worse you are joining the circus. Just show up and follow the path. Training is consistent and mature…

Congratulations, get your free type rating and move onto a Major that pays well and has a great contract.

Congratulations! Seriously Congratulations! The training is fairly slow paced so no pre learning is required or advised. My only advice would be to keep your apps at the big 5 up to date and don’t turn down any interviews. You will thank me after you’ve been here for 5-6 months.

I don't know what fleet you got, and my only experience with the A320 training is pre-merger, but I can tell you that the pace of the 737 program is excruciatingly slow. I understand the compulsion to want to get a head start, come over-prepared, know everything ahead of time, etc (at least to an extent; aren't they going to pay you to learn it on THEIR time?) because other training programs that are more fast paced tend to demand that. Forget all those programs though, and instead come prepared for a very relaxed two and a half months. IF you live in Seattle that is. If you're commuting to training, you'll want to tear your hair out after a couple weeks of wasting time in the hotel because there's nothing left to study but there's still ten Sims left. But hey, if you're commuting to this job, just face the fact that you're already ****ed, so at least you can get a head start on hating this place hahaha!

It's a long program, and it can be frustrating and redundant at times, but having said all of that, never once did I (an extremely lazy underachiever) ever feel unprepared, stressed about what was coming next, unsure of whether I could ask questions or to whom to ask them, nervous about whether I knew enough, etc. I have almost nothing good to say about this place but the one thing that in my opinion deserves credit is the quality of our training. Don't stress out at all about training... Save that high blood pressure for the terrible schedules you get after you're done.

Hats off to your motivation. I’m not sure if it’s possible but if you really need a head start, you should get a copy of our abomination of a contract and learn it. Learn it so you can fly it and can educate your classmates on it. Being on reserve you will get plenty of situations where knowing that thing inside out would be helpful.

This is terribly accurate.

Memorize the few rights you have as a pilot on reserve. Two big rules that scheduling tried to break often when I was on reserve: show time is two hours and you can’t be on duty for more than 14 hours.

They call and try to get you to show under two hours and it’s usually for a trip that has more than 14 hours of duty.


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Is there a break of any sort between indoc and starting aircraft training?

if you unfortunately get sick for one of your OE trips you can expect about a month off before you fly again

Any break in training before aircraft classes/sims?

Depends on sim availability. It’s at redline right now, so you might get some extra days off in between. I just went through and the longest break I had at any point in my footprint was 3 days. Others in my class had a week off before sims. YMMV. OE is being scheduled around a month out right now, so be prepared to sit for a bit after you’re all done.

Plan on some time in PHX for sims. Heard DAL as well? I’m any case, make sure you’re getting your contractual days off if you are traveling. They’ve been illegally scheduling people, so double check to make sure.

DAL for Airbus (maybe Boeing soon if they can secure sim time)

My entire schedule from start to OE. First 3 weeks are basically Mon - Fri and then the Sims are 3-5 days in a row with anywhere from 2-5 days off in between some sessions. I do have one stretch of 7 days of sims.

I think you’re supposed to have 2 days off every 7 days.

Every 5 days in a row of training you have to have 2 days “free of company duty.”

They were (and maybe continuing?) to violate that, especially now that people are traveling to/from sims in different locations than SEA.

Just another part of training. Teaching new hires to keep their heads down and just take it…..Secret Sauce

Just doing napkin math, 241 mainline aircraft by end of 2023 with with 12 to 12.6 pilots/plane = 2890 to 3050 pilots. We're already above that total. So does hiring come to a stop as we displace 500+ pilots from the Bus to Boeing? The math for crews per plane is quite clear. Unfortunately I see the next 18 months being a re-set.

Actually I was wrong,my longest stretch is 5 days not 7.

You and I agree on this. We will
be fat pilots. Hiring will come to a halt. When hiring resumes it’ll likely be entirely horizon people via the pathways program. It’ll be used as a way to continue the argument of “you’re lucky to be here so you’ll be paid less”

it should scare the ever living daylights out of every pilot here how quickly aag decided to chop half their airline when staffing got tough. Might be a canary in the coal mine moment for Alaska

Im glad I’m not the only one who can see reality.
I’d imagine once people start being downgraded and displaced, and the upgrade time goes to more like 8-10 years and reserve is forever, people may leave in higher numbers if the rest of the industry continues to hire while offering good opportunities. That may prevent the possibility of furloughs if we end up 400-500 pilots over staffed.

Where did that 241 aircraft by the end of 2023 come from? I don't see that in any of the reports from the investors conference.

​​​​Are you implying that the mainline pilots should turn tail and run?