So if you're 80 FO you can't upgrade to airbus? How long is the seat lock?

 

Our manuals say three years.

Verbally it's accepted at two years.

Can be (and has been) waived at company's discretion.

If that isn't a perfect window into so many aspects of our operations then I don't know what is.

 

that is correct. There is not a seat lock but a 24 month equipment lock starting from the day you finish IOE. Therefore, bus guys with less than a year seniority are upgrading in to the bus while senior 80 guys are being bypassed. The equipment lock for new hires is something the company manufactured, not in the PWR.

 

Yeah, NH's who don't have a choice on their initial equipment should at least be afforded the opportunity to upgrade across airframes! Their career & pay potential are being willy-nilly sabotaged. In my 80 NH, E.N. said we'd be locked, but CP M.G. said he wouldn't hold-back our career progression!!

Ain't it just grand working w/o a contract?!

 

I see the seat locks being held for two years probably three. Word is that new hire classes are full, so why would the company pay for more types than they have to per pilot? This last Spring a couple lucky guys and girls switched. This was because there was an overage on the MD-80 and a shortage on the other aircraft, AND there weren't any new hire classes going on at the time! So again, for a company that's hell bent on being cheap as possible on virtually everything, I fail to see them releasing any locks they don't have too.

The ONLY exception is if they switch aircraft in your base. Example, some new hires hired last Fall into Florida bases are now switching PGD to the AB (and previously in FLL). BUT don't count on that either since we don't have a contract anymore they could throw that out also if they wanted too.

Also, the exact date the seat lock expires has been debated and moved by the company as well. First, I thought the 2 (or 3) year clock started at DOH, then I heard the date you pass your checkride? Now I'm hearing the anniversary date that you finish IOE?

So, in theory if it takes you 4 months (which is quick for G4) to get through GS, sim, checkride, and IOE it could be up to 40 months before you can switch aircraft. Assuming there is a vacancy of course. Be flexible!

 

What's the upgrade time on the 80 and 757 then?

 

Most junior Airbus Captain Sept 5th 2014 hire
Most junior MD 80 captain sept 22nd 2014 hire
757 I believe is 4 or 5 years.
So basically most MD 80 FOs have turned down the VRB base Captain position.

 

Thank you.


*filler*

 

What does *filler* mean?

 

You to have at least 10 characters when you post. "Filler" takes care of that if your post is short. At least that's what I thought.