For someone interviewing the first week of September, do y’all think those two classes in October will have spots open? Or will they be full by then?

 

It will be for an OCT class.

 

Can someone shed some light on what reserve is like at G4? I know it’s all short call with either 90 mins or 2:30 call out of PIE but that leaves a few questions.

What are the rap times and do they release you early on your last day? 0500 or 1100? 12 hrs, 13 hrs etc?
How much do you get used in the smaller bases?
Easy to trade days around?
Is there a first out / last out option?

I would guess that as hiring has been stopped for 18 months it’s too hard to tell as to how king reserve will last, but if those on reserve would chime in, I would appreciate knowing what I’m letting myself in for.

 

RAP’s are 12 hours. Times vary by base, but you’ll likely see an early time around 4am, a mid day time around 10am, and possibly a late evening time in large bases. You can self release after 8 hours on last day, but with the caveat of you had to have multiple days on followed by multiple days off. Why in the world they allowed that nugget to be inserted in the contract I have no idea. Smaller bases get used less because there aren’t as many people to call in sick and you don’t typically have spare aircraft to do rescue flights. Large bases are a different story. You’ll get used a lot there, especially during busy months. No first/last out option. It goes by “call out credit” which is essentially how much duty time you’ve had over the last month. Ability to move days around depends on the month and available staffing.

Hope that helps!

 

Reserve varies big time on what base you are in. If you are in a small base that is not within driving distance to other bases (BLI SAV GRR etc) you will probably fly a few times per month, at most. If you are in Florida, your life will be a nightmare, except for VPS but you'll probably get TDY for a few months so that equals things out. LAS/IWA/LAX vary on the month and what type of RAP you bid. If you bid 3p-3a you'll fly a lot less, but when you do, it will likely be a tough one.

 

Wait a second...driving distance?! How many airports are you required to be on reserve for at the same time?

 

Technically one, with the exception of the dual PIE/SRQ base. With that being said, if you're on reserve in SFB you are on reserve for the state of Florida and sometimes beyond that. You will spend a considerable amount of time driving all over the place.

 

Just 1, 9easy was making the point that if your base is within a couple hours driving distance of another base you are more likely to get called on reserve. They usually just run a 200% offer in base vs delay a flight to limo you over but repositioning planes around from base to base, in and out of heavy C checks/inductions, rescue flights, outstation timeout recrew for other bases isn't to unusual, especially in Florida. There is only 1 co-base (must be within 60 miles driving distance), PIE/SRQ and the reserve call out is 2.5 hours for that. Also, the larger the base the more likely you will get called. Reserve at a small 2 plane base that is 4 hours or more driving from another base will be the easiest money you will ever make.

 

Just curious, how long is probation? When does the Union start collecting dues? Is it during or after probation? Thanks!

 

Probation is “the pilots first 365 days of employment”.

They start taking dues on day 1.