DCA base?
03-27-2023, 02:16 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Airbus FO
Posts: 109
The Airbus covers DCA primarily, some IAD and almost no BWI. One month recently there were no BWI trips on the Bus.
The 737 covers DCA primarily, a decent amount of BWI and almost no IAD.
That is a very generic summary and things do shift around. But that’s generally how the trips look each month. That was a factor in my choices for aircraft as a new hire, which is why I’m posting it here.
The 737 covers DCA primarily, a decent amount of BWI and almost no IAD.
That is a very generic summary and things do shift around. But that’s generally how the trips look each month. That was a factor in my choices for aircraft as a new hire, which is why I’m posting it here.
03-27-2023, 02:58 PM
#12
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2022
Posts: 40
Ditto on everyone else's feedback. Great base if you live local with 2-3 days being the predominant flavor on the Airbus side at least. As mentioned lots of early starts and late get backs, especially on the more productive trips but honestly for me it just helps avoid traffic.
Anecdotally, the Airbus seems to be the junior fleet at least for the bottom half of the FO side. The flying isn't always the sexiest but we have some good trips and this is more than offset by the number of 2-3 days. If you live near DCA it's a no brainer.
As mentioned, you'll be able to hold it by the first vacancy if not out of indoc.
Anecdotally, the Airbus seems to be the junior fleet at least for the bottom half of the FO side. The flying isn't always the sexiest but we have some good trips and this is more than offset by the number of 2-3 days. If you live near DCA it's a no brainer.
As mentioned, you'll be able to hold it by the first vacancy if not out of indoc.
03-27-2023, 04:08 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,889
Originally Posted by av1atrx
The 737 covers DCA primarily, a decent amount of BWI and almost no IAD.
.
73
long time IAD flier
03-27-2023, 05:36 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,764
Originally Posted by aa73
Been based at DCA for over a decade now. 737 CA. Above is all correct, I’d also add that the 737 loses the the little IAD flying we have from around December through May, where the Airbus picks it up. Then starting in May IAD trips are all 737.
BWI also has a ton of 737 flying. I’d split it up like this: 65% DCA, 30% BWI, 5% IAD.
I haven’t really moved up much due to the fact that the 737 lost a bunch of flying to CLT. However it seems like the Airbus fleet is still growing.
Funnily enough, the Airbus is a lot more junior than the 737, at least on the CA side. I’m around a 5600ish company seniority and am sitting at 59% on the 737 CA side - if I bid Airbus CA I’d slide right up to 43%ish.
The 737 is also strictly domestic, meaning lower 48, Canada and non overwater Mexico (SJD, MEX, GDL.)
The Airbus is “international”. Everything above plus Caribbean and even some S America Lite.
Good luck, it’s a great base
BWI also has a ton of 737 flying. I’d split it up like this: 65% DCA, 30% BWI, 5% IAD.
I haven’t really moved up much due to the fact that the 737 lost a bunch of flying to CLT. However it seems like the Airbus fleet is still growing.
Funnily enough, the Airbus is a lot more junior than the 737, at least on the CA side. I’m around a 5600ish company seniority and am sitting at 59% on the 737 CA side - if I bid Airbus CA I’d slide right up to 43%ish.
The 737 is also strictly domestic, meaning lower 48, Canada and non overwater Mexico (SJD, MEX, GDL.)
The Airbus is “international”. Everything above plus Caribbean and even some S America Lite.
Good luck, it’s a great base
03-27-2023, 06:52 PM
#15
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,889
Originally Posted by Arado 234
Interesting. I thought the only domestic base in the AA matrix is LGA 320. Out of curiosity, are you still Latin America qual'd? I had lost mine due to Covid and changing base to LGA. Getting it back was a major pain in the butt, it took several calls to GSW and they still had nothing scheduled for me when I transferred back to I That screwed me over when I wanted to trip trade, I couldn't trade, drop or pick up. Not qualified. Fun.
03-28-2023, 08:00 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: MD-11 FO
Posts: 2,180
Originally Posted by aa73
Nope, DCA, BOS and LAX 737 are also strictly “domestic”. And yes after I left the 75/76 fleet years ago I also lost my LA qual. I wish we would just combine already!
"Want to go to CUN? You need 3 days of ground school and IOE!"
"Going to MEX? Here, look at these pictures."
03-28-2023, 02:24 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,889
Originally Posted by EMBFlyer
But the International division requires very special skills! You have to have experience to be able to do these type of flights -Senior Baby B Scaler
"Want to go to CUN? You need 3 days of ground school and IOE!"
"Going to MEX? Here, look at these pictures."
"Want to go to CUN? You need 3 days of ground school and IOE!"
"Going to MEX? Here, look at these pictures."
03-29-2023, 04:26 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Airbus FO
Posts: 109
Originally Posted by aa73
Slight correction. With regards to IAD - the 737 picks up almost 100% of the IAD flying starting in May through November every year, usually. It flies the two DFW flights and the two CLT flights. At least it’s been that way for the past few years.
73
long time IAD flier
73
long time IAD flier
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