Arado 234

Unless you fly MIA - MEX. That large overwater and non-HF section requires int'l aka LA qual. Don't ask...

mtb67

What would a DCA Bus vs 73 would look like for a New Hire (May 2024)? Would be driving >3hrs to work so avoiding SC or having a line would be the goal. Just trying to figure out how the QOL between fleets would differ for a New Hire.

AllYourBaseAreB

737 is dramatically more junior. The only question is, are those guys ahead of you looking to stay or not. In the coming months 14 guys are transferring into the 737 vs only 7 for the Bus.

RQHerc

I was an FO on the DCA bus and lived in Hampton, VA (tuff drive, but better than communting). The majority of the trips were thankfully out of DCA (I think I did 2 BWI trips and 2-3 Dulles trips in 3 years). The few times I got SC (or converted to SC from LC) I would drive up to Richmond and hit the YMCA and workout so I was closer to the airports if I got called (I never got a min time callout). It wasn't great, but there are plenty of small cities/big towns within 2 hours where you can burn some time during your RAP (great excuse to go fishing)...heck you might be able to get LC almost right away and not have to worry about it too much. I miss the base, really liked the trips - but not I-95. If I had to do it all over again I would've bought a cheap camper and stored it within 1-2 hours from DCA-that would've been fun...and I still would have used it when holding a line when I got early show times (sleep in the camper the night before...and have the option to hit the camper if I was tired on the drive back). Great way to justify the RV purchase!

mtb67

Are those 14 737 inbounds a NET gain or are there outbounds to account for as well? Seems like a 737 would still be best for a new hire to get off SC if the juniority is that dramatic. DCA 737s have been in new hire drops but the 320 has not so I'd still have to vacancy or trade in and work my way up.

AllYourBaseAreB

no, they are not net. But they are 14 guys that will be senior to a newhire that want to be there, coming in off vacancy bids

ImSoSuss

To replace 14 other guys who were senior to him who either upgraded (737 has quicker upgrades), transitioned, or left for another base. It also makes sense that less people would have been awarded DCA 320 in the vacancy as the spots are much more competitive and senior to the 737.


Every single person that comes in through a vacancy bid will be senior to a new hire, I mean that's pretty obvious. So this fact is irrelevant to seniority progression for a new hire.

AllYourBaseAreB

i disagree. people on property backfilling a NB FO seat vs newhires filling thosr vacated seats mean dramatically different seniority progressions.