American interviews and class dates
02-21-2014, 06:53 AM
#971
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,216
Originally Posted by Diesel1030
7576FO,
Thanks for all the valuable info. Unfortunately (or fortunately ) depending on how you look at it, I'll prob be near the very bottom of my class age wise with no real say on bidding MIA or the 75/76. I'm curious if awarded, do the 75/76 I guys do even a small amount of domestic? How much Europe stuff is out MIA? I realize most of the flying is South.
Also do you think the lack of S80 this go around was due to the school house slowing up? I have some buddies on some nice breaks (4-6 weeks off) after Indoc waiting to start. They keep telling me the need is heavy for S80 DFW f/os before the summer. Also is the airbus becoming more senior? Hasn't dropped in 2 classes now?
Thanks for all the valuable info. Unfortunately (or fortunately ) depending on how you look at it, I'll prob be near the very bottom of my class age wise with no real say on bidding MIA or the 75/76. I'm curious if awarded, do the 75/76 I guys do even a small amount of domestic? How much Europe stuff is out MIA? I realize most of the flying is South.
Also do you think the lack of S80 this go around was due to the school house slowing up? I have some buddies on some nice breaks (4-6 weeks off) after Indoc waiting to start. They keep telling me the need is heavy for S80 DFW f/os before the summer. Also is the airbus becoming more senior? Hasn't dropped in 2 classes now?
Can MIA 767I fly domestic while on reserve? Yes. Probably low odds. That's a guess because I don't track it.
Checked this month's MIA reserve assignments. Looks like Europe FO/FB opens up once every 2-3 days. So actual odds of a Europe trip going to reserve might be 5%-10%??? Odds of dropping past senior guys on reserve and a junior guy getting it? IDK.
Overview - MIA 776I - 269 FO/FB lines. 57 Europe. 21%
MIA 767D - 69 lines. (bid sheet says 77. Might have miscounted).
To fly a domestic trip they'd have to be out of domestic reserves.
S80 training drop off? Guess that it might be a temporary, or random, opportunity related to STL drawdown (eff 1APR) and 60 less FO's than CA's bidding DFW S80 FO. Ergo the short term(?) opportunity for newhires.
AB opportunity might be the same. JFK/LGA fairly junior. New equipment has some uncertainties. Trips will include all nighters. Why would a guy, with a known gig(lineholder), bid into a huge unknown? So they sit on the sideline until they see where they slot in. Shortfall covered by out of seniority junior guys or newhires.
Newhires traditional go to the junior bases. Mostly n/b, random w/b. Amount of MIA 767 FO openings is a bit of a surprise. Some? Yes, but this many seems unusual. But random windows open up. A couple of junior guys(recallees) got ORD or LAX(related to AB intro = out of seniority junior guy(s) due to uncertainty of AB flying quality) recently. Years ago a couple of newhires went straight to 747 FE(we only had 2 a/c). Maybe 15-20 jobs total and newhires??
Last edited by Sliceback; 02-21-2014 at 06:59 AM. Reason: spelling, "than CA's", comment about LAX AB flying
02-21-2014, 07:10 AM
#972
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,216
Fortunately you're one of the youngest. They'll smack you around on picking assignments but you'll smile the longest at the end of your career.
Looked at MIA 767 and 737 FO reserve flying. 737 range as of today is 12-62 hrs. Midpack is about 25 hrs. So mid/upper 30's would be the average for the whole month?
767 is 18-77 hrs. Midpack is about 45 hrs. So mid 60's on average?
I realize money's tight but a car and spending a couple bucks for a better crash pad might be worth it. You might be cooling your jets a lot and a lousy crash pad, with no wheels, might make the grind worse.
Looked at MIA 767 and 737 FO reserve flying. 737 range as of today is 12-62 hrs. Midpack is about 25 hrs. So mid/upper 30's would be the average for the whole month?
767 is 18-77 hrs. Midpack is about 45 hrs. So mid 60's on average?
I realize money's tight but a car and spending a couple bucks for a better crash pad might be worth it. You might be cooling your jets a lot and a lousy crash pad, with no wheels, might make the grind worse.
Last edited by Sliceback; 02-21-2014 at 07:11 AM. Reason: added 'for the whole month'
02-21-2014, 09:47 AM
#973
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Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: 737 CA MIA
Posts: 1,042
767I MIA Caribbean flying has domestic mixed into the trips. Lots of variety.
Yes very jr reserves do get occasional Paris Madrid or even Barcelona.
Here's how the AA reserve system works.
0-10 hours is group 1. You use your seniority in group 1 to pass if someone is junior to you or pick the best trip for you.
Everyone in group 1 must fly before they go to group 2 (or be tagged sick, vacation ect.)
10-20 hours is group 2.
20-30 group 3 ect.
So you're really jr on airplane and in group 1 for tomorrow. Group 1 gets first pick of all trips for tomorrow.
Say 3 trips. 2 guys in group 1.
The 2 in group 1 get to pick the trips they want. The leftover trip goes to group 2.
For same day flying less than 10 hours to sign in. We use 3 hour bands.
Group 1 short call 0-3 hours.
Group 2 short call 3-6 hours.
If you flew Feb 28 into March 1,2 you'd have say 8 hours which is good gets you out of short call short notice trips.
Reseerve pilots have a reserve preference ballot they can fill out on computer for each day, or a PASS ALL trips where they only call you when you have to go fly.
Now throw in RAPS and some people are just unavailable for certain trips.
The 757 767 in MIA Int'l bid status has the most variety. It's really fun, and once your'e a line holder you can pick your lifestyle. Morning person, night owl, short legs long legs.
But for a new hire, 767 is a huge amount of info. You'd have to know everything but Far East.
If you are good with numbers and a voracious reader go for it. For a first year pilot on reserve and getting a lot of FB trips you could get rusty. Reserve is random, even with having a choice sometimes, many times on reserve you do not have a choice.
Yes very jr reserves do get occasional Paris Madrid or even Barcelona.
Here's how the AA reserve system works.
0-10 hours is group 1. You use your seniority in group 1 to pass if someone is junior to you or pick the best trip for you.
Everyone in group 1 must fly before they go to group 2 (or be tagged sick, vacation ect.)
10-20 hours is group 2.
20-30 group 3 ect.
So you're really jr on airplane and in group 1 for tomorrow. Group 1 gets first pick of all trips for tomorrow.
Say 3 trips. 2 guys in group 1.
The 2 in group 1 get to pick the trips they want. The leftover trip goes to group 2.
For same day flying less than 10 hours to sign in. We use 3 hour bands.
Group 1 short call 0-3 hours.
Group 2 short call 3-6 hours.
If you flew Feb 28 into March 1,2 you'd have say 8 hours which is good gets you out of short call short notice trips.
Reseerve pilots have a reserve preference ballot they can fill out on computer for each day, or a PASS ALL trips where they only call you when you have to go fly.
Now throw in RAPS and some people are just unavailable for certain trips.
The 757 767 in MIA Int'l bid status has the most variety. It's really fun, and once your'e a line holder you can pick your lifestyle. Morning person, night owl, short legs long legs.
But for a new hire, 767 is a huge amount of info. You'd have to know everything but Far East.
If you are good with numbers and a voracious reader go for it. For a first year pilot on reserve and getting a lot of FB trips you could get rusty. Reserve is random, even with having a choice sometimes, many times on reserve you do not have a choice.
02-21-2014, 11:00 AM
#974
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: A terminal bum
Posts: 421
Originally Posted by 7576FO
But for a new hire, 767 is a huge amount of info. You'd have to know everything but Far East.
If you are good with numbers and a voracious reader go for it. For a first year pilot on reserve and getting a lot of FB trips you could get rusty. Reserve is random, even with having a choice sometimes, many times on reserve you do not have a choice.
Last edited by Diesel1030; 02-21-2014 at 11:20 AM.
02-21-2014, 11:20 AM
#975
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: A terminal bum
Posts: 421
Originally Posted by Sliceback
Can MIA 767I fly domestic while on reserve? Yes. Probably low odds. That's a guess because I don't track it.
Checked this month's MIA reserve assignments. Looks like Europe FO/FB opens up once every 2-3 days. So actual odds of a Europe trip going to reserve might be 5%-10%??? Odds of dropping past senior guys on reserve and a junior guy getting it? IDK.
Overview - MIA 776I - 269 FO/FB lines. 57 Europe. 21%
MIA 767D - 69 lines. (bid sheet says 77. Might have miscounted).
To fly a domestic trip they'd have to be out of domestic reserves.
S80 training drop off? Guess that it might be a temporary, or random, opportunity related to STL drawdown (eff 1APR) and 60 less FO's than CA's bidding DFW S80 FO. Ergo the short term(?) opportunity for newhires.
AB opportunity might be the same. JFK/LGA fairly junior. New equipment has some uncertainties. Trips will include all nighters. Why would a guy, with a known gig(lineholder), bid into a huge unknown? So they sit on the sideline until they see where they slot in. Shortfall covered by out of seniority junior guys or newhires.
Newhires traditional go to the junior bases. Mostly n/b, random w/b. Amount of MIA 767 FO openings is a bit of a surprise. Some? Yes, but this many seems unusual. But random windows open up. A couple of junior guys(recallees) got ORD or LAX(related to AB intro = out of seniority junior guy(s) due to uncertainty of AB flying quality) recently. Years ago a couple of newhires went straight to 747 FE(we only had 2 a/c). Maybe 15-20 jobs total and newhires??
Checked this month's MIA reserve assignments. Looks like Europe FO/FB opens up once every 2-3 days. So actual odds of a Europe trip going to reserve might be 5%-10%??? Odds of dropping past senior guys on reserve and a junior guy getting it? IDK.
Overview - MIA 776I - 269 FO/FB lines. 57 Europe. 21%
MIA 767D - 69 lines. (bid sheet says 77. Might have miscounted).
To fly a domestic trip they'd have to be out of domestic reserves.
S80 training drop off? Guess that it might be a temporary, or random, opportunity related to STL drawdown (eff 1APR) and 60 less FO's than CA's bidding DFW S80 FO. Ergo the short term(?) opportunity for newhires.
AB opportunity might be the same. JFK/LGA fairly junior. New equipment has some uncertainties. Trips will include all nighters. Why would a guy, with a known gig(lineholder), bid into a huge unknown? So they sit on the sideline until they see where they slot in. Shortfall covered by out of seniority junior guys or newhires.
Newhires traditional go to the junior bases. Mostly n/b, random w/b. Amount of MIA 767 FO openings is a bit of a surprise. Some? Yes, but this many seems unusual. But random windows open up. A couple of junior guys(recallees) got ORD or LAX(related to AB intro = out of seniority junior guy(s) due to uncertainty of AB flying quality) recently. Years ago a couple of newhires went straight to 747 FE(we only had 2 a/c). Maybe 15-20 jobs total and newhires??
Originally Posted by aa73
Lots of great info. Well done Slice and 7576!
I will add, NY was by far the best base I've ever been at. I was there almost 10 years. It's basically a big family with great, great pilots and, until recently, the best chief pilot in the system. (He just went to PHL.) if you guys get assigned NY, you are in great hands!
MIA is kinda whacky. Still fun, but lots of different personalities. Probably due to the type of flying.
I'm headed back to DCA 737 in March and that's another cozy little base where everyone knows your name 😜.... We just got our old chief pilot back who is very well liked.
I'd like to add my welcome to all the new hires! Can't begin to tell you how awesome it is to be bringing in new folks. I'll be in 737 training in DFW first half of March so if anyone on here will be down there too, shoot me a PM and you ain't buying any drinks.
I will add, NY was by far the best base I've ever been at. I was there almost 10 years. It's basically a big family with great, great pilots and, until recently, the best chief pilot in the system. (He just went to PHL.) if you guys get assigned NY, you are in great hands!
MIA is kinda whacky. Still fun, but lots of different personalities. Probably due to the type of flying.
I'm headed back to DCA 737 in March and that's another cozy little base where everyone knows your name 😜.... We just got our old chief pilot back who is very well liked.
I'd like to add my welcome to all the new hires! Can't begin to tell you how awesome it is to be bringing in new folks. I'll be in 737 training in DFW first half of March so if anyone on here will be down there too, shoot me a PM and you ain't buying any drinks.
Sliceback/aa73/
Thanks for the good info.
I'm too surprised how many 75/76 slots have been given out over the past few months of classes. It was also surprising to see another class get all S80. I'm trying to make sense of the aircraft dropping to see what is a realistic possibility for my upcoming class in March. I had figured all along something in NYC/MIA due to it being jr. There seems to be random awards thrown in every few classes. I think it will be harder to predict in the coming years with all the rapid movement making all this discussion of initial assignments a moot point in the grand scheme of things
Luckily I have a commuter car so it will be going with me at whichever base I end up minus NYC (been there done that/ no need for car at the Kew
)
02-21-2014, 11:27 AM
#977
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,216
Diesel - agreed that it's a big bite of the apple. But everyone makes it. It's just harder, and more confusing(yes, confusing), getting through the school. Payoff is some interesting flying. I still remember my first 767 FO trip to Europe - internal grinning from ear to ear for hours. Flying into the Caribbean for the first time, the list goes on and on vs. previous flying. And when you go back to the 737 you'll think "man, this is kinda little..."
Almost everyone is going to a different airplane then they're currently flying. Learning curve for everyone. Some steeper, some flatter. Any prior Boeing experience makes the 737 or 757/767 school easier(FMC/instruments/packs/bleed systems similar).
Almost everyone is going to a different airplane then they're currently flying. Learning curve for everyone. Some steeper, some flatter. Any prior Boeing experience makes the 737 or 757/767 school easier(FMC/instruments/packs/bleed systems similar).
02-21-2014, 11:34 AM
#978
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,216
Diesel - future newhires should still expect MIA/LGA. Other options might open (DFW S80 was a huge surprise, 1x deal due to STL drawdown???) but in general newhires should expect junior bases assignments ad infinitum.
Why? Because as soon as DFW/ORD/LAX opens up a guy hired a week ahead of you, but stuck in MIA/LGA, will jump on it. Fast forward X months, when you lose your FNG status and you have enough seniority to take an opening in XYZ base, and the latest newhire gets MIA/LGA to fill your vacancy.
Why? Because as soon as DFW/ORD/LAX opens up a guy hired a week ahead of you, but stuck in MIA/LGA, will jump on it. Fast forward X months, when you lose your FNG status and you have enough seniority to take an opening in XYZ base, and the latest newhire gets MIA/LGA to fill your vacancy.
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