Sliceback

Guess? Two years on reserve on junior equipment(737) in MIA and maybe NYC? That's a guess. As a previous poster said it's just too early to know for certain.

SFO? You're not getting it. Forget it. It's a special deal that might, or might not be, done at other non AA crew bases (ATL, AUS, DEN, HOU, etc) where guys fly lines from the city but it's not a crew base in the usual sense. Don't plan on SFO being an option for years and years and it might be never.

7576FO

This is called Home Basing. It was/is in our 2012 contract. We do not know if it will continue under new management. Originally it was SFO, STL, TPA and SLC as the initial home base cities.

Reserve at AA is very unforgiving. The way the bids come together you can be on reserve for up to 18-22 days on.
Another problem is they will fly you into your days off at the beginning of next month.
This happens alot. This is the major complaint I hear and I experience on reserve.

Right now our reserve system is so broken it cannot be guesstimated how long a new hire could be on reserve.

7576

The Drizzle

Can't wait.

ForeverFO

The good news is, those hired at the leading edge will be flying line possibly in just a handful of months. That's the way it was for many of us early 90's.

They are TRYING to take away the DOM/INT split; we like it as it is. You pick one, and if DOM, 100% of your flying is DOM. If INT, 90% is INT - depends upon the aircraft.

7576FO, I know you've had a crap time on reserve, but I don't think it is that way, everywhere. The only way you are going to get 20 days ON in a row is if you bid it that way, or you are ultra-junior and get assigned a reserve line, and how often does that happen?

A typical INT RSV line would look like this, for a 30 day month, X = OFF.

XXXOOOO OOOXXXX XOOOOOX XXOOOOO OO

A DOM reserve line more like this, with 4 blocks of off days:

OOOOOXX XOOOOOX XOOOOXX XXOOOOO XX

I absolutely agree there needs to be some rule changes, but it's not a total horror show. Go have fun, just don't be drinking (too much) or off base on your days "on."

Acroflyer32

I had noticed in the 2012 AA contract that TPA was either a base or was possibly a new base... anyone have any info on this?

crzipilot

virtual base most likely....or was supposed to be..... Interesting concept, no clue how it works.

7576FO

TPA I was told was picked for Home Basing vs. MCO because TPA only has 737-800 in/out. MCO had S80, 757, 737 flying in and out.

Only one type aircraft wouldn't require so many types of pilots.

So far only SFO and STL are technically home bases right now.

7576FO

FOreverFO is correct but... this months 777 FO reserve junior guys could be on 18 days in a row.

Generally this happens 3 times a year to me. Some months the junior guys can't get days off at the beginning of the month.

I'm finally "more" senior reserve after 2 years on the 777. But I feel for the newer guys. You cannot get the reserve choice-er lines. Thus you can be on reserve for extended periods of time. You may not fly that much, but you can and will be available. And there is no payoff for this IE a block of days as reward.

We run out of FO's several times every month in MIA.

Disclaimer: I love the 777. I live in base. I have it pretty easy generally. But this reserve system is AWFUL! If you do get days off at the beginning of the month, they will fly you into them.

Days off at the beginning of the month on reserve are never guaranteed off.

I was assigned a fly thru into my days off tomorrow. (tomorrow is 1st day of new bid)

DFW 777 reserve is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY different than MIA.

Nothing personal directed at FO. You're a nice guy and I like your postings.

Reporting from Miami 7576FO (777FO)

ForeverFO

I understnad, and thanks. We know a person's 4-part bid status (base, equipment, etc) can cause QOL to vary wildly from place to place.

I have a friend who has been a DFW 777 CA for about 10 years, all of it on reserve. He's my buddy, but sometimes I want to clock him when he says "I've consistently flown 300 hours a year this last decade." That translates into about 1.5 three-day trips a month. 4 or 5 days of work. For 72 hours pay.

And then there was me as a S-80 RSV FO, pushing monthly max every month by the 20th.

Right now, I'm in the top 25% of DFW 777 reserves. The flying is seasonal, and with Spring and Summer coming up, I'll fly more, but I'm still averaging 2 trips a month. I can't complain at all... it's a sweet gig.

Can you explain how this happens? Is that 18 days WITHIN the month, or like from the 20th to the 8th of the next month?

I need to look at the MIA bid sheets. The worst DFW 777 reserve bid line might have a block of 8 or 9 days ON, but never more.

Diesel1030

18-22 days? My understanding is RSV is radically different now after 117 changes. Somewhere you have to get your rest in. I'm curious to see how it works out with the merger.

PBS will hopefully bring some flexibility as well.