American LAX Based Aircraft
 

Hello,

Was just curious what aircraft AA has based in LAX and how Sr./Jr. the base is. Thank you!

777
767/757
737
S-80
A-321

Unfortunately it is our most senior base...I think it would take a few months before a new hire could even get there. Closing the SFO base a few years ago didn't help the LAX folks!

On the most recent bid, saw a 10xxx seniority number get LAX 320FO. Did I read that correctly?

Looks like 4 guys from the early new hire classes got LAX A320 FO, 2 from DFW, 2 from MIA.

All 4 were from the 21 Jan new hire class.

Doesn't that mean, with retirements, it will not be for long? I am figuring lots of FO vacancies over the next few years as the senior CA's move out and the senior FO's move up. Just asking.....

Not necessarily. At senior bases like LAX and DCA, in many cases the top 10% of FOs do not ever want to upgrade. Many of them are either independently wealthy, or have other jobs where they don't need the CA pay check and love their seniority. So when there are CA vacancies, they are filled by other CAs or FOs transferring in from other bases. This exact situation just happened here in DCA: 6 CA and FO vacancies for the 8/31 bid run.... Not one award came from the DCA FO ranks. Frustrating, but understandable.

Or they have found a way to live on ONLY $150,000+ a year ($156/hr).

Some are living on $200K +, with all holidays off and summer vacations, and single digit status in their seat. Upgrade, to a paycut, work holidays, and lose their summer vacations, isn't always the best option.

They bid the seat they're holding because it works for them.

I thought the AA side had mandatory upgrades with some stipulations on how many times u can bypass?

Mandatory upgrades went bye-bye years ago.

Although I just saw this issue as one being addressed in the union merger talks. Why, and which way any party is leaning, I don't know.

I *do* know that after 14 years of scrabbling at the bottom of the list, I'm in no mood to trash my new seniority (of sorts) by upgrading just to upgrade.

actually it was on FREEZE or HOLD. On our new contract it is gone.
It's been in the 3XP since 2002 when it went on hold.

Cheers!

Along the same lines, is upgrade to Capt a one way street? Once upgraded to Captain, is there an option to bid back to F.O. down the road?

Could swear that I just saw a union email (or something) that said the mandatory upgrades were on hold until 2020 or 2021.

2 year lock in, then can bid back to FO.

Seems like a bad idea for the company. Two training events as opposed to one (for a guy that's not going to bid back to fo) as well as paying someone two years who may be on a higher ca scale.

Am I missing something?

A LOT of stuff in any major airline pilot contact would be considered a "bad idea" by management, but it's in there nonetheless. That's what bargaining power gets a pilot group.

I want to bargain away mandatory safety vests.

Have you ever walked on the MIA (Miami) ramp?

It's insane. Also DFW tugs ducking in and out of moving aircraft. Totally unprofessional and unsafe ramper tug vehicle drivers.

As first I thought "Man I don't want to wear that!"

Now I'm glad I wear it.

No kidding! Whenever I'm out there during my pre-flight walkarounds, my head is on a swivel at all times. It's crazy out there. I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a busy urban four way intersection, with vehicles coming at me from all sides.
:eek:

You know it's bad when you see a tug with pilot silhouettes stenciled on the hood. :rolleyes:

Safety vests do not make you more visible, if anything you blend in even more with all the sea of neon yellow out there. You are just as likely to get hit wearing one. Just another way for us to continue being micromanaged. Ever wonder why we're the only airline with this silly rule?

Exactly. And why does every pilot have to be issued one? At US, they're simply hanging up in the cockpit....for international ops or if you CHOOSE to wear one.

I can't believe people get paid to decide that pilots need to carry their own checklist and QRH vs. two per airplane. I was telling this to guys while on United jumpseat, they looked at me like I had ten heads.

Well....it was good enough for the L-188.....

Personally, I can't believe you guys whine about such piddly nonsense. Is it really such a hardship to carry a checklist around, or wear a vest? Personally, I could not care less. Give me one, DON'T give me one. I flown airplanes that have the checklists in them and I've flown airplanes that don't. I walk around with a vest because the company that I work for has decided that not only will every other employee on the ramp wear one, so will the pilots; and it makes sense. If I'm more visible out there on that crazy ramp, then why not? Yes, I rolled my eyes and fought it when the company decided to make us wear them, but I've gotten over it.

Anyhooo...

How did a thread about airplanes at LAX turn into a discussion about vests, and now checklists?

Your airline isn't the only one. UPS, FEDEX, Atlas. . . some ramps overseas require it (Sydney Hong Kong, etc.)

They are what they are but I do know if I'm not wearing one and get hit there goes my insurance policy.

And to get the thread back on track . . . LAX has a lot of airplanes and tugs and catering vehicles that could run over you. :-)

Well, at least at AA when you get plowed over by a kamikaze tug driver while wearing the vest, your attorney has something to work with in bending over the company. Without it, they'd just blame you leaving your attorney without a fighting chance. ;)

Dunno, but I'm thinking of installing "Midol for Men" vending machines outside every pilot ops in the US and retiring rich in 5 years. :D

Does anyone know how junior (what %) does the FO widebody go in LAX?

Most junior 767 FO is number 7938, roughly 77%. Most junior 777 FO is number 5567, roughly 54%.

So your saying there's a chance?
Hehe

Another note.. AA recently acquired 4 new gates in LAX so maybe some growth out there in the future.

I heard four AA 757's are going there crewed by PHX crews.

So A320/FO/LAX/D went really junior huh? Wondering if it is because all the trips are Red-Eye TransCons? That would get old in a hurry...:eek:

Actually, most of the trips on the 321 out of LAX are frontside-of-the-clock trips. The 737, though, has MANY all-nighters to the east coast.

Ha, I was thinking about LAX in the future but I like being rich and senior in Charlotte. I didn't realize the cost of living was so high out there. A 500k house looks very different.

http://photos3.zillowstatic.com/p_h/...0000000000.jpghttp://photos1.zillowstatic.com/p_h/...0000000000.jpg

To be fair, the first one is near the beach... you gotta really love the beach.

The first one has the wrought iron security fence right up on the windows. The second one has it about 100' feet behind the cameraman.

Any guess what year #7938 and #5567 were hired?

The AA Seniority list I have a copy of is 2 years old. But on that list #7938 has a occupational date of 7-29-2000. Number 5567 has a date of 1-4-1993.

I'm sure these are not quite accurate today, but I imagine they are in the ballpark...

Thanks......