TankerDriver

I'm looking for some intel on MIA from the folks that are based there who live in-base. I am on the verge of submitting an AA app with an interest in being MIA based. Thx!

redthread

It's junior and has some of the best flying. If you live there, you're golden. Otherwise, it's known as a tough commute for most.


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aa73

Beg to differ. Other than the Caribbean - which is the best flying there - the rest of the flying actually sucks balls, with a majority of it being double all nighters to Deep South and flights to third world garden spots. That is why it's so junior. Of course, if one enjoys that sort of thing, then it's great. But it makes an old person out of you fairly quickly (see the other thread in the Majors section titled "long vs medium haul.) On the 737/Bus, You're gonna be doing a ton of Caracas, Guatemala, Amazon Brazil, etc. Yes you'll get some Caribbean which is nice... St Kitts, Aruba etc.
75/76 does the crappy double all nighters to Rio, Recife, Salvador, Brasilia, etc.
777 does the crappy double all nighters to Sao Paolo, Rio, BA, etc.
Did I mention most of the flying was crappy? :-)

buddies8

aa73, i enjoyed reading your post greatly.

aa73

Lol thx man, all jmho and many will disagree! "One man's trash is another's treasure/all nighter/wide body/South American hooker.." etc, etc

Al Czervik

If you're a former tanker guy you will receive super seniority over LUS hacks that can't get hired anywhere else. (Sorry, I had to)

The MIA American guys I have met have always been very cool and laid back. I could definitely see being based there.

Godzilla

Good luck with that plan Al.
I nominate you for TOTD.

Saabs

I nominate you for not getting sarcasm.

You sir, are TOTD.

EMB4Ever

Only base that didn't vote for the POS JCBA. Gotta be a decent group of guys and gals.

Dolphinflyer

Getting seniority in time greatly improves quality of life. As mentioned, the 737/A320 have some crappy trips. 3 day 11 hour, redeye return flights from SEA/LAS/SFO/DEN/SLC and Manaus. Life gets better when your senior enough to avoid them. 30 hours in Bermuda, 24 in St Kitts as well as a few decent Cancun layovers (depends which hotel) are a few of the better ones. Most of the rest are short nights. The rest of the bidsheet is kind of the same, bidding around your life, who cares where you go. PBS is going to change a lot though. I have no idea how.

The 767/757 is losing good trips on the senior end to Europe to the 777 and the junior end in the Caribbean to the 737/A320. What's left is as mentioned, generally double all-night trips. 11pm Fri to SCL, 6 am Mon arr in MIA. The commuters love those things due to the easier commute. Unless a Peruvian girlfriend is in the future, Lima is an afternoon down followed by a all night return the following night or the reverse. Low hours too. An hour+ drive home after being up all night is an overrated experience. Cold beer does taste good at 7am though.

Plenty of places to live. Miami, like listening 50 fingernails scraping a chalkboard combined with a Makita hammer drill hitting rebar in concrete. The Keys for fishing, diving, drinking, drinking, drinking. The coast from FLL to PBI to Vero. Ok for reserve coverage, plenty of variety with less MIA stink the farther north you live. Naples/RSW. Quieter, more Midwest cliental. Commute to TPA/MCO. Can be tough for junior guys, same for PNS and JAX.

The Caribbean/Central American flying can still be a challenge at times. Much more fun than nose to tail into DFW. Flying to Cap Hatien, you'll be NORDO below FL180, and then finally talk to tower on a short left base after cruising the beach and valley VFR and non-radar.

Just ramblings.

Ask away for more.