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-   -   Anyone live in NW Montana? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/career-questions/114549-anyone-live-nw-montana.html)

Jammer 06-22-2018 09:17 AM

Anyone live in NW Montana?
 
Looking to talk to any pilots who live near and/or commute out of NW Montana. Will be making the military to airline leap in a few years and trying to gauge commuting realities.



I've looked on FlightAware and have an academic understanding of the schedule but would like a real life perspective if available.


Feel free to PM if you'd rather not post publicly. Thanks!!


Also, apologies if this isn't the right subforum but I couldn't decide on one that might be better without a specific airline in mind yet.

Jammer 06-23-2018 10:02 AM

Internet must be down due to flooding :D

SideFlare 06-23-2018 01:01 PM


Originally Posted by Jammer (Post 2619580)
Looking to talk to any pilots who live near and/or commute out of NW Montana. Will be making the military to airline leap in a few years and trying to gauge commuting realities.



I've looked on FlightAware and have an academic understanding of the schedule but would like a real life perspective if available.


Feel free to PM if you'd rather not post publicly. Thanks!!


Also, apologies if this isn't the right subforum but I couldn't decide on one that might be better without a specific airline in mind yet.

I’m former military currently living in SoCal after trying to do the Missoula, MT thing for a year after starting at JetBlue. Bottom line is that getting in and out of Missoula/Kalispell/etc can be problematic. If you happen to be at an airline with a SEA or DEN base, the one-leg commute isn’t the end of the world. There are relatively frequent flights and multiple options for the JS. Anywhere else and you’ll be at the mercy of smaller, generally full aircraft with senior (and typically on-line) commuters with JS priority.
It’s doable, but anything more than one-leg from Montana can be challenging. Feel free to PM for any specific questions, and best of luck.

Jammer 06-26-2018 08:51 AM


Originally Posted by SideFlare (Post 2620327)
I’m former military currently living in SoCal after trying to do the Missoula, MT thing for a year after starting at JetBlue. Bottom line is that getting in and out of Missoula/Kalispell/etc can be problematic. If you happen to be at an airline with a SEA or DEN base, the one-leg commute isn’t the end of the world. There are relatively frequent flights and multiple options for the JS. Anywhere else and you’ll be at the mercy of smaller, generally full aircraft with senior (and typically on-line) commuters with JS priority.
It’s doable, but anything more than one-leg from Montana can be challenging. Feel free to PM for any specific questions, and best of luck.


Mind enlightening me to what an "on-line" guy is? And when you say anything more than one leg can be challenging, do you mean just a rough day or actually difficult to accomplish reliably?



Thanks in advance!

rickair7777 06-26-2018 09:03 AM


Originally Posted by Jammer (Post 2622329)
Mind enlightening me to what an "on-line" guy is?

Most service to smaller towns is going to be regional airlines. Many of their pilots stayed at regionals so as to live where they want to, so they will be commuting on those flights, and will have non-rev and JS priority over you (unless you work for that regional). RJ's only have one JS as well, and there may be only 2-3 flights per day, maybe only one on certain days.



Originally Posted by Jammer (Post 2622329)
And when you say anything more than one leg can be challenging, do you mean just a rough day or actually difficult to accomplish reliably?

Both. Muli-leg commutes are bad. RJ's are bad. Combine the two, you can pretty much square the badness.

Jammer 06-27-2018 05:32 PM

Thanks gents!


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