If anyone's got some freetime. I just got the pool letter, and I've got a million questions. I'm pretty much all military, so most of this stuff is new. But if anyone's got a buch of free time, thanks in advance.

Ok, any guesses on how long to get out of ANC, prefereably to ONT after?
How much are you home per month starting out? And later? How much vacation per year?
I've read the schedules choices get better with time (not all nights), how is it for a new FO?
How does TSA work for cargo carriers, any hassles ever?
Any complaints about the medical/dental/insurance?
Life on the road - any complaints - crappy hotels, no crew food?
How's crew scheduling?
Gazing into your crystal ball, upgrade times?
Same ball, how deep is the pool? Time to get called? I know, age 65 changed everything, that's why I ask.

Thanks, happy holidays, Beernuts

 

I'll try...

With age 60-65, pilot numbers, etc. We've been hearing 3 years to "get out" of ANC.
Not home much starting out. Plan on 8 weeks for basic indoc/systems. You might get a break before sim. Sim, 3 weeks, schedule could be straight through or choppy. YUL, DEN, ??? for -400 sim
Starting out, it depends. Commute to ANC? Good Luck! 3 on/4 off with long commutes on either end. Some 12-14 day trips/RSV skeds with the rest of the month off but they are senior.
Later; depends on your seniority in you fleet/domicile and commute or live in base. There is a wide range on this one. It can be the greatest schedule you can imagine or not..
New FO, probably international and not all nights. I'm "sitting the sort" and haven't had a day landing yet in the 6 months that I've been here!
2 weeks of vacation "after" the first year of probation.
TSA; I've had no hassles
Medical etc, I've heard of complaints with lack of coverage in ANC otherwise it seems good. AETNA with many plans to choose from.
Life on the road? I dislike Montreal but it has nothing to do with UPS
Crew Scheduling owns you if you are junior but it's not unbearable. You don't typical get released early or have any negotiability in issues.
Upgrade? Used to be 10-12 years before age 60 but much quicker in ANC. Still a ? mark. There will be more info soon on the impact.
I was fortunate not to have been in the pool. I would expect a little while though with this age 65 thing.

Good luck and home you don't swim for too long!

 

ok, here's what I know as an ONT F/O.
1. ANC expect at least 5 years as an F/O. It's the only base which is growing. You'd be better off moving there and sitting reserve for a decent QOL.
2. Reserve lines on the hook 15 out of 28 days. Plenty of short trips to HKG or PVG from ANC. Once again, if you live there no worries. 2 weeks vacation for 5 years I believe
3. Not sure, base is still growing.
4. TSA not too bad, just wear your ID.
5. Great medical, however, some issues in ANC with doctors, etc. Union is talking to company about this.
6. PAC RIM = great hotels, catered flights. Usually not too hungry on the road!
7. Crew scheduling - No issues for me, most are pretty nicebut there is at least one who is a B****.
8. Upgrade time - $64,000 question. Many variables, Age 65, Int'l growth, bigger jets replacing smaller ones domestically, 3 crew down to 2. ANC will be the quickest. Most junior Capt (pre Age 65) is Sep 2000 hire.
9. Pool is murky! I understand their selection process is not first in - first out. They use a ranking system so basically impossible to tell. Some have been in over a year. Some have been called after a week. They're saying officially minimal hiring for 2008 (~50 or so) but hard to say. Good luck. UPS is a great company to fly for. Great equipment, tremendous variety of flying available, great union. Not perfect by any means, but $1 billion quarterly profit = stability in this industry.

 

There are alot of variables but to counter Lucky, I've been here over 9 months and can count my night landings without taking both shoes off. Ymmv.

 

You need to stop scaring your captains then!!!!

 

Catered flights, what? If it's not a box lunch, geez I won't know what to do, anyways, that sounds alright.

Thanks for all the answers though, of course I just thought of some other stuff.

Anyone reading this been in the pool a year?

I think I read on the first day of indoc you find out your assignment? How does indoc work, SDF I presume? Is the hotel paid for? Per diem? Anybody from recent newhire classes NOT get sent to ANC?

Thanks again

The contract seems to show solid union leadership, no suprise there's no gripes there.

 

Or start flying at night...

 

Yes, hotel paid and 24/7 per diem until you are released to the line. It will help out your first year numbers...and trust me, every bit counts.

PS- Plan on going to ANC...if you don't you won your second lottery. The first being hired.

 

Yea...sorry. Couldn't pass.

 

I would wager that if you don't get ANC initially, you will when eligible for the first displacement, possibly as late as after your first year.

And what I should have started with is...

Beernuts - CONGRATS!!