c402fr8er

Most of what you've asked has been answered already.


We use PBS. When on reserve, you bid for days off, and that's it. You get 11 off a month. How long before you can actually hold the days off you want is anyone's guess if you upgrade off the street. That will depend on how long it takes for people junior to you to hit the line, and what days off you want, relative to everyone else in your base, and how well staffed we are.

Its a small airline, its entirely possible that your seniority could be enough to be junior line holder at one base and junior reserve at another.

There was a time that upgrades off the street had lines almost immediately. And the last group of captains that upgraded out of indoc have been on reserve since they hit the line in summer of 2017. I know at least one individual who will be going to United in the next few months who will have been on reserve their entire time here.


Best anyone can say is, your experience will be somewhere in-between those extremes. If you've been in this business long enough to have the experience to upgrade, you've been around long enough to know asking for predictions about future movement is a guessing game at best.

TURF17

Yes, I hear you on all you said hear. Never have used PBS but many pilots talk about it. Pretty much works well when you start to get some seniority is what it sounds like.

Those that have been pretty much DECs have you had any discussion with any of them about how their reserve schedules actually unfold from what they requested?
How easy is it to get to airport from crashpad w/o car? What about hotels that offer crew discounted rates? I've had a car in a base before but found it to be more of a hassle but then again it was an older car.

PosRateGearUp

I can appreciate you’re need for information because making a career move is a big deal. That being said, you’re asking the same question over and over again, just worded differently. NOBODY here can predict how you’re life on reserve will be!

Let’s say you get hired and upgrade in indoc which is very likely; you will be on reserve in either base right off the bat, you will most likely be CQF, and you will be most junior. The likelihood of you holding anything you want is nil. After that, it all depends on who is upgrading. If they continue to upgrade from indoc, you will get more relative seniority and possibly be able to hold your days off. If a number of guys get their time internally they will upgrade above you, and life will continue to suck. There’s no way of us predicting when a large number of internal upgrades will happen.

Life on reserve is typically 5-6 on, 2 off.
Yes you will likely fly everyday, but that does not guarantee an overnight. You may do a turn and be back in base.

There are Crashpads available in EWR that provide transportation in the range of $200-250 a month.

The only thing that can be said for sure is reserve is much longer in IAD than EWR. The captain who is going to UA via CPP having only been on reserve his entire time here is IAD based.

TURF17

Sorry for sounding like a broken record. I know what it will feels like as I've done the PIC reserve at the regionals more than once. One thing I haven't done is being CQF. Does the pay differ if flying as CQF? Basically one is getting right seat qualified and will be trained and check as such - right? How do they work this during checkride and IOE?

Thank you.

TURF17

What crashpads offer transportation other than a walk to the light rail or bus?

PosRateGearUp

Country Inn has hotel shuttle. Blocked Inn had transport when I stayed there, but their website has changed, so not sure.

HercDiver

No, what I am saying is that XJT is offered 25% of a new hire class, CommutAir is offered 10%, Mesa and AWAC are also offered 10%. These numbers are in the CPP contracts and are published numbers. These are completely separate from the acceptance rate.