Oh I will remember that!:D

My class was there just over a month. we were told to expect 30-45 days.

It depends on how lucky you are...from the time I started in Montreal till I was done was 7 1/2 weeks. I had 2 lessons in about 3 weeks to finish. I am just glad that experience is over. WHAT A MESS!

Does the systems disc have any FMS training on it? I'd like to get some training on that before I get to the sim. If not, anyone know where I could find the FMS software?

You will get the training disk and another reference disk which has a lot of info on the FMS, but no software. You will get a little orientation into the FMS in MSP. When you get to Montreal you will have the software available to you in the classroom to play with. I was fairly comfortable with it by the time I hit the SIM.

How many written test do you take?

You will do all the written tests during the home study portion, (CBT). I don't recall the exact number but for the FOM portion their are quite a few. During the system portion you can do all of that offline except f or the final exam which needs to be done online. You will do one or two during your week in MSP but they are a non issue, none during training in YUL.

January lines
 

Well I thought I would drop a line about the Jan. lines since I was about to put my bid in. The raw numbers for the lines are as follows: Hard lines = 32, Buildups = 2, Reserve lines =28. This makes the first month where we have more hard lines than RSV lines. Improvements in my book :D.

On the down side we seem to have a reduction in effciency in the lines in JAN though. We only have 2 lines with 17 days off and no 18 day offs. We also have quite a few pairings with 5 day trips :eek:. Those can drag on! Well all that aside, everyone stay safe out there and get all that consolidation done for the love of ***!

what does the home study course cover? systems, fom, fms? how are you guys paid for that?

Are we going to PBS anytime soon?

Hopefully the influx of newhires/new airplanes will help keep the schedules... I guess it should. I just wish I didn't have to wait till Feb. to move you guys up the list!

Well, I don't want to tell you ant more stories about the PBS system than you have already been told. However, since it does benefit the company a lot to have the PBS I would say it won't be a long wait....like those EFB's... That's what I want..they can keep the PBS in my opinion :cool:

Compass pilots, what are the usual days off that you get in a month? Other thing is, do any of you have concerns about an NWA merger? I'm starting at compass in Feb. Just wondering about some of this. Also what is the average time on reserve before you can get a hardline?

What is the time from App to interview to class?

I applied in mid September, interviewed mid November. My start date is the 1st week of February.

What is your start date? I’m starting on 2/1. I personally am not too concerned about any NWA merger right now. Short term, things probably won’t change. Long term, who knows. I am just planning on getting my time in and moving on.

I'm in the 2/22 class. That's good. I just asked on the other thread and it is possible for NWA to merge with Delta. However it would be atleast 9 months before something would go on if it was approved in Feb. If not it would take atleast a year and a half because the new administration would have to approve the merger. I feel a little more at ease now.

This merger talk is making everyone a little apprehensive because of the unknown variables it will bring. Let's hope it will not mean furloughs and pilot job cutbacks. I think given the air travel (international primarily) increase projected for the next several years, Majors are going to continue to hire, if anything.

I have the FEB bid. The number 1 line is 19 days off with 89 hrs block. With no over night trips. (pretty nice!!!!) The only thing I thought was strange is the CA and FO lines match. If you bid 101 or what ever, it looks like you fly with the same CA and FO all month! Am I reading this right?

Got your start date moved up? When was your start date? What sen # you end up with?

Yup you are. Until PBS is running crew planning makes the lines. So you will fly with the same CA the entire month.

Line 1 is ok if you dont mind doing msp-yvr turn 7:30 flight time per day. Did it once and my rear was blue.

I LOVE line 137. 12 days off all CDO to LSE and OMA total flight time for the month 26 hours

those 31 hour layover in BOS are ok but dont want to do it more than once a month. I HATE 5 day trips

My start date got changed from the 18th to the 11th. Some body could not make it on the 11th so they called me. I have never worked with lines like that. That could be good or really bad!!! Do the FA lines run like that too? I have not looked at them yet.

If you mean are they the same as our lines....pretty much. There are a few times were there might be a slight change for somereason but for the most part it is the same crew all month. The FA's can pick up a lot more time than we can though. I know several who regularly credit in the 120 range.

For those that keep asking, "How many pilots are there?"

Well, I don't know if it is the answer you are looking for but there were 129 pilots on the bid list for February that have actually made it out of the system. I know, I know, there are quite a few tied up in training as well but this gives an idea of how many line qualified guys we have out there right now.

A buddy of mine who is pilot ~150ish just passed his LOE. Since we've been running classes of 6 every week, I gotta think at or beyond 200 at this point.

The contract requires that the seniority list be updated and posted only once a quarter.

I spoke with a friend that is currenty in Montreal and his class was told they were gonna be the last class starting there till mid March. I would assume it is because of the recurrent bubble approaching and lack of sim spots. But that is just a guess. His seniority is 155-160 I think. I also know I seen several people post that they have had there class dates postponed from Dec to Jan then to Feb/march.

If I had to guess there are 170 or so that have at least done the one day in MSP. And maybe another 10-15 that have class dates but have started nothing.

All of the #'s are just guesses.(we as usual have not seen an updated pilot seniority list in quite some time) So take the info as you wish.

I am up in YUL now. The most junior guy in my class is #150, and there are 2 classes of 6 behind us. The word up here is that they are going to be starting a new class every other Friday for the rest of the year.

What's wrong with Monday? Or do you guys like working all weekend...:D

The Friday start date is when you get your home study materials. You return home that evening and don’t come back to the classroom for a month.

recurrent
 

You know I didn't think about the large number of us about to go through recurrent. I leave in about a week to go back to YUL for that. I'm sure that could slow things down up there as they try to get those classes of 12 from last summer through.
I will be glad to get it behind me. I have to say it screwed up my line pretty bad. I tried to bid where it wouldn't touch a trip but didn't work. I guess I should be happy I got the extra time off but I really wanted the $$$ instead.

There is no way you can finish this take home course in 30 hrs!!! Maybe 200hrs!! I guess it could just be my limited learning ability. Anyone else working on this thing right now? How long did it take you?

I did it a few months ago...took me about 30-40 hours total.

It isn't that hard.

Like I said, maybe I am just slow or something. But other guys in my class are saying the same thing. It could just be the first few sections that suck, and when we get past those it will get easier. What is the first week at MSP like?

The first week in MSP after the 30 day home study is nothing more than just 4 days of indoc. You've already done the studying and testing. You go to the fire station and put out a fire, you jump down the slide and fill out some more paperwork. Nothing at all is hard in the first week.

seniority #'s
 

I know everyone is really worried about how many ppl are in front of them so i thought I would drop a line about it.
We just received our quarterly list which put the last guy at 179 starting training in Late January...It also listed the junior CA as 71 but the same email also contained a vacancy for 8 more CA's so that number will likley be 79 for the junior CA at the end of January. These numbers are the global list and include several mngmt types as well.
I have heard from a good friend that they are still moving some ppl up to earlier classes as well so I have to assume that some ppl are choosing other jobs.

On the domicile rumors....well I CONTINUE to hear that early April is very likely on the new bases. I guess we should hide and watch.

I just started Friday. We had 7 in the class and we are now up to number 186.

Actually 6 CA awards came out in Jan but have not started IOE so its at 77 now plus those 8 so it should be at 85 by next week

Looks like I'll probably be 200+ then :(

Any idea how long IOE and RSV is lasting? I'm kinda worried I'll have to sit on my a.s.s. a lot while on RSV - my average time flown on a reserve line around here (actual flight hours) is ~75, with 96 being the highest. So sitting around all month waiting for a call will be a BIG change. At least it shouldn't last too long...

Any word on a Memphis Base? Do you guys think MEM would go senior? Also... how do the compass guys like the EFB's? Are they JEPPS and manuals or JEPPS only with paper manuals?

Also... what's the crew per airplane ratio so with 36 E-170's how many CA do you guys forsee

Thanks

MARTY!

No word on MEM base yet. DTW is expected to open April-May timeframe and will likely go senior for CA, prolly junior for FOs.

EFBs are installed only in the two newest airplanes but don't have any software yet. They're saying ~6 mos to EFB functionality, which we all know means more like a year.

Planning on 5 CAs per airplane so around 180 CAs...once you take out management pilots that puts the most junior CA around #200 when we get all the planes. Of course we could potentially get another 18 airframes but I wouldn't count on it at all, Mesaba has an equally good chance of getting them. Everyone beyond #200 will be dependent on attrition for upgrade.