717a qol
 

Can anyone chime in on life in atl on the 717. Long layovers? Short layovers? Many 5 leg days? I've been told its a good kept secret currently compared to 73/320 life. Contemplating 717A, but the WB B rates are very similar. Thanks in advance.

I left the 717 because I couldn’t take the trips anymore. Almost exclusively RJ flying. If you like that with lots of legs then it could be right up your alley. Airplane itself is great. Easy. Not sure why anyone would characterize it as a hidden gem because it’s not. I’m on the 737 now and life for me is much better.

This speaks volumes. :D

It’s mostly RJ flying. But that type of flying is easy. 1 hour turns. 4 legs days are typical max, but when we do those the duty day is short (8-10 hours). Trip mix right now in ATL is pretty even 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 day trips. Plane flies great and is easy to preflight. It’s not your grandads DC-9. I like the Burgs and the Villes, so to me it is a great secret. Guys are afraid of it being RJ flying. I guess to me that’s easy and low threat. Small places me short rides to hotels and less delays. FAs all really like it too so they seem to be in a better mood than my previous platform (320). Most bid exclusively for the 717 so you see a lot of the same faces.

It’s the best camaraderie and flying I’ve done at Delta. I wish it paid more and had better seats. But, when you don’t fly much beyond 2 hours, you get used to it.

It’s horrific, 12 leg days, 90 minute layovers at the Red Roof Inn. 🤥
Those red eyes on the Bus and 737 are much better.

It’s on the inter web, it MUST be true.

In all seriousness pull up the category list, find a few pilots around your seniority then pull up their schedules and see what you think. Do the same for the 737. When the 88 went to the great ramp in the sky I did this and picked the 717.

Except for the uber-senior, the trips are nearly all the same. The only thing seniority will get you is the pick of days off you want. Most 3 day trips are 3-4-3. We never used to have many 1 and 2 day trips but since January we've had about 20% of each every month. No clue if that is temporary until the summer or more of a permanent thing. The 1 day trips are all 4 legs, and the 2 days are 3-3. 4 and 5 day trips have a little more variety with some 1 leg first or last days. Generally unless there is a ~30 hour layover you are sticking to an early or late schedule. If you're looking at being ATL based then I hope you like ATL, because you'll touch that on 90% of your flights with some DTW/MSP mixed in. None of our legs are airborne more than 3 hours, no red eyes, and we stay within the Eastern and Central time zones.

I flew it for 4 years as an A. First year was the best as there was West Coast flying so much more variety. Last 3 years outside of MTY and YYZ it was RJ flying. I found it to be quite boring and it was exacerbated by the multiple legs per day. Some people enjoy this type of flying. The plane is nice to operate from a systems standpoint. Overhead is very automated. FMS is not intuitive and non precision approaches require more SA as the approaches are completed in FPA and are not coupled to the path.

The Golden Handcuffs on the 717 is if you get senior enough to clear your schedule you can enjoy month after month of 20-30 hr block for 72+ hr pay doing out and back 2 days to BHM/HSV/CHS/SAV/VPS/GNV etc etc

Enjoyed my experience on the plane as it was much better than the 88 but I find operating
​​the 737 much more enjoyable(HUD, VSD, RNAV RNP, Auto brakes, VIASAT etc) especially with the incredible variety of flying with better layovers.

Single HF over the WATRS…

Mr.
 

I flew it for 9 years and loved it. The top 50% of the trips were great. The bottom 50...not so great but doable. No redeyes, no ultra long hauls and the layover's were mostly very good. Enjoy. (And no, I'm not a junior WB F/O)

Most people leave the regionals to get away from that type of flying.

3 years on it. Hated every minute.