Non-buyer's remorse
 

Hey Scambo--

I didn't bid to the 777 on this last AE, but I would have had it by a comfortable margin (in DTW, anyway). Now I'm starting to think about it for the next AE. What are your thoughts on the flying? Punishing because of the time zones? Easy because of the crew rest facility? Fun layovers, or the same old thing over and over?

I had been enjoying the 76ER in NY, but that category is being slowly gutted; the best destinations are gone or are seasonal.

Anybody else with some input, feel free to chime in--

Thanks!

Buzzpat, did I ride your jumpseat DCA-ATL last night?

You maybe did a LAX DH afterwords??

CVG767A. I came off the 777 a little over a year ago. It is an amazing aircraft to fly, but you don't fly it much. I was getting 1 leg every 5 to 6 weeks as an FO. The destinations are few and the good destinations even fewer. The crew rest is very nice and I found myself more rested than the 7er and MD11 flying I've done. There was never any open time. Reserves never flew. The FA's are very senior. The plane is very reliable.

For me it was a mixed bag. It gave me great scheduling flexibility and time off like I wanted, but I got bored really quickly.

Sounds perfect :D

Thanks for the advice. I think I'd be in the bottom 1/3 on it in DTW, and was thinking about mostly bidding reserve. I'd like to see the destinations (at least once), but would be mostly interested in staying home for pay.

I struggle with the idea of bidding a category where my goal will be to not fly the airplane.

Does the 777 see any Africa flying? I have a career goal of avoiding sub-Saharan Africa...

Funny, just the other day I was in the arming spot closest to the runway as a B-1 took off and that was the exact image I had as they put it in burner. The guys in my four-ship were just shaking our heads as our insides were being mercilessly vibrated. It was awesome.

Even if you 'fly the airplane' as a line holder, you won't fly it much. 4 pilots, 2 landings. And right now, no Africa, but you know their 5 year plan changes every 3 weeks, so it could come back...BUT...here's what the Senior Mama's are telling us:

Africa flying will be done out of ATL on the A330. Europe will be out of JFK as soon as they finish the terminal, and Asia, out of DTW on the 777/747.

In the ATL 777 category we have lost all but two trips to DTW. We now have only DXB and JNB, everything else starts and ends with a DH to somewhere to start the trip (LAX, DTW, MSP). In the past 3 A/E's we have lost a combined 40 Capts and 40 F/O's. 10 of each just went up to DTW in the last A/E, but I expect the entire category to be in DTW eventually, to fly to Asia.

Even as a line holder, I only get 1 landing a month, if I'm lucky, as a reserve, you won't get many, if any. BUT...one 15hr. leg is the equivelent of a domestic 3 day trip, so, you've got that going for you. Most of our 4 day turns are worth 30+, with a nice, long layover somewhere.

Now, the good news is, if you've got a lot of 757/767 time, you'll be fine, because it's very similar to those, flying wise, FMS wise, systems wise, etc. You could put a 757 guy in the 777 with zero training, show him the few differences on the 15 hour ride to the layover and he'd be good to go.

The flying is beyond boring. It's not even flying, it's sitting for 15 hours (or 17 from Joburg). But you will eat until you'r tired, sleep until you're hungry, and your only worry is... when will you have to pee.

As Roscoe said "It's a 15 hour buffet, on the way to happy hour."

Looks like the Navy went shopping at an Air Force 2 for 1 sale on family models.

That sounds fantastic! Only 5000 numbers to go....

If and when they move the entire category up to DTW, it will get junior, quickly. Most of the Senior ATL's will not chase it up there, but will displace into the ATL 767-400 instead, causing a huge waterfall training event, which is the only reason they haven't done it... yet. :eek: