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Originally Posted by Imapilot2
(Post 1577606)
I love how people here throw around that they have been here 13,14,15 years and should be further along.....If you actually were flying here during the 2000's you were lucky to even have a job. Most major pilots on or near the bottom were furloughed or back in the regionals. So to then use that same time span to now WOW people with the indignation of your progress over such a LONG period is ridiculous.
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Originally Posted by Timbo
(Post 1577608)
Over the years the company has come to realize the fewer bodies they have on the pilot list, the cheaper it is to run the airline. Many years ago we beotched about ATL getting all the flying, while all the small bases suffered lost flying. At a crew lounge meeting with then head of Crew Resources David Watson (now head of Inflight, if he's still there) he was asked why ATL got all the good stuff, and the other bases lost it.
His answer: "If I had my way, there would only be ONE base, ATL." In further discussion on the subject he said every little base is inefficient in that they carry too many reserves, and if everyone was based in ATL, they could cut down the overall body count by having fewer reserves, and flying them more. He went on to say that every reserve should fly at least the Res. Guarantee hours every month, "...because that's what we pay them!" I raised my hand and asked him, "If you plan on staffing such that you have every reserve pilot flying 70hrs. every month (the res guarantee then), just to fly the normal schedule, what are you going to do when there is a big weather event, and you need reserves to cover the reroutes?" His answer; "That's what green slips are for." So, there you go. You saw they closed MEM, put all the MSP sims in ATL, and I'm sure CVG will also be closed, I'm amazed it's still open. You know they have to rent the office space, pay all the Chief Pilots, their secretaries, their parking spots, etc. The reason they gave us for closing BOS, MIA, ORD, DFW, IAH, MSY, PDX? Overhead Costs. Can you say Synergy? :rolleyes: Bottom line; they always want to minimize body count and they'd like to minimize smaller bases too, it's just cheaper to run the airline that way. Oh, and by putting all the "good trips" into ATL, they keep the senior Mama's happy, so they don't vote Yes for a union. True. And that's why you'll always have commuters who live in a base. Living out West at Delta is a choice that will cost you money in terms of career potential, and it's been that way here for as long as I can remember. |
Originally Posted by flyallnite
(Post 1577620)
True. And that's why you'll always have commuters who live in a base. Living out West at Delta is a choice that will cost you money in terms of career potential, and it's been that way here for as long as I can remember.
I knew lots of very senior guys flying 727's who chose to stay in base and retire off the 727, rather than commute to big iron International flying, back when we had all those nice small bases. It was a great quality of life, even if it cost you a higher pay rate. As one MIA guy said to me when I was contemplating moving to ATL: "You know why land is so cheap in ATL?" Me, "No, why?" Him, "Because an acre of Red Clay is still an acre of Red Clay..." :rolleyes: When Mo'Ron decided to close all those fun, small bases where people want to live, back in 1996, I had to decide what/where to go. After months of deliberations with the wife, and weighing the benefits of commuting vs. QOL on days off, we decided Florida would be the place to live, (we were in NH at the time) and I'd spend the rest of my career commuting to ATL. I bid ATL MD11 F/O vs. NYC 88 or 727 Capt., so I'd be senior enough (on the MD11) to get some 'easy to commute to' type trips, vs. those 6am sign in's, in NYC 88 and 727. Commuting sucks, no doubt, but when I wake up in the morning and take my dogs out back to the lake with my fishing pole, I don't see -any- red clay, or white snow. :D As you move up the list and have more choices, you have to decide what's more important; easier to get to work, or more fun on your days off. Since I usually have more days off than days working, I chose to live where I'd enjoy those days off, much more than having a short drive to work. The only good thing about commuting to ATL is, if you bid to ATL, you'll have your pick of all the fleets, so you can choose to be senior in a lesser paying gig, or go junior in a higher paying seat. Life is about choices, right? Well, at least we have lots of choices here. ;) |
Originally Posted by Timbo
(Post 1577654)
Living and flying out of any other base but ATL and DTW is going to cost you money, long term, since all the Super Premium 747/777 flying is only in those two bases.
I knew lots of very senior guys flying 727's who chose to stay in base and retire off the 727, rather than commute to big iron International flying, back when we had all those nice small bases. It was a great quality of life, even if it cost you a higher pay rate. As one MIA guy said to me when I was contemplating moving to ATL: "You know why land is so cheap in ATL?" Me, "No, why?" Him, "Because an acre of Red Clay is still an acre of Red Clay..." When Mo'Ron decided to close all those fun, small bases where people want to live, back in 1996, I had to decide what/where to go. After months of deliberations with the wife, and weighing the benefits of commuting vs. QOL on days off, we decided Florida would be the place to live, (we were in NH at the time) and I'd spend the rest of my career commuting to ATL. I bid ATL MD11 F/O vs. NYC 88 or 727 Capt., so I'd be senior enough (on the MD11) to get some 'easy to commute to' type trips, vs. those 6am sign in's, in NYC 88 and 727. Commuting sucks, no doubt, but when I wake up in the morning and take my dogs out back to the lake with my fishing pole, I don't see -any- red clay, or white snow. :D As you move up the list and have more choices, you have to decide what's more important; easier to get to work, or more fun on your days off. Since I usually have more days off than days working, I chose to live where I'd enjoy those days off, much more than having a short drive to work. The only good thing about commuting to ATL is, if you bid to ATL, you'll have your pick of all the fleets, so you can choose to be senior in a lesser paying gig, or go junior in a higher paying seat. Life is about choices, right? Well, at least we have lots of choices here. ;) |
Originally Posted by flyallnite
(Post 1577666)
Great post Timbo. The West bases are still great for lifestyle, if you can afford it. But the housing prices have gone nuts in the past 10 years and any new guy would find it difficult to afford a decent home for a family, let alone good schools. I agree that FL is a good choice for any DL pilot who likes nice weather, water, sports and great bars! Not to mention the lack of income tax :).
The best part is, when I get home from a trip, I never have to shovel my car out of a snow bank in the parking lot! |
Originally Posted by Timbo
(Post 1577674)
Land is still fairly cheap in FL, compared to anywhere in the North East or the West Coast, especially if you go inland on a lake, vs. trying to be near the ocean. There are still some good deals on foreclosed Condo's from Tampa down to Sarasota, Ft. Meyers and Naples.
The best part is, when I get home from a trip, I never have to shovel my car out of a snow bank in the parking lot! |
In '07 and '08 we had DL new hires going to the LAX 767 and 73N and the SLC 767 and MD. Both bases still had quite a bit of seniority in them but just about anyone in the company who wanted to hold them could. That all changed after SOC - even with the doubling of the size of the SEA base.
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Originally Posted by MrMustache
(Post 1577677)
Lots of good deals down by Ft. Myers but it has gone up in the last couple years. We keep an eye on the real estate down there hoping to get a nice condo someday.
not an endorsement, just a starting point. |
Originally Posted by flyallnite
(Post 1577666)
Great post Timbo. The West bases are still great for lifestyle, if you can afford it. But the housing prices have gone nuts in the past 10 years and any new guy would find it difficult to afford a decent home for a family, let alone good schools. I agree that FL is a good choice for any DL pilot who likes nice weather, water, sports and great bars! Not to mention the lack of income tax :).
FL can be a great place to live but don't let the lack of income tax sway you. It's still a very high tax state. They just get it in other areas like property tax. Expect to pay 2.25 percent in most counties on a purchase now. |
For those who have submitted LOR's AND have had their candidate invited to an interview, did you submit anything besides the recommendation via the Air Apps link?
I recently came across something on the DeltaNet before Flight Ops page format was changed. It had an email address but didn't state what was expected to be sent via that email. Just wondering if there was additional steps that could be taken to help a brother out? |
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