Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
#481
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 11,989
HawgDrvr:
There seems to be a lot of movement in that category due to growth and new hire assignments. The new hires are not seat locked, so they can bid right out on the next Advanced Entitlement and be gone in less than 6 months. These factors, plus uncertainty about how much that category will grow, or even be based, makes it hard to say how long reserve will be. For example, Delta can rotate ATL crews to cover the NYC'er flying when they want to by simply building trips that go ATL-CDG-NYC-LGW-NYC...LGW-ATL. Some of those are 9 and 10 day trips, but they pay so much that you will be only 20 hours from the monthly block vaue and only fly another 2, or 3, day to finish up the month.
New hires are using the opportunities in the last AE to bid all over the system. 88 guys are going to the ER, ER pilots (a few) might go to the MD88 if they really want to hold a schedule.
The only bad thing I see about the NYC ER slot is that you can be on 24 hour reserve when there really are not any opportunities to fly you. For example, the Europe trips are all going to take more than 24/48 hours away from base and the airline can not use a 24 hour reserve on a domestic trip due to rest requirements. This can result in a person sitting reserve while they can not really do anything for a day or two a month. That is not really that much of a draw back compared to the quality of flying and pay that a ER pilot can make in their second year. I'm very tempted to bid it, but my wife would kill me.
There seems to be a lot of movement in that category due to growth and new hire assignments. The new hires are not seat locked, so they can bid right out on the next Advanced Entitlement and be gone in less than 6 months. These factors, plus uncertainty about how much that category will grow, or even be based, makes it hard to say how long reserve will be. For example, Delta can rotate ATL crews to cover the NYC'er flying when they want to by simply building trips that go ATL-CDG-NYC-LGW-NYC...LGW-ATL. Some of those are 9 and 10 day trips, but they pay so much that you will be only 20 hours from the monthly block vaue and only fly another 2, or 3, day to finish up the month.
New hires are using the opportunities in the last AE to bid all over the system. 88 guys are going to the ER, ER pilots (a few) might go to the MD88 if they really want to hold a schedule.
The only bad thing I see about the NYC ER slot is that you can be on 24 hour reserve when there really are not any opportunities to fly you. For example, the Europe trips are all going to take more than 24/48 hours away from base and the airline can not use a 24 hour reserve on a domestic trip due to rest requirements. This can result in a person sitting reserve while they can not really do anything for a day or two a month. That is not really that much of a draw back compared to the quality of flying and pay that a ER pilot can make in their second year. I'm very tempted to bid it, but my wife would kill me.
#482
New Hire
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 9
Thanks for the replies.
I guess the smart thing to do is bid for the 73 or 88 until you can hold a line in the er as an FO. Are the Capt bids pretty senior in NYC (any equip) or is it the same deal...you upgrade early and sit reserve forever? Thanks again.
HawgDrvr
I guess the smart thing to do is bid for the 73 or 88 until you can hold a line in the er as an FO. Are the Capt bids pretty senior in NYC (any equip) or is it the same deal...you upgrade early and sit reserve forever? Thanks again.
HawgDrvr
#483
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 11,989
HawgDrvr:
Are you on board yet? The class assignments have been all over the place - from MD88 NYC to ER out of ATL and everything in between.
When you get on board, you can look on e-crew to see where you fall within a specific category and you can set your bid preferences to only take the bid when you have a percentage of the pilots behind you.
NYC generally is very junior. I am a new hire and there were less than 30 pilots who had the MD88 Capt. slot bid ahead of me. But, that means nothing. If there was a big Captain bid, surely some of the other FO's would change their bid and take it. If things continue as they are expected to next year, you might just see some MD88 NYC Captain slots go to some of the first 2007 hires in late 2008.
I don't mind reserve and like the flying the 737N does, so I bid off the MD88. However, if you want to hold a line the MD88 is your airplane. When this next batch of new hires gets through training the NYC MD pilots will probably hold a line after just a few months of reserve.
Holding a line on the 'ER could take a while. It depends on the growth in NYC and how they staff it.
With preferential biddidng and decent reserve rules, I don't see reserve as a bad thing. They have long and short call reserve, they fly their reserves and you can indicate a preference to fly, or not fly. I think being on reserve will be better than holding a bad preferential bidding schedule. Holding a good PBS schedule is so far away that I put it on the wish list next to the plastic 737 Boeing will build someday.
In your shoes (and what I wish that I had done) is stay on the airplane I was assigned (or bid) in class for a year then bid based on updated information. Once you put in your bid and it is accepted it can not be changed until your two year seat lock is over. In the mean time you see other opportunities and wonder "what if?" So if you do change your bid, make sure it is something you want.
Are you on board yet? The class assignments have been all over the place - from MD88 NYC to ER out of ATL and everything in between.
When you get on board, you can look on e-crew to see where you fall within a specific category and you can set your bid preferences to only take the bid when you have a percentage of the pilots behind you.
NYC generally is very junior. I am a new hire and there were less than 30 pilots who had the MD88 Capt. slot bid ahead of me. But, that means nothing. If there was a big Captain bid, surely some of the other FO's would change their bid and take it. If things continue as they are expected to next year, you might just see some MD88 NYC Captain slots go to some of the first 2007 hires in late 2008.
I don't mind reserve and like the flying the 737N does, so I bid off the MD88. However, if you want to hold a line the MD88 is your airplane. When this next batch of new hires gets through training the NYC MD pilots will probably hold a line after just a few months of reserve.
Holding a line on the 'ER could take a while. It depends on the growth in NYC and how they staff it.
With preferential biddidng and decent reserve rules, I don't see reserve as a bad thing. They have long and short call reserve, they fly their reserves and you can indicate a preference to fly, or not fly. I think being on reserve will be better than holding a bad preferential bidding schedule. Holding a good PBS schedule is so far away that I put it on the wish list next to the plastic 737 Boeing will build someday.
In your shoes (and what I wish that I had done) is stay on the airplane I was assigned (or bid) in class for a year then bid based on updated information. Once you put in your bid and it is accepted it can not be changed until your two year seat lock is over. In the mean time you see other opportunities and wonder "what if?" So if you do change your bid, make sure it is something you want.
Last edited by Bucking Bar; 09-06-2007 at 11:47 AM.
#484
New Hire
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 9
Bucking Bar
Thanks for the great info. I am not on board. I will be putting my app in by the end of this month. I'm still finishing up some reqs. I am trying to get the lay of the land if DAL decides to hire me.
HawgDrvr
Thanks for the great info. I am not on board. I will be putting my app in by the end of this month. I'm still finishing up some reqs. I am trying to get the lay of the land if DAL decides to hire me.
HawgDrvr
Last edited by HawgDrvr; 09-06-2007 at 10:24 AM.
#485
2 of 8
Rode the shuttle back to the hotel with a guy earlier this week who was one of the 2 (of 8) asked back that day.
Gretzky: you may have not heard from Brian because he's had a bad week. He's been very busy out of the office, and I heard he had some cell phone issues. Be patient - and remember he may call on a weekend (I got the call on a Sat) ... especially this week.
C-17 Driver's post is valid. To expand the answer on what went where in the class: all 12 of the "not an MD-88 in NYC" slots went to the first 14 of 31 folks in the class.
Bucking Bar - great posts.
Gretzky: you may have not heard from Brian because he's had a bad week. He's been very busy out of the office, and I heard he had some cell phone issues. Be patient - and remember he may call on a weekend (I got the call on a Sat) ... especially this week.
C-17 Driver's post is valid. To expand the answer on what went where in the class: all 12 of the "not an MD-88 in NYC" slots went to the first 14 of 31 folks in the class.
Bucking Bar - great posts.
#486
Anyone know if the Sept 16 (17?) class is full yet? Interviewed on Aug 23 and anxiously waiting.
#487
If you have not been called yet, I don't think you will be in that class. I interviewed Aug. 15th, and 16th. Got the "ok to train--awaiting class date" email on Aug. 24th. Still waiting on a class date. There are 2 guys I know that interviewed around the same time I did that are in the Sept. 17th class. I also know 3 guys that are still waiting on a call that interviewed at that time. I think we will be in the Oct. 1st class. They call you between 4-2 weeks before your class date from what I've been told.
#488
If you have not been called yet, I don't think you will be in that class. I interviewed Aug. 15th, and 16th. Got the "ok to train--awaiting class date" email on Aug. 24th. Still waiting on a class date. There are 2 guys I know that interviewed around the same time I did that are in the Sept. 17th class. I also know 3 guys that are still waiting on a call that interviewed at that time. I think we will be in the Oct. 1st class. They call you between 4-2 weeks before your class date from what I've been told.
#490
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Just happy to be here Boss!
Posts: 200
Two weeks ago the plan was for classes of 30-35 every two weeks ending with a class Oct 29 - Nov 9. Not because they did not need classes over the holidays, but they wanted to give the training dept time to catch their breath. Then the plan was to get right back to the same pattern indefinitely first week of Jan. Rumor (just rumor) is that now they may need a class or two during the holiday break. I think the Sep 17, Oct 01, Oct 15, and Oct 29 are a sure thing...Standby for anything after that.
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