DAL Poolie Info
04-13-2016, 05:30 AM
#7311
Super Moderator
Joined APC: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,272
Originally Posted by WhatNow
The difference if you averaged every trip in both bid packages is probably less then a hour a day. It's nothing like 4 to 5 verses 10 to 12.
04-13-2016, 05:55 AM
#7312
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 11,993
Originally Posted by Twister
Hey, when I said I thought the 737 was "sexy" I was only talking about how she looks on the outside. Kinda like women. I guess I'm shallow that way...
Thx for the tip on the overhead panel! I'll watch my nugget!
At least if you find the 737 "sexy" then you're going to be a happy man.
04-13-2016, 08:20 AM
#7313
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,414
Recently switched from Maddog to 73. The workload an FO goes thru on the 73 vs the 88 is much lower. It's like a different airline. Not only are the flightdeck flows easier, but you're also only doing them once or twice a day. Typically flew 3-2-3 3 days on the 88. Now flying 1-2-1 3 days on the 737 with great layovers. However the 73 does have a ton of red eyes.
As far as pay, especially for a new guy, I think the 717 and 88 will be more lucrative than the 737 with the exception of NYC 73N which is always seems to be short. 717 is quite short and on staffing due to sim availability. The 88 is the 88. Many folks looking to get off the airplane ASAP so it's going to be a revolving door until the last C Series is delivered
As far as pay, especially for a new guy, I think the 717 and 88 will be more lucrative than the 737 with the exception of NYC 73N which is always seems to be short. 717 is quite short and on staffing due to sim availability. The 88 is the 88. Many folks looking to get off the airplane ASAP so it's going to be a revolving door until the last C Series is delivered
04-14-2016, 01:59 PM
#7314
Trimming my beard
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Position: 7ERB
Posts: 241
A Hornet Guy's Indoc Gouge
I’m a Hornet guy who put 0.0 joules into learning about the airline industry prior to showing up at Indoc on 11 April. That is a totally tenable position based on my unsurpassed four days of experience. Most of the military guys have looked to the commuters to fill in our numerous blanks, and here is some of the stuff I’ve learned while trying to look informed this week. No promises that there is any value below.
By the beginning of week 2 you will need to be complete with computer-based training that doesn’t work on Mac. The training requires Java, Flash and Acrobat reader, and Apple firmly refuses to allow Flash on their devices. I run Ubuntu (a linux distro) and the learning management system (LMS) works for me. In short, I run Mozilla and installed JRE and Flash as described here and and acrobat as here. I am not a computer science major, but LT Google serves me well on the DIY computer front. Feel free to PM me if you have questions but my last name is not Torvalds.
A car really isn’t required as the hotel (Staybridge Atlanta Airport in Hapeville) is walking distance. A shuttle is available to and from training each day. The hotel has free (clean and nice) laundry. You provide the detergent. The Staybridge provides breakfast and dinner each night. Both are good and they have real (non-Pilsner) beer and wine each night. Gratis.
Our drop happened shortly after lunch but the instructors characterized that as late due to unspecified issues with the drop. All but one of the NYC MD88s went to my portion of the SSN order, which had no choice. Lots of discussion here on drops so won’t descend here.
You will get your employee number in the mail with instructions to set up your deltanet accounts a few days prior to the start of indoc. The instructions will direct you to do the LMS training before you report, but that is impossible. In order to update your personnel data (address and contact data) you have to contact the chief pilot’s office at the number on the website. Many in our class did not do any of this and it didn’t matter. My sense is that the instructions for all of that are for non-pilot new employees or that the system has evolved but the instructions have not kept up. In short, do not sweat it unless you want to set that stuff up.
I missed the 7 April deadline to set up my wife’s travel to the dinner (2nd Monday) and the staff helped me out. Don’t be me, it didn’t buy me any points at home.
Our last day of indoc is Thursday 21 April (standard 9-day flow, I understand) and my first sim is 6 May. Some of my class starts as early as 3 May. I’m done 3 June (with any luck). Delta offers you positive space travel until simulator checkride is complete and allows you to commute home when you have a break in simulators greater than 48 hours. I have three of those. I reserved all of my travel yesterday when the simulator schedule came out. Positive space means you have a seat like a paying traveler. You can standby (non-revenue or “non-rev”) from the day you get your employee badge. 26 of 30 got their badges on day 4. Four of us are getting ours “manana.” Jumpseats (different from a non-rev seat, as the non-rev implies in the back of the airplane) requires entry into CASS (maybe “cockpit access security system”, who knows), which takes weeks apparently. I hope to be in CASS prior to doing sims, but it might not happen until mid-May.
I have no airline experience but I am savvy enough to understand that my SPARKY helmet bag is likely to promote eye rolling. The commuter folks tell me that LuggageWorks makes a good 22-inch roll-aboard. It’s pricey but with all of this gear I figure if it lasts 5-10 years the amortised cost is close to zero.
No more flight cases for pubs, they issued us a Windows Surface on day 3 with a Jeppeson app and a content locker that updates all of the pubs you need to fly. Both the Captain and the FO are required to have a charged one to fly. Compared to the electronic flight bags my beloved former service issued, this is well executed. So for a second piece of luggage, some of the guys recommended one of the Aero Coast cooler bags. I have purchased neither thus far.
No idea what to do about a headset. Still working on that one but there is some discussion on this board to which I can add nothing. Lots of $ at this point when there aren’t a lot of extra ones laying around.
Speaking of pay, training pay is $3910 per month. During training you get paid “current,” which means like I was used to. Since our first five days ended on the 15th, we got $500 on the 15th. That will continue until you start flying (don’t understand whether OE counts as flight pay, but I’ll find that one out). The detail to understand here, though, is that flight pay is paid one month “in arrears” [commence middle school giggling]. I’ll skip the details because I’ll screw something up, but understand that the switch from being paid for “this month” to being paid for the previous month (really, that happens) means that there is going to be a month with very little--maybe zero--dollars on the pay slip.
There are three uniform companies that come talk to the class on day 3ish. Abbots should be familiar to the USN-types and is generally considered the best quality of the three, I think. M&H and Crew Outfitters are the other two. The commuters recommend the pilot shirts from A Cut Above Uniforms and say that the Van Huesen shirts turn yellow and do not hold up to continual use. Navy service dress blues jackets will work for the coat if you are done using them in the USN. For uniforms it seems like you’ll need:
Recommend you put together a class cell roster on day one. Somebody in a class of 30 is going to oversleep at some point.
I assure you something above is completely wrong and make no further assurances. Hope to see you out there. Please add Nowledge.
--Sparky
By the beginning of week 2 you will need to be complete with computer-based training that doesn’t work on Mac. The training requires Java, Flash and Acrobat reader, and Apple firmly refuses to allow Flash on their devices. I run Ubuntu (a linux distro) and the learning management system (LMS) works for me. In short, I run Mozilla and installed JRE and Flash as described here and and acrobat as here. I am not a computer science major, but LT Google serves me well on the DIY computer front. Feel free to PM me if you have questions but my last name is not Torvalds.
A car really isn’t required as the hotel (Staybridge Atlanta Airport in Hapeville) is walking distance. A shuttle is available to and from training each day. The hotel has free (clean and nice) laundry. You provide the detergent. The Staybridge provides breakfast and dinner each night. Both are good and they have real (non-Pilsner) beer and wine each night. Gratis.
Our drop happened shortly after lunch but the instructors characterized that as late due to unspecified issues with the drop. All but one of the NYC MD88s went to my portion of the SSN order, which had no choice. Lots of discussion here on drops so won’t descend here.
You will get your employee number in the mail with instructions to set up your deltanet accounts a few days prior to the start of indoc. The instructions will direct you to do the LMS training before you report, but that is impossible. In order to update your personnel data (address and contact data) you have to contact the chief pilot’s office at the number on the website. Many in our class did not do any of this and it didn’t matter. My sense is that the instructions for all of that are for non-pilot new employees or that the system has evolved but the instructions have not kept up. In short, do not sweat it unless you want to set that stuff up.
I missed the 7 April deadline to set up my wife’s travel to the dinner (2nd Monday) and the staff helped me out. Don’t be me, it didn’t buy me any points at home.
Our last day of indoc is Thursday 21 April (standard 9-day flow, I understand) and my first sim is 6 May. Some of my class starts as early as 3 May. I’m done 3 June (with any luck). Delta offers you positive space travel until simulator checkride is complete and allows you to commute home when you have a break in simulators greater than 48 hours. I have three of those. I reserved all of my travel yesterday when the simulator schedule came out. Positive space means you have a seat like a paying traveler. You can standby (non-revenue or “non-rev”) from the day you get your employee badge. 26 of 30 got their badges on day 4. Four of us are getting ours “manana.” Jumpseats (different from a non-rev seat, as the non-rev implies in the back of the airplane) requires entry into CASS (maybe “cockpit access security system”, who knows), which takes weeks apparently. I hope to be in CASS prior to doing sims, but it might not happen until mid-May.
I have no airline experience but I am savvy enough to understand that my SPARKY helmet bag is likely to promote eye rolling. The commuter folks tell me that LuggageWorks makes a good 22-inch roll-aboard. It’s pricey but with all of this gear I figure if it lasts 5-10 years the amortised cost is close to zero.
No more flight cases for pubs, they issued us a Windows Surface on day 3 with a Jeppeson app and a content locker that updates all of the pubs you need to fly. Both the Captain and the FO are required to have a charged one to fly. Compared to the electronic flight bags my beloved former service issued, this is well executed. So for a second piece of luggage, some of the guys recommended one of the Aero Coast cooler bags. I have purchased neither thus far.
No idea what to do about a headset. Still working on that one but there is some discussion on this board to which I can add nothing. Lots of $ at this point when there aren’t a lot of extra ones laying around.
Speaking of pay, training pay is $3910 per month. During training you get paid “current,” which means like I was used to. Since our first five days ended on the 15th, we got $500 on the 15th. That will continue until you start flying (don’t understand whether OE counts as flight pay, but I’ll find that one out). The detail to understand here, though, is that flight pay is paid one month “in arrears” [commence middle school giggling]. I’ll skip the details because I’ll screw something up, but understand that the switch from being paid for “this month” to being paid for the previous month (really, that happens) means that there is going to be a month with very little--maybe zero--dollars on the pay slip.
There are three uniform companies that come talk to the class on day 3ish. Abbots should be familiar to the USN-types and is generally considered the best quality of the three, I think. M&H and Crew Outfitters are the other two. The commuters recommend the pilot shirts from A Cut Above Uniforms and say that the Van Huesen shirts turn yellow and do not hold up to continual use. Navy service dress blues jackets will work for the coat if you are done using them in the USN. For uniforms it seems like you’ll need:
- 1 jacket. Mandatory wear only Nov-Feb.
- 2+ shirts. I’m going to get at least 3.
- 2+ pants. You’ll want to have one pair of pants that matches the jacket. For wear without the jacket (Mar-Oct) some folks talk about buying black slacks from a store of your choice.
- Black shoes. Uniform regs specify plain-toe (no stitching on the toe). Lots of discussion in the class that boils down to “does that mean NO stitching at all.” The instructors squirm. Recommend applying judgment, keeping in mind that you’ll be wearing the black shoes in question for OE and your probation flying.
- Black belt, small plain buckle.
- Delta hat. All of the uniform shops sell hats and most of the commuters rarely wore them and actually looked to the military guys for hat expertise. I’m bummed I can’t fold it and put it in my right leg pocket.
- 2+ Nametags. Can be ordered from the uniform shops and take three weeks to arrive.
- 2+ Delta wings. On the shirt and the jacket at the same time, as they have to be on the shirt if you take the jacket off.
- Epaulets for the shirt.
- Hat emblem.
Recommend you put together a class cell roster on day one. Somebody in a class of 30 is going to oversleep at some point.
I assure you something above is completely wrong and make no further assurances. Hope to see you out there. Please add Nowledge.
--Sparky
Last edited by SparkySmith; 04-14-2016 at 02:02 PM. Reason: Forgot to finish the sentence on black pants.
04-14-2016, 05:49 PM
#7316
Looking for a laugh
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,099
@SparkySmith re the headset. There is no rush to purchase one just yet. Those suckers are expensive, and since they last a long time, it behooves you to not make a rushed decision. All the planes have ship sets. You can use those. Take your time, do your research, and talk to guys online for recommendations before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
04-14-2016, 06:10 PM
#7317
Trimming my beard
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Position: 7ERB
Posts: 241
Originally Posted by Justdoinmyjob
@SparkySmith re the headset. There is no rush to purchase one just yet. Those suckers are expensive, and since they last a long time, it behooves you to not make a rushed decision. All the planes have ship sets. You can use those. Take your time, do your research, and talk to guys online for recommendations before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
04-14-2016, 07:26 PM
#7319
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Posts: 116
Regarding the bag, I just use a $100 Costco bag that works great. Fits in all the overheads, expands if necessary and I haven't had a problem on any but the smallest rjs. I've seen other folks who also use Samsonite spinners that they got for a $100 or so. It pays to have a light bag and there's a lifetime replacement warranty so I walk into Costco and they give me a new one instead of sending it off for repair. Also I'm a year in without a personal headset and I just carry a lot of disinfecting wipes which I would do anyway.
04-15-2016, 04:57 AM
#7320
Otto
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Position: Turkish Pile Driver
Posts: 1,806
As soon as we climb above 180 I take my headset off anyway. Figure it wasn't worth buying one. I drank water from the hose when I was a kid, so my immune system seems to be up to the task of shared boom mics.
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