Info on Junior FO Schedules
 

Could you guys please provide info on what schedules are currently looking like for First Officers? Specifically looking for:

- Time on property spread between most senior FO on reserve vs. most junior FO line holder at the various bases.

- For someone who is interested in max days off, how long have the FOs been on property that are able to hold lines with at least 15 days off per month in DFW vs. ORD vs. LGA?

- Any FOs getting 17 or more days off? How long on property before one can expect that?

Thank you.

I don’t think there are any lines, period, that are more than 15 off. And even then most are less than 13. 1/3 of pilot group on reserve I think with only 11 days off.

You would be incorrect. There are lines with 16, 17, and a CDO line in DFW 145 with 19 off. Having said that, those obviously go extremely senior. DFW is the most senior so it would take the longest to get a preferred line there. ORD 175 would be the fastest route for someone hired today since it's a new base and will see a lot of movement for the next few months as it grows. LGA is a good option too in terms of getting days off based upon the fact that they seem to get the lines with the most days off out of any base. Also, guys bid out of LGA asap so there is also movement from that.

To the OP, if schedules and days off are your priorities, then I'd go to EDV. They have superior schedules and obviously superior pay.

145 doesn’t sound that bad for a senior guy then

Thank you. Good info. I hear ya, but we are relocating to TX and considering the DFW and SAT areas. I would have to commute with EDV either way, but could live close to DFW and company HQ if we chose the Dallas metro area.

Tough choice.

We have flow to AA. Something to consider.

A quick glance at last months bid packet (ORD) shows at least 30 lines with at least 15 days off, that's almost half the hard lines

If you're wiling to move to DFW, that's a game changer. Having the ability to drive to work at some point down the line beats commuting to EDV any day.

If you're moving, I highly suggest moving to within an hours drive of DFW. At that point an RAP assignment on reserve can be an extra day at home. If it's a month where we're staffed well, like this one, you'll have a lot more than just 11 days at home with the family.

Yes, I see that. Also, if I were to ever have an interest in becoming an instructor, check airmen, (god forbid!) management pilot, recruiter, etc., living by HQ makes that a very realistic option.

I want to get back to 121 after a long absence and another career having nothing to do with flying. I have no problem with the concept of staying long-term and retiring from a regional. As one gets older, suitcases and hotel rooms get less and less attractive. Having the HQ option opens a lot of possibilities, for sure.

The job offer needs to come first, then I can make a choice.

That great during good times. But does that also mean AA flows back during bad?

Oh you better hush yo mouth! The flow backs is a touchy subject. But to answer, no, that’s not the case anymore.

And ignore that troll.

If you are “getting back to” 121, how close are you to 1000 hrs? You might want to wait and see if Envoy continues to displace experienced new hires to captain. Either way, there have been no DFW slots out of training and it will take you a while to hold DFW, whether as an FO or as a CA, displaced or voluntary.

I already have 1000 121.

Can you explain how being displaced to CA is bad? Seems everybody talks about it negatively, so I guess I'm not understanding the details of that.

Is it a reserve thing since FOs with more time on property will upgrade after you then suck up the better schedules?

Are CAs being forced to fly right seat?

At least your getting paid for CA, right?

Well, for starters you’ll be the most JR RSV puke for years to come. Research street CA. So all those days off and great schedule you want, yea won’t happen being forced to upgrade. You’ll be a LGA 145 CA forevah!

And if you aren’t a bit nervous to be the CA right away after years away, well then that’s another issue.

And now compare endeavors FO Pay scale with our CA Pay scale. Those first few years aren’t that far apart.

Variety of reasons. Say you live in DFW and you're flying right seat in 175 and get displaced to the CA seat in NY. You just went from driving to work to doing a brutal commute across the country to be stuck on RSV.

Say you've got a new born and wife that works full time with unusual hours. You're a line holding FO and have control over your schedule to make it work with the baby and wife's job. You get displaced to the CA seat and go back to RSV and lose any ability to control your schedule.

Say you're a former 135 guy that has 1,000 hours of 135 time that qualifies for an upgrade here. You've just got hired into your first 121 gig and get displaced to the CA seat with only a couple of months of 121 experience under your belt and are expected to be a CA.

Say you've got 1,000 hours of 121 time but you're still simply not ready to take on the responsibility just yet.

All this...

And add to it you already have a commute to DFW from the west and now you have to get all the way to LGA and deal with all the joy and expense of sitting reserve there.

Captains and FO’s are pretty well staffed as of late. Plan on getting a crash pad. Pilots on reserve are rarely used for more than Airport Standby shifts right now. Commuter hotels are not cutting it anymore while on reserve in NY.

How about MIA? Any info on junior FO's there and what the schedules are like when it comes to maximizing days off?

Most junior guy in MIA was hired September 2016. For December, the vast majority of lines have 14 off. A handful have 15 and 16 off. On the flip side, there are handful of 13 off, 2 with 12 off, and 1 with 11 off.