desk pilot

Hey All,
Former Regional CA looking to spend a couple years flying something new before I retire (currently Flying Corporate Contract)
just wondering what the DEC placements look like realistically? do you start as FO and then go to Upgrade directly after FO qual? (PSA was doing that a while back)
Are there Junior Bases for the 175 for CA? I noticed that the latest Class drop went mostly DFW. Being a DEC would likely be on Reserve for a while/eternity but are there chances for Long Call as Junior CA?

Thx..

pitchattitude

Details on long call and implementation is yet to come. By this fall likely. As far as the bottom of the reserve list getting it, unlikely.

Right now the junior 175 base is MIA for captains, but just barely. There have been no openings in ORD last two bids meaning it is trending higher.

Not hiring actual DECs at this time, so you will go through as FO and get captain when your seniority will allow it. It was dropping rapidly but with these new pay rates and LOAs it is a strange dynamic. Getting captain pay once you have 750 hours of time that counts towards upgrade may mean much less incentive to bid captain for those that know they will be junior doing so.

This next bid will be interesting indeed. The word was the retirement of 145s is accelerating, but if these new LOAs and pay significantly increase the ability to hire, train and retain then it will slow that down.

Of course this is the airline industry. The next crash is always just around the corner and with current inflation and slow down of the economy, it might be even sooner than later.

chihuahua

Isn't it really just going to poach a few pilots from Endeavor, with the attrition to mainline or the LCCs, continuing? Then what happens when Endeavor and every other serious airline match the pay rates? I would think with the high fuel prices that would finally kill off 50 seaters everywhere, but they still manage to survive like cockroaches. The severity of the economic downturn is the only question at this point, since it has already started. I'm just surprised it's taking this long and that there are people out there who still have enough money to travel or buy a house.

3GreenKSNA

The biggest problem you will encounter is you will be perpetually on reserve unless a more direct entry captains are hired junior to you. It's a bit of a ponzi scheme really.

Every time a senior FO upgrades they will move above you on the reserve list. If you live in base it's tolerable but just make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

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SGS233

Any thoughts, please, as to whether (or not) the long reserve times for DEC's might be the same at PSA and Piedmont?

During a recent virtual info session it was suggested that reserve times for a DEC at Piedmont would only be a matter of months, not years.

(Perhaps due to the smaller pilot group?)

Just looking to confirm that from the pilot-side of things vs what it is that a recruiter is putting out.

Many thanks!

Slow2Final

I'd be truly amazed if that were the case at any regional airline, WO or not, unless they were on the precipice of disappearing (as in days, not even months or years).

Anyone who has spent any time at a 121 carrier and understands how seniority works should understand the idea of a DEC holding a line in months is laughable.

BigZ

reserve time is a function of how many were hired behind you.
last time around, the guys on the front side of the DEC group did okay, the ones on the back side of it did a stint as FOs after covid downgrade.
same for reserve - some only did a brief stint there, some - see above. Function of where exactly you fall on that DEC timeline

LivinMyBestLife

It’s hard to argue with this post. One would be a fool to oppose this statement. I’d only go as far to say we are in uncharted waters and nothing would surprise me at this point in time.

chihuahua

I have previous 121 and have been out for a few years. I want to come in and be an FO and gain seniority the old fashioned way, then upgrade when the QOL would make it worth it. I guess nobody wants to do it that way anymore though. Kinda concerning when people who havent flown in years are being put straight into the left seat next to some kid who just graduated from Riddle.

pitchattitude

This is valid. And your age and wisdom is showing. Once you get back into things and start getting comfortable with the plane and operation you’ll likely want to hop over to the left seat. The problem is that Envoy is desperate for bodies, especially captains and started displacing to, or forcing upgrade to, captain. You probably won’t get a chance to wait.