Envoy - New hire initially commuting from ORF
 

Hi guys,

I'm new to this site and new to airlines, so I'm really hoping you can give me some insight. Not to bash an old topic, I've already read through all the commuting threads but being new to the airline world I still can't quite work out whether my situation is do-able.

I'm an experience helicopter driver making the change to airlines after 15 years on helo's. Junior fixed wing pilot without any 121 time.

I applied to Envoy and have scored an upcoming interview with them.

As I understand it as the junior guy I'll spend maybe 6-12 months on reserve.

With this in mind and going forward is commuting from ORF do-able with Envoy? If so what is the best base to bid for out of training to make it work?

I plan to move to basing in about 18 months time but I'm kinda stuck in ORF for the next 18 months until my wife finishes off med-school here in ORF.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Piedmont

Filler

Of the three bases, ORD and LGA would be better choices than DFW for the ORF commute. It's doable, but not ideal.

Thanks for the replies so far.

The plan is to move to DFW in 18 months but I'll have to suck up commuting in the short term. So Envoy makes sense if I can make it work in the meantime (assuming I even get hired, I guess it's not hard to balls up my interview).

It's not so much spending extra days away commuting that worry me, having regularly being deployed away on 4-6 month firefighting or SAR helicopter contracts I'm used to it. I just don't want to put myself in a position where I can't make it to work on time while I'm commuting.

If anyone wants to PM me rather than post on here that'd be great.

Cheers.

LGA out of Norfolk is pretty easy. Anything else out of that airport...not so much. Good luck!

You'll be fine. Plenty of AA mil types in and out of ORF.

LGA will be best bet at first at eagleflight. They say they're expanding there

Hello,

I currently commute from ORF too, I live in the OBX. I am at SkyWest based in MSP. There is actually direct flights to and from here early and late that make it an easy one leg commute. There is also direct DTW and ORD (all SW bases). I can't speak to Envoy but I have been really beyond impressed with SkyWest. And the QOL makes the non-bonus pay more than worth it I think. We plan to move soon too and having 14 domiciles to choose from was one of the main reasons I picked SW. If you have any questions about them let me know. Otherwise best of luck and say hey if you see a Sw'er trying to JS out of ORF!

First, congrats on the interview! You will do great...let us know if you have any questions.

As for your commute, ORD or LGA would be fine from ORF. However, if you do plan on moving to DFW just get that base in training if you can. If not, you can transfer within a few months.

check your PM

I used to know a couple eagle pilots in the tide water region who preferred the commute to LGA. ORD is also doable. As a back up to your ORF commute my friend would sometimes head to Richmond for more frequency since you only pay 1$ a day to park. Best of luck on the interview.

I really appreciate the info and PM's in such a short period.

If anyone has anything else to add that'd be great.

Cheers, Jimmy

I know our future isn't to great , but go to awac and drive to work

Hi Schmohawk, I'm not USN, I'm just a dirty contractor that happens to live in ORF doing SAR work in B412's and firefighting in 212's in the USA and abroad.

Do LGA asap it's an easy commute and that route is extremely likely to be all envoy when you hit the line. Early and evening flights making an easy commute. Welcome and see ya in Ny

Not to derail the thread but I wouldn't say that AWAC doesn't have a great future. It's just uncertain. The current regional pilot staffing situation makes any qualified 121 pilot a highly prized commodity. Air Wisconsin may get a new CBA tied with new aircraft order or transfer or they may be bought out and merged with another regional. I see both scenarios working out OK for the AWAC pilots. A new CBA with new aircraft would mean potential growth and will probably ( it would HAVE to ) include increased compensation. A buyout/merger won't be a staple job thanks to the Alleghany-Mohawk Labor Protection Law and which ever company they merge with will likely already have better pay in place.

There is going to be a lot of change in the regional industry in the coming years. But fortunately for pilots, those changes are being driven by the need for pilots and their lack of supply. That will mean that whatever chances take place, their pilot group will never have to fear losing their job.

And again, at the risk of further derailing this thread, I disagree. I think AWAC isn't going to find much flying beyond 2018. With American opening LGA for Envoy, PHL for Piedmont, and soon DCA for PSA, I'd say that's a pretty clear signal that AWAC isn't going to fly for American beyond their current contract. Why would someone buy them and merge them when it is much cheaper to just end their contract and force their pilots to either start over at another regional or move on to something better? Pilots are a commodity but they do still have a price. And who is going to be willing to pay the price for a top-heavy pilot group? It just doesn't make much sense from a financial perspective. There are a lot of changes coming... And I think as regionals shrink and fail, the American WO regionals will prosper.

Well, one day, in a crappy overnight, one guy is going to owe the other guy a beer.

First rounds on me!

Just wanted to say thanks to all who pm'd me and posted on here with info.

Had my interview yesterday and secured a pre-offer. Hoping to start in Nov.

Thanks again.

Feel free to pm me. We may be flying together down the road. Welcome to ny.

Welcome aboard! Word of advice, if you do want DFW eventually, bid for the 145 or 175 on day one of indoc. The CRJ is ORD only, and FOs can only change fleets when they upgrade or if they get displaced. If you want DFW ASAP, go Brazilian.

Hi Bassmam, thanks.

Yep thats my plan. I'm hoping to get 145 LGA as it works for me for the next 2 years, and even if I can't transfer out to DFW right away after my wife finishes school it will still do-able for me without causing any dramas.

Though as always it's the luck of the draw when we start class, I'll be able to make whatever they give me work.

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone that helped me through the recruiting process to Envoy.

Just got a phone call informing me I passed CA review board, shooting for the Nov 21 class. I have a slight delay due to needing TSA clearances for the ATP-CTP course and Envoy class.

I'm excited for the new challenge of Airlines after having spent virtually my whole career in SAR/firefighting helicopters to date.

Is it common to try and live where you are based? How often would you have to move to try to always live in base? Or is that even possible?

Congrats and welcome!

There are probably more commuters than locals but not commuting is a possibility, that will greatly increase your QOL.