Regionalsuck

That is true.. but if scheduling didn’t do their job properly the day prior (normal ops around here) or that S1/2/3 pilot calls in sick. Also a regular occurrence because they don’t want to do it either, or a commuter that got it unexpectedly and won’t get there, then you are called two hours prior on a RAP to do that full 8 hour standby shift. It happens a lot.

On the other end I have been called to come in to the airport for 30 minutes on the end of a shift at 9:30pm.. which also sucks and is a complete waste of time and money (especially around NYC). It’s ridiculous. Crew Schedling here is atrocious and notorious for garbage like this.

Blackhawk

See, I've done both as well. I get what you are saying. I've had some hard jobs and being an airline pilot is not one of them.

The thing is, however, there is a big difference between airline and military flying, especially the acceptable risk. You can see this in the safety culture and the accident rates. The last fatal crash involving a US airline was what... seven years ago? The last fatal military crash was how many days ago? We still discuss the factors that lead to Colgan 3407, in the Army I saw factors that lead to past crashes still present years later.

Much of this has to do with the public. Again, people outside the airlines still discuss and remember Colgan 3407. Military crashes from 2009? Please.

This cultural difference is especially prevalent in crew rest rules. The Army plays lip service to crew schedules and giving crews adequate rest. Heck, I remember the Army waking me at 0530 for chow (because the Army eats breakfast at 0530 ya know), then telling me to "rest" in a crowded, noisy hanger for a 2000 NVG launch and fly until 0800 then passing out under my aircraft on the tarmac as it's being fueled. The airlines learned a while ago that it falls under the "bad" column when crews start hallucinating due to fatigue. Flying seven days in a row with chicken plate, many of them with NVGs. Wake up tomorrow at 0300 for an early NVG mission, the next day try to sleep in for a late mission. Only knowing what day it is by the crap served in the chow hall.

Now when I say "airlines", perhaps I should clarify by saying "airline unions". It's not that management is bad or wants to be unsafe. Fatal crashes are bad for business. It's just that they have competing interests, so unions have stepped in and pushed for better (safer), work rules. No more "8 hour reduced rest with a 1.5 hour van drive in each direction to the hotel". They fought for the FAA interpretation that reserve is not rest. The better airlines now have pretty good hotels. The ones at my airline use to suck until we had a female FO attacked by someone hiding under her bed, followed a little later by a crew observing a gang hit at a Waffle House across the street from their hotel. Now the union and the company work together on hotels. Most are pretty good.

I could go on. But just because our last job sucked does not mean this job should suck just a little less.

Knobcrk1

I would hope so man.... especially since the military and flying a plane for a regional are not the same at all.

I’ve heard military guys say they’d rather be in Afganistan than have to endure regional schedules. True story. Although it came from a tanker pilot.

Blackhawk

Would I rather be in the front of an air conditioned cockpit where I need only press a magical button and a cold Diet Coke will appear and the greatest hazard I face is the van ride to the hotel, or would I rather be in a 120 degree cockpit wearing chicken plate, shoving frozen 1Ltr bottles of water under my flight vest in an attempt to stay cool, worrying if this is the mission I get to test out my IR suppressors against that new Iranian IR MANPAD... hmmmm... let me ponder that one.

HardLemonade

I don't know what's worse. That an ex military guy would say that..or that someone would actually believe him.

Reminds me of a moustache wearing United pilot who used to hang out at an RC airplane field..and would tell everyone that flying those little remote controlled planes "was much harder than the real thing.."

And every pot bellied RC "pilot" would believe him and feel real proud of themselves.

Blackhawk

BTW, just to clarify. I did absolutely positively nothing heroic in my years of service.

Shadre Reevis

Hello, prior 121 hopeful here. Read and searched around for a few days but still a few questions if a kind soul could chime in. Thanks in advance.

Pay band basically means all pilots are paid at 145 rates correct?

Is there any more information about the CRJ possibly staying?

How senior is MIA 145 CA versus DFW/ORD?

If I'm displaced to CA versus bidding to CA, will that reduce the 2 year equipment lock?

If I don't bid captain but get displaced, do I have any say in what base/aircraft I get? I read something about displacement preferences if someone could please explain, we had nothing like that at the old company.

Sheg0theD

Miami CA went unfilled this past vacancy I believe. I was displaced from the 175 to the 145 this past bid and I am not seat locked since it was a displacement.

As a new hire and someone who meets the requirements to upgrade, you will most likely be “forced into the 145 at LGA” my recommendation would be to bid the 145 initially in indoc and receive the extra 5K bonus on the 145. If you choose to go to the 175, you will be displaced and loose out on 5K and then be in a training night mare.

I have to attend 175 class and then either be pulled out in the middle of class or sent right back to school after I finish my 175 class.

I am still a new hire so as far as your other questions I’m sure someone else can answer them.

I can only relay the situation/scenario we (New hires who are being forced to upgrade) are going through.


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pitchattitude

I'm seriously considering trying to go on a nine month deployment. I figure if I do, then all my peers will have time to make up the 500 hours of military PIC that Envoy wants to use to force me to be a captain. When I come back I'll have gained some seniority and get a say in what I want to do again.

I would much rather be in Somecrackistan than be on reserve in LGA. With the commute, I won't be home anyway so I might as well make some money.

Icaruss

When are the monthly bid results usually published?