New Hires - Bases and Reserve Time
 

Ok, so if I am posting this in the wrong spot I apologize, I am new to the forum.

What are the chances of holding Houston out of training?
How long are new hire FO's on reserve.

I am 56 years old pilot living in Houston and looking to make a career change. I have been a GA pilot for 17 years with just under 1500. I always regretted not following my dream into an aviation career so in the current environment I figured I should just go for it. Thus my username.

The best case for me would be to hold Houston, on reserve or holding a line. If I can't hold Houston but am holding a line somewhere else I won't mind the commute. To be honest sitting on reserve and commuting scares me a bit.

Thanks in advance for any feedback and for putting up with my newbie post.

No one knows anything around here anymore. Too much in transition. IAH out of training is probably not likely, probably within 6 months and then on reserve for at least a year I'm guessing. If you absolutely positively need IAH immediately and don't mind paying out the butt for health insurance, try Mesa.

Junior base bounces between EWR and ORD for new hires, but the previous post is correct in that things are currently in flux. IAH out of training is very unlikely, but perhaps possible after 6 months or so. Reserve in EWR has been lasting around 4 months, but IAH will be much longer.

I was afraid what the OP would get as a response. Let me preface what I will write by saying I am hardly an ExpressJet koolaide drinker. Just look at my recent posts.
Having said that, I think we need to look at each individual separately and try to put aside our personal disappointments when we do so. There are some things I see in the OPs background that make me think XJT may be a good fit.
For the OP:
1. Training will probably be outstanding which, if coming from a GA background will be crtitical. Having said that, you must come prepared. Know how to fly instruments. Get in a PI-135 sim with a good instructor. Learn to fly an airplane with a G1000 and a GFC700 autopilot. Learn to fly with the autopilot, w/ the FD but no autopilot, and raw data. You will also have to fly visually with precision, on speed and on target. If you can find a good instructor with a Mooney fly that as well. Learn to fly it on speed and on target, landing where you want on the center line every time. If the instructor is someone who teaches to normally land zero flaps and 90 knots over the numbers that’s the wrong instructor.
2. Your training will most likely be in Houston. This is good and bad. Tell any family there that your training comes first. Consider getting a hotel room if XJT is paying for it.
3. As pointed out you probably won’t get IAH out of training, so you will be commuting to sit reserve at first. Probably ORD.
3. The company is going through... “turmoil”. You could hit the jackpot and things turn around. More likely you realize after a year that this is a sinking ship, you do a lateral move and get a bonus for doing so as a well trained pilot with 121 experience.
Good luck!

I’ve been commuting for over a year. It sucks, but don’t let it scare you. I’ve even two legged before and if you find the right city pairs, it’s a breeze and in my case, sometimes better than fretting over whether you’ll make a nonstop.

Scheduling has also been working with us to the extend they can to help commuters.

Thank you for the reply.

You really do need a new screen name, considering your post. :):rolleyes::eek:


Good luck with the life reset button.

You know how to fly glass cockpit? Don't try this gig without being glass cockpit proficient.

I think the commuting part is what you make it. I admit that I never have on reserve, but those who seem ok with it are the ones who try to make the best of it. Don’t sit around in a crash pad feeling sorry for yourself and watching MASH reruns. Get out. Do something.

Thanks for the good luck wishes. The screen name is because I want to have no regrets so I am "goin for it"

Thanks for the tip.... I will be spending a lot of time in a G1000 aircraft in the coming weeks and months.

Ditto that on hotel RONs too.