Probably once every month or two I'd either start or end a trip at the Wilson Air Center in CLT. In fact my final trip before going out on medical ended in CLT. 2 minute walk to my car. Also nice for mid-tour dumping of dirty laundry :cool:

Surprised you didn't pick up more at base. DAL is a pretty busy hub for us, much more than CLT. DFW, not so much. Only saw it once or twice. Of course all my time was in the light cabin jets so maybe that had something to do with it.

Most complain and say that riding on the airlines is the worst part of the job. I honestly kind of enjoy that part of the job- it is pretty easy to use KCM to get through security without a fuss and then sit and read or watch Netflix while waiting to board and then read, nap, or watch movies on the flight or flights all while on duty and often collecting overtime. I have zero stress for this. If it is a 3 legger, then it is pretty unlikely that the company is going to be using me to do anything other than travel. Life is vastly better when the glass is half full.

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Half full or half empty perception doesn't make a mid-tour CRJ200, middle seat 737, or last row no window MD ride any better. Some like it for sure but personally I'd rather not spend 20 years in the back of any airliner. I pity the commuting NJA/Flex crowd and feel every worse for the commuting 121 crews. There's a lot to be said for living in base and if pursuing 121 that would be my number 1 criteria. But if you want/have to live in 2BUC2 then having NJA responsible for your lift is a far better option than a commuter clause.

I would absolutely argue that commuting on company, from a major airport, at a 121 is going to be easier, when combined with a 4 day trip, than a 7 day work trip with NJA combined with air lining to and from. Living in base, not even in the same universe lol.

Out of curiosity, how would the “commute” from RDU or ILM be on NJ?

I think ILM is within the 100 bases available for new hires.

I still have my model proudly displayed in my man cave! And the cooler still makes round trips to the lake every summer. I always appreciated Richard and his “gifts” to the employees.



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Best: Drive to a major airline base. By far the best option.

Better: NJA home basing vs. a short airline commute. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Your first and last day will probably be long either way. There is a good chance you will have an uncomfortable day on your NJ commute with center seats and multiple legs, but you're guaranteed to get on and if you don't, not your problem. I personally found my one leg short airline commute with multiple flights a day preferable to the NJA commute, but that is definitely a subjective choice.

Worst: A coast to coast or multiple leg airline commute. It's horrible and I wouldn't do it for more than six months. I would move.

I've flown with pilots from both bases. Pretty easy, you'll see a lot of CLT for connections. In fact 2 RDU based pilots I know tried switching to FAY in an attempt to get more "after midnights" ($$$). Both gave up, they got tired of driving 1+ hour to FAY and then taking a rental car back to RDU for an airline. RDU also has a fair number of direct flights that avoid CLT. ILM is more limited in direct flights so you'll see more of CLT. At the end of one trip, somewhere in TN I think I had a 2 leg airline on DL via ATL to get home when there was a direct flight on USAirways to CLT. The RDU based pilot got the direct flt to CLT with connection to RDU. But I lucked out and a last minute DH Delta crew showed up needing seats so the agent asked me if I'd mind switching to the US direct flight :p

Could not agree more, there are ways to manipulate it a bit but my experience is once you get past any "hotel standby" etc. you are probably not going to get any more calls before your get home. If someone calls me at the airport as I am boarding its going to be "Im fatigued" call on my part. My best advice is figure out what airline they seem to use the most for your base and join one of the airline clubs, they have free food, drinks and internet and are out of the rift raft of waiting at the gate. Plus if you have a family they are awesome when traveling with them, If your in the military reserves most (three majors let you in for free anyway).