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E175 new hire questions re. SEA

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E175 new hire questions re. SEA

Old 03-04-2018, 03:52 PM
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Default E175 new hire questions re. SEA

Hello all. I just got hired for the jet and had some questions about being based in SEA. I'm a military rotor transition guy, so I won't start ATP/CTP until July most likely.

I'm vaguely familiar with that area, having been stationed in Alaska off and on for 7 years and always travelling through. I know about some of the places to avoid, but I don't think I know enough about the area to pick a good place to live.

I thought I should stay within about 1.5 hours driving distance, if possible. Pretty expensive real estate you got there however.

Anyone out there using the Bremerton/Southworth ferries to reliably commute from there? I like the Gig harbor/Port Orchard area, but I might be underestimating that commute time.

Is there something else that I should be considering? Very open to suggestions at this point.

Thanks
Mike
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Old 03-04-2018, 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by mcm114 View Post
Hello all. I just got hired for the jet and had some questions about being based in SEA. I'm a military rotor transition guy, so I won't start ATP/CTP until July most likely.

I'm vaguely familiar with that area, having been stationed in Alaska off and on for 7 years and always travelling through. I know about some of the places to avoid, but I don't think I know enough about the area to pick a good place to live.

I thought I should stay within about 1.5 hours driving distance, if possible. Pretty expensive real estate you got there however.

Anyone out there using the Bremerton/Southworth ferries to reliably commute from there? I like the Gig harbor/Port Orchard area, but I might be underestimating that commute time.

Is there something else that I should be considering? Very open to suggestions at this point.

Thanks
Mike
planning on buying a house? Renting? And for how long? If that's going to be your forever house the answer is different than if you are looking for a place to be within easy reserve call of SEA.

Bremerton/PT Orchard isn't out of the question for living with a line but it's real dicey for short call reserve. You can walk on at Bremerton and get off the ferry within walking distance of the Kink light rail which will take you to SEA in maybe 35 minutes or so, but even when the ferries run once an hour, the rude itself is almost an hour, so if you just miss the last one you wait until the next one and then the hour and then the Link light rail.....

Southworth service is even less frequent and leaves you in West Seattle. I know some pilots who live on Vashon, but you basically have to stand reserve in West Seattle or Tacoma. Proctor district in Tacoma is a hidden jewel, but pricey. Avoid the hilltop area of Tacoma (drugs/gangs) and the Burien area (different gang, Ukrainian). Gig Harbor would probably doable on reserve, Enumclaw and Buckley area too. Browns Point area is nice but Seattle proper is a pretty hot housing market right now and the prices have been seriously bid up. Maybe not by NYC standards,but certainly in comparison to the rest of Horizon domiciles.

If you are going to be on reserve very long you might consider just getting an apt or rental in Kent, Auburn, Maple Valley. Renton and Federal Way used to be OK, but they've gotten a little rough recently. Or if you like the urban scene, anywhere within walking distance of the light rail. Even from its present northern terminus, it'll get you to SEA in 45 minutes. Expect to pay through the nose for a decent apartment along that route though.
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Old 03-05-2018, 07:45 AM
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I live in in East Kent right now, and it's perfect for reserve, but the cost isn't worth it just for a few months on reserve. If I had the ability to (SO's job isn't as flexible), honestly I'd move to the Everett/Lake Stevens/Snohomish area or up to Bellingham. It's a bit of a drive, but there is a cheap shuttle bus from Bellingham right to the terminal at SeaTac (or jumpseat).

Everett (and surrounding area) is still mildly affordable, and it sounds like some trips may potentially start in Everett (I haven't heard for sure what the plan is on that). Just my .02.
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Old 03-06-2018, 12:46 PM
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Thanks for the replies. That's good advice about Bellingham. Seems like from there I would have multiple ways to commute. It's a little far for sitting reserve I'm sure. Like I said, I'll be on the jet, and it sounds like my reserve time could be extensive.

Does Horizon currently service Everett or is that just something in the works? The AS route map only shows Bellingham, Wenatchee, and Yakima as the closest connections.
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Old 03-06-2018, 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by mcm114 View Post
Hello all. I just got hired for the jet and had some questions about being based in SEA. I'm a military rotor transition guy, so I won't start ATP/CTP until July most likely.

I'm vaguely familiar with that area, having been stationed in Alaska off and on for 7 years and always travelling through. I know about some of the places to avoid, but I don't think I know enough about the area to pick a good place to live.

I thought I should stay within about 1.5 hours driving distance, if possible. Pretty expensive real estate you got there however.

Anyone out there using the Bremerton/Southworth ferries to reliably commute from there? I like the Gig harbor/Port Orchard area, but I might be underestimating that commute time.

Is there something else that I should be considering? Very open to suggestions at this point.

Thanks
Mike
You might also consider going South, Olympia, Tumwater, even a little further. RE still not overly affordable, but definitely more economical. Ft Lewis/McChord traffic can be brutal, however.
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Old 03-06-2018, 03:50 PM
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Keep going much farther south, and you’ll be paying two rents... one for your home and one for your crash pad.
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Old 03-06-2018, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by DjHubberts View Post
Keep going much farther south, and you’ll be paying two rents... one for your home and one for your crash pad.
There is also Puyallup, University Place, and the Spanaway area. Bonny Lake and Buckley too for that matter. They all have the advantage of being outside King County. Inside King County, you could do reserve from home in Auburn, not as pricey as Kent, but not precisely cheap either.
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Old 03-07-2018, 08:52 AM
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What is the advantage to being outside King county exactly? Taxes I would assume...

I'm going on the assumption that short call reserve is the norm there, and that it's a 2-hour report window from the call to the gate. Do I have that right? I want to make sure that if I find a place close enough to sit reserve from home that I'm calculating the commute time correctly.

Thanks for the advice so far, it's helping a lot to narrow it down.
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Old 03-08-2018, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by mcm114 View Post
What is the advantage to being outside King county exactly? Taxes I would assume...

I'm going on the assumption that short call reserve is the norm there, and that it's a 2-hour report window from the call to the gate. Do I have that right? I want to make sure that if I find a place close enough to sit reserve from home that I'm calculating the commute time correctly.

Thanks for the advice so far, it's helping a lot to narrow it down.
King County is getting out of control with taxes. Just announced a large property tax increase the other day (yahhh).

You are correct on the 2-hour deal. Plus you have to leave time to get to the employee parking and ride the shuttle in, which given that the shuttle is pretty efficient, it's still a trek away.
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Old 03-08-2018, 07:35 PM
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Default Some thoughts on the jet and locations

Originally Posted by mcm114 View Post
Hello all. I just got hired for the jet and had some questions about being based in SEA. I'm a military rotor transition guy, so I won't start ATP/CTP until July most likely.

I'm vaguely familiar with that area, having been stationed in Alaska off and on for 7 years and always travelling through. I know about some of the places to avoid, but I don't think I know enough about the area to pick a good place to live.

I thought I should stay within about 1.5 hours driving distance, if possible. Pretty expensive real estate you got there however.

Anyone out there using the Bremerton/Southworth ferries to reliably commute from there? I like the Gig harbor/Port Orchard area, but I might be underestimating that commute time.

Is there something else that I should be considering? Very open to suggestions at this point.

Thanks
Mike
Hey Mike,

I've been on the jet for a few months now and I really don't think the reserve will be that long. Although you never know, at the moment we are hiring fast but also adding new jets. Paine Field will be served by the jet, according to the Chief Pilot, but in the short term my guess is that it will be a through flight from PDX. In short, I wouldn't buy a house based on an Everett domicile anytime soon.

As far as SEA based living, you really need to check out Gig Harbor. Yes, prices have gone up (they have everywhere else, too), but there's a reason they call it the Airline Ghetto - there are about 700 Air Group employees living here. The numbers speak volumes.

Hope you make a smooth transition to Horizon from the military. It's a good company and getting better. And the E175 is a great aircraft.

Brian
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