MicrowaveDave

It won't be pretty if it happens. I really thought QX was going under back in 2017.

DashAviator

The FO's in Portland seem to be doing O.K. I feel bad for the ones in Seattle. From what I've heard, there are a whole lot of reserve lines with not much flying.

I've been with Horizon almost 20 years, with 11+ years in the right seat of the Dash during the infamous "Lost Decade" (2001-2012). I feel very lucky not to have been furloughed. There were guys hired around 2008 that spent up to two years on furlough. Some of them came back with interesting tales of flying the Alaska bush, flying in the Philippines, or working any old kind of non-aviation job to pay the bills. The guy that was my sim partner in new-hire training quit and didn't come back.

Just venting... back to the topic at hand.

Another problem with the Q400 is that it typically flys short legs, 1.1 hour on average. I fly 650-700 hours a year as a line holder. My best year was 840 hours in 2002. I think you should expect to spend at least two years as a FO before you have enough hours to upgrade. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, just being realistic.

hydrostream

That was tongue in cheek. Sorry it didn't come across very well

I'm a Portland Q400 FO. I'm quite happy down there, but wish Seattle had vacancies and would compare favorably on our side. It's where I was hoping to be based. Either way life is a lot better than the horror stories.

A few of my buddies went through the 2008 years. It did not look fun.

And yeah, legs are short in the Q. What you don't get in hours you make up for in experience, LoL. Personally I love the plane and the flying.

generic1234

Comments here would lead one to believe Q400 guys are getting the most hours at PDX. Is that also true for very junior FO's/CA's? Recruiter today said MFR is likely first base for a new hire Q400. Are there limited flying opportunities there? That base seems lit a bit of a punching bag on this forum, but I can't tell why. Any insights are appreciated.

hydrostream

Don’t try to predict what’s happening at a base. It changes overnight.

MicrowaveDave

Does anyone know what 401 is doing in Sault Saint Marie since December 30th?

hydrostream

Nevermind.

Erjpilot90

seems odd for sure

Jetlikespeed

it had a pretty bad bird strike, wing spar damaged pretty good. Got some MX in pdx and then was sent to YAM to be inspected and repaired further.

MicrowaveDave

Is that what happened with 448 and 417 as well? They're both in random places.