ULCC or American?
#163
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: Gear slinger
Posts: 2,884
Definitely AA, especially if you’re not set on a place to live. All coastal Florida towns are pretty much the same, just move to one closer to MIA.
#164
NK 9+ years. Really like it here, good crew to fly with, definitely tired of ROPs (Management calls it IROPs, but if it is the normal mode of operating not sure if you can still call it "Irregular"). Having said that, at least some of that happiness comes from being 20% RS, and with low retirements at the ULCC because of the younger pilot group I would strongly advice you to consider AA. To get off reserve in the left seat at NK you need to get to around 40% RS, and including retirements that would mean at least 6K pilots for NK. How sure are you that is going to happen? Not sure which ULCC you are looking at, but I guess all are somewhat similar in that respect. At AA all the geezers are dropping like flies there are lots of retirements, and because the top 30% of the seniority list is widebody (and fly bigger aircraft) getting of reserve as a NB captain will (i think) be faster. Apply to all, see what you get. I will be here all week, tip the waitress.
Jr captain at NK who is looking at a bare minimum 2 years of reserve ahead. (Already been here 4+)
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#165
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2022
Position: A320 Gear Getter
Posts: 52
Frontier upgrades have come to a crawl as well. Very junior pilot group, very, very few retirements in the next 10 years as a percentage of total pilot group. The only way you move up is growth, massive growth. While F9 will tell you they are growing massively with aircraft deliveries, they still need to get and retain the pilots. They are losing pilots at about the same rate they are hiring them. AA, 15K pilot group. nearly half will retire in the next 7 years. 2K new hires this year, 2K next. People like to talk about the ****ty contract, and that is a fact but the movement at AA can't be argued with. Guys hired this year by the time they hit the line already had 3-400 below them. This year, by the time the early retirements flush out there will be approximately 1000-1100 gone from the top. One guy I know is already 60% in base and hasn't hit the line yet at AA. Not saying where you should go, but this is some info to consider. Interview everywhere, remember you don't have a decision to make until you have a job offer. Even then, if a prettier girl asks you out you can always jump in her bed later.
#166
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2022
Position: A320 captain
Posts: 91
Aspiring to a seat in a widebody is a commonly held goal, but I wonder if it's all it's cracked up to be. Widebody aircraft are beautiful awesome machines, and to be in command of one would be really cool. But then there's the lifestyle that goes with it. Back side of the clock flying and week long pairings, and the trips to the sim for landing currency. Most guys that love to fly, love the takeoffs and landings. Of course some days on narrow body aircraft are ridiculous and exhausting with legs in excess of 3 or 4, and my own experience is solely narrow body flying so I'll be interested if anyone with a few years on a widebody fleet would provide some better insight.
#167
Aspiring to a seat in a widebody is a commonly held goal, but I wonder if it's all it's cracked up to be. Widebody aircraft are beautiful awesome machines, and to be in command of one would be really cool. But then there's the lifestyle that goes with it. Back side of the clock flying and week long pairings, and the trips to the sim for landing currency. Most guys that love to fly, love the takeoffs and landings. Of course some days on narrow body aircraft are ridiculous and exhausting with legs in excess of 3 or 4, and my own experience is solely narrow body flying so I'll be interested if anyone with a few years on a widebody fleet would provide some better insight.
#168
The 30%? Pulled it out of the nether region.
#169
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2021
Posts: 84
Aspiring to a seat in a widebody is a commonly held goal, but I wonder if it's all it's cracked up to be. Widebody aircraft are beautiful awesome machines, and to be in command of one would be really cool. But then there's the lifestyle that goes with it. Back side of the clock flying and week long pairings, and the trips to the sim for landing currency. Most guys that love to fly, love the takeoffs and landings. Of course some days on narrow body aircraft are ridiculous and exhausting with legs in excess of 3 or 4, and my own experience is solely narrow body flying so I'll be interested if anyone with a few years on a widebody fleet would provide some better insight.
- fewer days at work
- fewer legs per day (usually 1)
- longer layovers
- more interesting destinations
- rest period every leg
- higher hourly rate
- usually commutable (late shows, early releases)
#170
Screen Toucher
Joined APC: Sep 2017
Position: F/O
Posts: 182
Frontier upgrades have come to a crawl as well. Very junior pilot group, very, very few retirements in the next 10 years as a percentage of total pilot group. The only way you move up is growth, massive growth. While F9 will tell you they are growing massively with aircraft deliveries, they still need to get and retain the pilots. They are losing pilots at about the same rate they are hiring them. AA, 15K pilot group. nearly half will retire in the next 7 years. 2K new hires this year, 2K next. People like to talk about the ****ty contract, and that is a fact but the movement at AA can't be argued with. Guys hired this year by the time they hit the line already had 3-400 below them. This year, by the time the early retirements flush out there will be approximately 1000-1100 gone from the top. One guy I know is already 60% in base and hasn't hit the line yet at AA. Not saying where you should go, but this is some info to consider. Interview everywhere, remember you don't have a decision to make until you have a job offer. Even then, if a prettier girl asks you out you can always jump in her bed later.
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