Not too many deadheads, but like Buzzpat said, lots of redeyes. My usual trip is one leg out and one leg back either transcon or the Caribbean. Usually, a redeye on the leg home.

Just curious, why do you not see new guys getting the ER or possibly the domestic 767?

-Fatty

Because once the SLI is concluded, and all the bump and flushing is done, everyone will be holding what their seniority can hold. The reason new hires got the ER was because people like me didn't want to fly it. I'm pretty sure that there are a few guys flying DC-9s and A320s in MSP who would like to change planes.

The domestic 767 is fully staffed, so new hires won't be going there any time soon. The NYC 7ER category grew by about 50% in 07/08, it was a combination of growth and a dislike of being based in NYC that gave new hires the opprotunity for intl lines so early in their career.

Many pilots hired in 2001 or prior have bid into the NYC 7ER category now that the new hires have filled the reserve lines, 2 man trips and Africa flying. Don't expect to come to Delta as a new hire and hold a line on the ER 2 months after training, it's not likely to be repeated.

If you are willing to sit reserve, the ER may be an option because there is a fair amount of churn at the bottom of the list. Lots of new hires on the ER bid out on the first AE after training.

That's me exactly. Now that my seniority can hold a decent line on the ER in ATL, I may go over there. Along with all the mid-seniority ex-NWers. If you are a DL 07-08 hire on the ER, you can expect to be on reserve for a long time.

I'll second this. As much as I've come to dislike commuting, I think It is a higher QOL than sitting reserve in base with my last carrier.

But as I said, if you're wanting to come here its best to see what worst case scenario is, and make your decisions based on that. If it ends up being better, you'll be that much happier.

If you are DL 07-08 hire based in ATL you will be on reserve a long time on any category except the M88.

I will agree with that. There will be an influx of people here shortly to the ER and 767. Literally 100's of pilots that finally bid it as the new hires has filled the reserve duty. It is all about QOL. I get three of four weekends off sitting senior reserve on the 767 in ATL. If that changes I will go to an airplane I can sit senior reserve on. One or two trips a month is enough.

Are you saying I can get the ER or 767 in ATL on this next AE. Do you have any idea how the ER guys life on reserve is (do they get used alot)?

Dude.

No one knows how the next AE will go. Just a guess, widebodies will start going more serior, but who knows.

Go to the category list and pull up some junior guys schedules and you can see how much the reserve guys are doing.

IMO the 88 is a shrinking category, don't expect movement on it. I'm actually moving down on the list % wise. Feb. of 08 we had 470 FO's, now we're down to 390 FO's in ATL! But at least the ALV is up so we can work even more! <joke>

quick question...where does delta do their training???

My understanding was that Delta is understaffed and the Maddog was taking the hit. fully staff everything else, to the expense of the Maddog manning. This would explain some of the loss. JMO

The wisest thing I've done so far is, "Bid where you want to live, then the a/c you don't mind flying". If you're on 1st year pay, it doesn't matter if it's 7ER or MD, it all pays the same anyway. Once you're in the base you can commute, then your QOL improves significantly, and then you can worry about if it's the maddog or the 73 or the 75/76.

Unless you have the SJS, then it's another story:)

For the most part in Atlanta at the Delta training building on the Delta "Campus". When they are overloaded, they will use other training facilities. Usually with their own instructors. I`ve been schooled at Long Beach, others have gone to American schools and simulators.

I'm a Jan 2001 hire, that's why I can hold a decent line, but thanks for the head's up! ;)

I'm a March new hire - NYC ER. Last month I flew two 4 day and two 3 day trips. Sat short call one day. Total of 77 hours for the month. I commute from PDX - one mainline flight a day, so I usually come out the day prior. I don't like to sit around the crash pad so I yellow slip as much as possible.

I have a line for October - two four day trips (GRU) a three day (AMS) and another three day that starts on the 31st. Only 65 hours so I white slipped another four day trip. Will most likely be back on reserve in November.

The nice thing about ER flying in JFK is that we have only one early morning departure (01:10 to GEO) and one mid morning departure (08:50ish to LHR) - all the rest of the SCEHDULED rotations report after noon. And all but the return from LHR get back in time for my 19:30 departure back home. On a typical day, the reserve usage is pretty predictable - and if you only have one day of reserve left, there is not much that you can be used for. There are usually a number of reserve lines that have chunks of days off (such as two 6 or 7 day chunks); that helps with the commuting. Even with my trans-con commute, I have found my QOL to be pretty good so far.

Still looking forward to that SEA and PDX ER flying though!

And the word from the think tank is lots of Dead heading for the first few year. Of course they admit that if there is a long fence that could change. As we all know it is about the money.

As a commuter, deadheading isn't all that bad - can you say deviate?

The problem (if you want to call it that) with lots of deadheading in the ER is that the trips start to get pretty long. For rest reasons we usually have a overnight layover before or after a deadhead. A three day ER trip with a DH at both ends is now a five day trip.

Yes, and if these things get back at say three in the afternoon in SEA the next flight is a red-eye back to the east coast. Lots of fun there.

It's been about a week now...any update on the AE?....still middle of Oc? Since there haven't been any new hires, how can there be movement if there's noone to replace positions vacated?

Still hearing probable middle of Oct. and very likely by the end of Oct. The movement is from the 777's and then some backfill. It sounds like there will be spots that will need to be filled in by either new hires or by surplus northwest guys. I heard 150-200 guys for the summer 09 schedule as of last week. Hopefully we will see some new hires on property soon. With the strike at Boeing orders are being pushed back and that is an unknown with everything. We shall see, hoping for the end of next week.

The notes from the chat with Steve and Tony indicate that the aircraft on order are planned to be at least two months late.

That was the plan, we will see what actual is. They may do an AE with a nine to twelve month conversion window. The can do it for up to a year.

let's ease up on the unhappy discussion until after the SLI is released, shall we?

Winston, lighten up. Banter on this site isn't going to affect the SLI. Much bigger fish to fry.