Delta Mad Dogs in NYC
 

I'm sitting at 85% on the NYC 800 and thinking about my displacement bid. If I get bumped, I imagine it'll be to the Mad Dog, so here's my question for the 88 pilots:

How is it?
Are ya happy?
Is most of your flying out of LGA?
Where do you go?

Ok, so those are four questions. If I were a smart man, I'd've fallen in love with a career in an industry that isn't always teetering on the edge of collapse.

I would not worry about being displaced. I think the NYC pilots will move up with all the 765 time coming to town, even with some NWA pilots bidding into some of those spots.

Agreed. Crew Resources sees a lot of FO's upgrading to CA on this bid in NYC.

Frank, I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't
work hard enough on defence. And he says that lots of
times, you don't even run down court. And that you
don't really try . . . except during the playoffs.

It seems as if you want to get out of NYC, you have to AE not MD or VD, like those at the end of the ER list? Trying to get to DTW, yeah I live in MI (for right now) so it is a no brainer.

I'm not a NY guy but I'll throw my 2 cents in on the Maddog...Its a very good airplane. Lots of power, quiet cockpit, FMS and IRU's. Downsides- autothrottles are touchy, smallish cockpit, trips. It has no problem stopping (another bad rap) I know there is a lot of misinformation on this jet but I will tell anyone that its a good jet. If you have a chance to make Capt and its on the Maddog, DO IT!

11 yr MD vet
now CVG ER A (for now)

To answer the OP's question ... on this January bid, here is the breakdown for the MD-88 NYC.

5 % of the trips were EWR
76 % of the trips were LGA
19 % of the trips were JFK

Of the LGA trips ... only 14 of 159 trips had the chance of being commutable on both ends. I drive to work, but most guys will tell you that our trips aren't commutable. So a 4 day trip is easily a 5 and more likely a 6 day trip.

Also, folks don't like having to cover 3 airports. If you are a commuter, that can be a real pain if you don't have a local car to drive. It really sucks when you're at your crashpad in Queens on reserve and you get called out to Newark. You just won a non-refundable $85 cab ride ... one way. Good times.

What about the 73N trips? I'll still be on the 765, but with half the category gone, it may not be worth it. Thinking of chasing the airplane to NYC, but I figure if I am going to cummute, then maybe I should bid 73 captain.

The nice thing about the 88 is MOST trips are at LGA. As previously stated, not many of the trips are commutable on both ends. I commute on the shuttle, and they still aren't commutable.

I have to say the worst thing is the EWR trips. They are a harder commute for me, and they tend to have 6-7AM sign ins. They also usually get done around 10PM. Not only does that mean you need a crashpad on both ends, you also have to do the EWR shuffle all the way from your crashpad. (that can probably take 2hrs each direction from the LGA or Kew Gardens area)

Thanks for the insights, folks.

Regarding the 73N trips, they're mostly JFK - based, and many are commutable. It's a good life.

Thanks. I was looking at that yesterday. Think it might be my best choice.

Questions for the NYC guys from an other-base Mad-dogger

The generally accepted definition of “immediately available” for NYC reserve guys is 3 hours, correct? And my understanding is that is from your CLOSEST co-terminal, not all 3 airports? Not really wanting NYC M88, but with my position on the big list (read: I can touch the bottom with my toesies) I may have very little say in the matter.

I will echo the sentiments of the other MD drivers - it’s a generally good airplane that gets a bad rap. Its certainly quirky - but once you learn its quirks, it’s a pretty good plane.

I agree. Its not a bad jet.
I think you left out two big PITAs though.

1. The packs can't keep up on a hot day. (you sweat your *** off)
2. The brakes chatter. Sometimes horribly.

I'm pretty sure it's a 2-hr limit for shortcall. Isn't it 3-hrs for LA?

Regarding the heat and the chatter, (1) I'm used to the Persian Gulf, and (2) I can't land worth a damn, anyway. :)

Here's another "Would someone do my homework for me" question: Do voluntary placements get pay protection? I'm seriously considering VDing off the 73 and going to the 88 so I can be in the upper half of a seniority listing for once in my life.

Weekends off, you will be mine!

I don't see how anyone can say they are X percentile in a category. This AE has people of extremely high seniority being displaced. That is going to cause displacement shuffling all the way down to the bottom.

The MD-88 isn't a bad gig if you don't mind flying 4-5 legs a day, possibly driving or commuting to Newark, and/or rarely having a commutable trip. That is the reality of the MD-88.

I'm writing this message from my hotel. We've had a 5am sign-in at Newark, two 4:15 am bus pickups from the hotels, and tomorrow we get picked up at 6am. Each day had 4 legs and the elapsed time from bus pickup to arriving at the next hotel was 12-14 hours. You certainly do work a lot here.

If you are senior enough to get Boston shuttle trips (yes, they're going senior now), you work up to 5 legs a day with almost no chance of making money on the trip (too much credit) and routinely there are short layovers. I have pushed the minimum time behind the hotel door many times.

Right now the trips are manageable because the ALV is down. But once the summer gets near, you'll be working your butt off.

My two cents.

I'm x percent as of right now. I'm sure I'll get bumped down the ladder by this displacement. In fact, I'm concerned about getting bumped off the 73 altogether, which is why I asked my initial question.

But your reality check is making me think I don't wanna VD into the 88. I may sit a lot of reserve, but I love the flying.

Thanks for your $0.02.

I wasn't trying to throw spears your way ... I'm just trying to point something out.

We have no idea how this is going to go. Why? Because we don't know the intentions of the former Northwest pilots. If it was just legacy Delta guys, we'd have a better idea of our commuting / moving habits.

With so many high level jobs being displaced and moved, things could get very wacky. For example, maybe there's a mass exodus from the north to Atlanta? Maybe the MSPers stay but DTW move? Perhaps a lot of former Northwest bubbas see this as their chance to finally hold Captain or to fly big iron in NYC?

There are so many variables. It is mind boggling.

I think the phrase (I think it's corny but so true) ... bid what you want, want what you bid. But we better have our MDs set up if it gets ugly.

How much of the new LGA flying will be MD-88 A320 and DC-9?

VD's do not get pay protected. Think of a VD like an AE bid, but to get it you are using the system seniority of the guys junior to you getting MDed.

No pay protection for a voluntary displacement.
If you really think you will get bumped off the 737 then MD is definitely better. No freeze, plus pay protection.

10,000 block hrs out of NYC on the 88. That is over double FWIW. Not sure if NYC crews will fly all or most of it though.

All right. Thanks for helping me think through my MD plan:

#1: M88B NYC
#2: DC9B DTW

Sure hope I get to stay on the 800. I like those West Coast trips.

Are there any cheap Hotels in Newark.

The EWR Marriott used to have a $65 (thereabout) rate for crews. Nice hotel and easily half of the nearest hotel. Plus its on the airport property so no need to wait half hour for a van.

Actually stayed at the EWR Sheraton a few days ago, and inquired about the DAL rate - they said $67.

Any decent hotels w/good crew rates near JFK or LGA?

Its been a few years but back then there was nothing near LGA for less than $100. JFK had some deals but some of the hotels were really nasty. The EWR deals were the best of the three airports. Sad, because I hated EWR more than the rest so I never bid trips out of there.

I love the signature that someone has on here that says "the best part about EWR is V1."

The MD-88 trips sound tough, but are they efficient? I would rather work an efficient trip and have more days off per month.....

You should always have credit for each day you fly. I think its 5:15.

But the trips are very rarely commutable.

Thanks again for your inputs, fellas. I didn't get bumped, but more SA is always a good thing.