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Take the job, get a seniority number then put in for a leave of absence. Within the bounds of legality and morality of course.

 

Heyas,

My $0.02....

If you have a family, it's going to be hard to beat MSP. Very clean, relatively low crime, and fantastic schools. Lots of outdoorsy stuff to do when it's not bitterly cold, which is really only 3-4 months of the year.

The 'burbs south of the river (Dakota County...Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville), or out east (Woodsbury), are practically the definition of clean cut family life, and none of it is more than 30-40 minutes from the parking lot.

And it looks like MSP is going to be in the running as a junior base, so you'll get a line quicker, and probably be able to hold larger equipment without moving.

Downsides is that cost of living is higher than you'd expect (even higher than ATL), and the winter climate is ugly if you don't like the cold.

But for family man, it's hard to beat.

Nu

 

Were all of these new hires, or some recalls? Looks like 58 assignments, looks like a pretty big class! Welcome!

 

The Sept 6 Class invite just went out (Class 10-02). Woo-hoo!

 

MD88 is good if you want to be flexible with your basing options. Its everywhere east of the Mississippi save Detroit. There is no "base lock" here - only a "seat lock" (aircraft and seat - i.e. FO/CA) - and you're not locked on your first aircraft. If you get the 88, you could theoreticaly move to a different base on every bid they put out. You could start in MSP, then move to NYC to when you could hold a line, then move back to MSP when you could hold a line there, then down to ATL when you decide you want to commute from Birmingham, then up to CVG so you wouldn't be locked on your next aircraft after they Mandatory displace you when the base closes.

As far as CVG goes, its a great place to live, but a rotten place to commute to/from. Only 2 or 3 departures a day to most cities served - which isn't many now. No mainline to DTW or MSP, only a few to NYC, and only like 4 or 5 to ATL. There's also no SWA/Jetblue/airtran here as a back up. I think most of the based commuters (lived elsewhere and commuted to CVG) have moved out by now. Only commuters left will be guys that live here and got kicked out of the base. Probably a moot point anyway - there were only 3 unfilled spots in CVG from the last bid (all m88 fo.) They may have already been taken by bypass guys. Anyone from the first 2 bypass classes know if any of the bypassers took a CVG spot?

 

I read here that M88 F/Os in MSP have it pretty good...wonder why MSP would be getting new hires in M88 then?

 

I believe some will go to flow ups who are being held at Compass/Mesaba for a few months.

 

When your junior, your best QOL is going to be on a junior aircraft in a junior base. That's MSP -88 F/O or NYC -88 F/O. Just depends on what one is looking for in terms of what is best.

Also MSP -88 is not only a new category, but more specifically a new category in a junior aircraft. Senior guys that are already flying 320's,737's, and 757/767's aren't going to be jumpin at the bit for those seats. The -88 pilots already on property are probably in their bases for a reason ( Live in ATL or in the NorthEast)...so really who's left to bid those seats other than new hires.

Personally I think it's the best choice ( depending on where one lives) for a new hire as things stand. We'll have to see how things pan out on this next A.E.

 

If anyone is wondering and waiting for their OK to train letter, they are going out around 3 and 1/2 weeks from the interview date right now.

 

Is the CTT and class date notification via call or letter (thought it was a call)? I am right about 4 weeks and have seen/heard neither (nor has any in my interview class that I know of). Thanks!