AA at DCA: How senior?
 

I may be making the move over to AA soon, and I am wondering how senior DCA is as a base. I do not care if I sit at the very bottom of the reserve list, how senior must you be just to hold it? Thanks!

You're not getting into DCA. 737 int'l base closed eff Oct 1st generated almost 90 displacements in a base of about 270 pilots and forced almost 40 guys to leave the base.

There are FO's, as well as CA's, displaced out of DCA. Until they are recalled you cannot bid into DCA. It doesn't matter if you're the #1 pilot at AA, until the displaced guys are reinstated you will not get a DCA bid.

Yes V, he's right. In fact, It wouldn't surprise me to see DCA eventually close, but right now an F/O slot in any equipment will be beyond the reach of a future new-hire or AE flowthrough.

Your choices will be south to MIA or north to LGA/JFK.

Thanks for the info. I will no longer be able to park there, so commuting is becoming difficult and expensive. I see MCO based crew are facing the same problem.

One AA guy told me they used to have 7-800 pilots there and has shrunk down to less than 300. He say it's about the same amount of flying but other bases are doing it.

Peak was about 550 guys in the late 1990's. Right around 500 in the early 1990's, 1993 furlough dropped it into the 400's, rebounded to around 500 in the late 1990's leading up to 9/11. Dropped below 500 post 9/11, below 400 post the 2003 reduction, and below 300 in 2009. Probably below 250 this fall.

jimtav - why won't you be able to park there? The contract has provisions for you to choose where you want your parking pass.

Only movement in DCA used to be death or retirement....

Due to limited parking space, the airport authority does not let you park in the employee lot if you are not based there.

Ummm.... I'm based in JFK, live in N Va and get a DCA parking pass every year from AA. It appears your info is wrong?