freightdude

Hi,

First, thanks to everyone who helps answer my questions. I’m starting training soon and I’ve been looking at this forum quite a bit to gain as much info as I can. Well I’ve found out a lot of stuff, there still is some things I’m looking to find out:

-How long is it taking for someone to hold CLT out of training and is the time trend to hold the base increasing or decreasing? I’m aware this question gets asked a lot and that it changes month to month but I haven’t seen an update since early June. I plan on moving to CLT instead of commuting as I am young and I have no ties holding me. I also have some buddies in NC.

-What is the training outline like and what checkrides or tests are there throughout training? How does AQP really work? I’m coming from a 135 freight background so every one of my rides have been non-AQP. How is the quality of the training?

-When do flight benefits and CASS kick in?

-How does payroll work? Meaning how do they disburse the min guarantee or however much you credit plus your per diem every month?

-What hotels do you stay in during training in DFW, DAY, CVG, and CLT?

-Is there a lot of extra flights you can pick up on your days off overall in the PSA system? How about specifically in CLT?

Thanks again for the help

AboveAndBeyond

- Not sure, someone else will have the time to hold CLT as an FO. I know CLT is growing again (finally!), so it should be getting shorter (in theory). There is a chart that is published monthly with the current time to hold each seat in each base, and the times to hold a line. It changes monthly, and I haven't seen it in a few months, so I don't want to comment on that.

- Training is fine, and depending on where you flew 135 Cargo, you will enjoy it more. I came from 135 cargo as well, and this was much easier. Now, it is all AQP. The "check rides" are divided up a little bit, but it really isn't any better or worse than when it was just a check ride and a LOFT. A little less stress maybe, but that's it. Different terminology but at the end of the day, you have to prove that you can fly the airplane.

- Flight benefits start about 10 or so days in. Your family will be able to use them while you are still in ground school. It depends on background checks and any holidays during that time, but it is pretty quick.

- We get paid on the 5th and 20th. The 5th is 1/2 of min guarantee, and the 20th is the second 1/2 of guarantee plus any overages. The 20th is typically larger. Per diem used to be split, but it just changed and I think it is all on the 20th now. (the change really hasn't taken place yet, expecting it to be the new way when we get paid in a few days)

- Won't share hotel names (security issues), but they are ok. Some are better than others, but the hotel committee and Union do a decent job in insuring that the hotels are all pretty decent. It does change based on availability. When we have several large classes all at once, the typical hotels may not be able to accommodate everyone, so they will move a class to a different hotel, so it changes.

- If you are on reserve and want to work on your days off, there are usually at least some flights that you can pick up for additional money, especially if you move your reserve days around. I used to move my reserve days together and create large gaps of time off (5-6 days in a row) and then pick up extra flying. That is on top of guarantee, and now pays 125% for any flying over 75 hours and 150% for flying over 85 hours. Once you hold a line, you can fly 65 hours or 100 hours, whatever you want. There is typically more open flying in CLT.

Also, if you are based elsewhere, you can still pick up flying in other bases. I upgraded and was based in DCA, and picked up extra flying in CLT on my days off.

freightdude

Thank you very much! That was all really helpful! I know I will definitely enjoy this more than 135 cargo. Loading and unloading the plane (sometimes by myself) with up to 4000 pounds of cargo, moving belt loaders, tugs, cans, with wind chills down to -60 and heat indexes up to 120. It seems to be a lot nicer.