So 4-6 months from now, how long of reserve time do you think TYS would be?? compared to CVG

 

No one knows that, unfortunately. It just depends on attrition, hiring, and what lines ASG adds for us.

TYS is a fairly small base, but some captains there will be flowing this summer. In theory, some TYS FOs will upgrade and want those spots, so the should free things up some.

 

Agreed, living in base or within a couple hours drive would make reserve very tolerable and I would without a question bid for that base to avoid commuting. I guess my situation is coming from the commuter perspective. If you already have to commute, than I would have taken the two leg to gain the advantages of a RND 1 line. But hindsight is 20/20 and by the time I figured that out I was knocking on the door of a RND 1 line in CLT and didn't want to mess with it.

 

Why do you say that?

 

TYS is currently, has been, and will likely remain very senior. Right now I think the lowest Rd1 line holder is 1.6 years. Most of the people there live there or driving distance and they like it. Hell, I loved it for the 6 months I was there. Crews are great, airport is great (small and convenient) its really a great place overall. Only reason I left was for the Rd1 line. Its been worth it so far, considering that at TYS on reserve all I ever had was 11 days off, now Im easily holding 18 days off and still crediting 70+ hours.

 

I'm still in training, but already drew CVG as my first base assignment. I live in ATL.

CLT is presently my number one bid preference, and I'm told I can expect to get it soon enough. Commuting from ATL, there's at least 15 direct flights per day (AA and DL) to CLT. And, of course, I can always drive. But, I'm wondering whether I should keep CVG because of the comparatively shorter reserve time. What do those in-the-know think about an ATL to CVG commute? DL has about 7 non-stop flights each day. AA is a two-leg trip for me.

 

You will be able to hold a R1 line in CVG much sooner. Just a guess, but I would say at least 4 months sooner.

With the commuter clause, you can list for 2 direct flights to CVG, or one direct and one "2 leg". If you can't get on either one, then you will be able to rejoin your trip/reserve whenever you can.

Personally, I would give CVG a try, and you can always put in a request to move to CLT if it isn't working for you. But, it is up to you. I love being able to SAP and pick the trips that work best for me.

 

I would stay in CVG until you can hold Rd 1 in CLT then reassess. IMO it would be pointless to move from an easy commute and SAP to a slightly easier commute for reserve. I suspect you will find that you like CVG and the seniority that it provides by the time the Rd1 timeframe for CLT arrives. Have fun...

 

All fine.....but just dont take all of the CVG slots.

 

So, as most of you guys know, during Indoc they have Pay, Scheduling, Safety, and every other department come in and give you a fire hose explanation of their respective roles in your upcoming airline lives... Which is all well-and-good until two months, a bunch of Sims, an Oral, and a checkride later, and you can't remember anything pertinent they may have uttered in those meetings.

Longer-set-of-questions-short: What's the best way to start off IOE on the right foot, and what's the best resource to figure out seemingly simple things like...
1. Where do you go? (I imagine myself like a crying toddler in the airport, the gate agents calling my Captain on the PA system, announcing a lost, scared FO)
2. Where to park and how do you get parking taken care of?
3. How does the call-in system work for IOE? (Call Tuesday, ready to fly Wednesday?)
4. Many others

PM's welcome, but I also know there are others out there with similar questions.