Triggerhappy

I'll put it this way, if you don't go home on the weekends when there is nothing left for you to study up and you're good to go, you're a sucker.

EvilGN

I did take the oppurtunity to JS a couple times to my parents house (not my home), but it was one leg, and light loads. I would avoid doing a two legger.

erjpilot7

Since I now know there is no PBS at Mesaba yet, how friendly are reserve and lineholder schedules for commuters? Days off in a row specifically? Is roughly a 4-on, 3-off or 5-on, 2-off schedule common or are there a lot of days off thrown in between 3 and 4 day trips? Is there a stark difference in pairing construction between the bases? Sorry if this has been asked before. This thread is so big it is getting impossible to search. Thanks.

rorwizard

What airplane are you on. If you're on the 900 or the SF3 you should be ok with commuting to reserve because you'll probably only be on reserve for a few months with the way we're hiring people for those aircraft. If you're on the 200... well you might be on reserve for a while. I'm on reserver right now and I did 10 days (the max) of airport reserve this month and wed is my only day off between last Friday and next Sunday. Next month I have one 2 on 4 off one 5 on 3 off one 5 on 2 off and one 6 on 2 off and then 3 on at the end of the month. As for commuting the day of here are the reserve periods:

P1: 500-1900
P2: 1000-2400
P3: 1900-2400 (High speed)

P3 usually goes senior (people that can hold lines bid it because they are rarely called) ... P1 and P2 are a wash. So you'll probably end up commuting the day before and after a stretch of reserve days. Also there is a lot of sitting around in base. I've flown 3:04 this month.

Good luck.

erjpilot7

Thanks for the info. Are you on the 200? I mean, reserve only lasting a few months on the other equipment is good news. I hope hiring stays relatively strong. Is it due to upgrades/expansion with the 900? I mean, I can't imagine too many people are leaving right now.

Is everyone sitting around that much on reserve, or is that something specific to the 200?

stobelma

For nice places check out:
Ann Arbor
Canton
Plymouth
Novi
Pretty much anything west of 275 or north of 96 for the most part. There are some crappy areas around there but I have been pretty happy with that criteria. Not too sure about south of the airport.

EvilGN

I personally wouldn't call having 2 off in between 5 day reserve periods commuter friendly, but its certainly doable, but that also depends on where you are coming from, and if FEDEX is an option for you as well (in MEM of course). Lately I have seen a few more 5 on 3 off, but each line is different.

BroncoBird

I'd reccommend the near north or northwest suburbs. The drive to DTW might be slightly longer (40ish min max dep on traffic), but there is far more to do. I originally come from the "downriver" area, which lies to the east and southeast of DTW. Very close in proximity and nice communities, but not really much to do in terms of activities or nightlife. Now I live in the Troy/Royal Oak area on the north side, and there is plenty to do up there. Little bit more pricey, but you can still find nice apts in the $500-600/month range if you look around.

Ex: Troy, Royal Oak <---(very popular), Ferndale, Rochester, Birmingham, Novi, Canton.

Avroman

Northville and it's Township are also good as well as the west half of Livonia and parts of Westland.

djrogs03

I disagree with your assesment of new hires on the 900 only sitting around on reserve for a few months...been here since January and only held a line once (next month), and I'm still bidding the #2 reserve line i just lucked out cause people want thanksgiving off...I saw 934XJ in MSP the other day so until we start seeing DAL planes on property it's going to be awhile...