For those at AWAC,

What is the current situation regarding commuting at AWAC? Definitely tough as it used to be (based on old posts) or getting any better. I live in Indy and was considering PHL or DCA. Early shows, late finishs?

Thanks a lot

Skull

 

Hi Skull! I am at AWAC and commuted out of IND from Jan to late Sept last year before moving to the burbs around DCA. Here is a snippet from our commuter clause:
I dunno how it is now, but there were 9 non-stops a day M-F between IND and PHL, 3 on Pinnacle and 6 on AWAC/Chautauqua/Republic. Saturday dropped down to about 5 nonstops, and Sunday was 7 I think. Pinnacle flights actually worked out best for me usually (one left IND at 0900 and one left PHL at 1840) and those guys were ABSOLUTELY GREAT about getting me to work and home. Between IND and DCA there used to be 7 flights, 3 NWA/Pinnacle and 4 mainline US/AWAC. Once again, I don't know how it is anymore. Try www.passrider.com to get a better idea on timing of flights.

Our schedules are not very good for commutability...then again not many places have good schedules these days. The good news is you can make a semi-early show (10am)and get home with a semi-early finish (1830) and normally have two shots each way living in Circle City. Off the top of my head, there are (at least) 4 AWAC pilots that commute out of IND along with a half dozen-ish mainline pilots. There used to be a few more AWAC FOs commuting out of IND...but they bailed to RAH earlier this year!

Lots of IND overnights now that Chautauqua has cut way back on their US Airways Express 50 seat flying...in fact I have 4 IND overnights later this month. Sleeping in your own bed always helps with the QOL...good luck!

 

BoilerUP,

Thanks a lot for your reply. The details are extremely helpful. I would not mind being there the night before but being able to get back home on my last day would be a big plus. Anyway, I am not there yet and let see if I can get a shot with AWAC any time soon. I will try to meet with them at the Chicago Job Fair in August .

Fly safe and thanks again

Skull

 

The vast majority (but not 100%) of our 3 & 4 day parings allow for either a late check-in on Day One or an early checkout on Day Last.

 

That depends on where you are based. I think PHL is better that way.

I am in DCA and bid very senior. Right now I have not been commuting so it doesn't matter. But out of DCA there are a lot of trips that start early on the first day and finish around 8 PM on the last day. Of course, the last day will have 6 legs and finish right around 8 PM, when the last flights out leave.

I think PHL is better for the schedules, but DCA is otherwise not bad.

 

I commute out of MSP, So far, in the last 2 months, I have only not made it home on the last day 1 time (although last night was a magic show, I still made it home). It all depends on what you make of it. To me, it is worth living where I want to live, instead of paying the high cost of living in our domiciles, and not really liking being there anyways.

 

Anybody commute out of PHL - PBI/FLL? How are the loads on those particular legs?

 

We have a couple people that do that, and they say it isn't bad. There are a ton of US flights a day to FLL and WN also does its share.

 

And that is exactly the reason I am moving back to the Midwest. Even when I am off work in domicile it's not "Home" and never will be. The days off between a trip are just waiting for the next trip to start.

Besides, living out east is too spendy.

That said, there are a couple easy commutable places we fly to which would be cool to live in:

ITH and BTV are nice surprises for the US Airways system. Both are nice and would be easy commutes to PHL.

 

How does a commuting pilot schedule these required flights? Is it using a pass, jumpseating, etc? Certainly you're not paying for it, right?