Shuttle QOL in ORD
 

Alright, long time lurker, first time poster...

I've read the other recent threads about RAH, but didn't want to hijack a thread for my first post...Just curious how QOL is for you Shuttle guys based out of ORD? How long is reserve, how are the schedules, how does the upgrade time currently look on the 170 (I'm looking to stay based out of Chicago), etc...?

I'm looking at my options for being based out of Chicago, but haven't heard much about Shuttle.

Thanks!

ORD you will be on reserve for a while, probably take about 6 months to hold a line at this point. Either way you fly ~85 hours a month. 11 days off/month on rsv, 14-15 with a line. A friend of mine just switched ORD for IND for a better sked. There are 57 FOs there, and guys who have been here about a year only bid in the mid 40's.

Looks like most people get 3-4 day trips, not too many 1 or 2 day trips from what I know. It is regarded by most commuters here as the best base for commutes, ATL has lots of day trips. I don't commute but I hear the stories!

Upgrade time on the 170... 2-3 years? I think thats about what it is in general, I'm too lazy to sort through all the upgrade memos from the past few months to work out an empirical figure. The 170 usually goes to more senior FOs (i.e. it almost never the first upgrade you will be eligible for) and there are 145/CRJ captains who can/will cross into the 170 program after their 2 year seat lock expires. So betting on an ORD upgrade will happen but will require patience.

Consider that The hiring boom has been on for about a year now, and the 1 year upgrade that is reality for some will be pipe dream for others. ALSO Shuttle has the most senior captains across the board, all the line holders I fly with have been here like 7 years. This is because it was the first 170 certificate (well, they got the planes from CQ b/c of the scope clause issues discussed elsewhere). So new captains are all on reserve for quite some time, there are guys who get all their time and get out before holding a line in some cases.

Hope this helps, if you REALLY want to be ORD based I would probably go to Skywest, buddy of mine did that and is probably happier with them in ORD. remember RAH hires for 3 certificates, so to get ORD you have to get S5 then ORD has to post an FO vacancy.

I kinda thought ORD was a fairly Junior base across the board for all the airlines...I guess I really didn't think about Shuttle's history with the 170's. Very good points, though, thanks for the info! I also happen to agree with you that regardless of where you go right now, upgrade times are going to go up now that the tail end of this hiring boom is in sight.

I'm just weighing my options to find a seat somewhere with the QOL/pay that I don't mind sitting in for a few years...and then try to limit it just to ORD bases!:eek:

our 11/27 shuttle class just put like 8 guys in ORD out of training. they have like 12-15 guys going to upgrade in the next 45 days.... the worm might be turning for the FO's in ORD.

Hey, is the RAH 800TT requirement set in stone? I was a July '07 newhire at Skyway, and have since flown roughly 135 hours (Beech reserve while phasing out routes left almost no flying for those of us on reserve). Anyway, this brings my totals up to 663TT/193ME, and 135 hours of Part 121. I just sent my resume, but got the automated reply stating my time didn't meet their mins.

Do they give any preference to 121 time?

thats a good point herc, when i was in initial in Chautauqua last spring. LGA was the most senior FO base system wide, the most junior FO had 14 months on property! Then when we all finished IOE about 13 FOs in LGA upgraded and LGA went really junior overnight! Thats one thing you can always count on in the airlines, is that things change very quickly! But yeah if your dead set on ORD. Skywest may be a good option over S5! Depends on if you want to drink skywest kool-aid ( ;) j/k,) or if you want a cup of RAH sugarfree holy water! Your choice!!!!

Cheers
SK

yes they do. i had a friend that flew for Big Sky and he had ~550TT/220ME when he got hired. starts class next month.
so fire off that resume, we need warm bodies

I resent the email and asked for reconsideration. Do you guys have any other ideas as to where I can send my info?

Once again I really appreciate the info and I'm sure I can say that on behalf of all of us here at Skyway, the outpouring of support over the last few days has been remarkable!

IF you have not FAXED your resume ...do so. EMails and the online system seem to be responded to less quickly... YMMV however. Good luck.

Got an immediate rejection from the fax, too, stating my minimums don't meet requirements, but to re-apply when they do...I guess I'll have to start digging deep to see if I can come up with anybody I know out there. I know they're having a job fair on Monday up in MKE, so I'll hit that and see what they say there.

Once again, thanks for all the help, guys!