Shuttle America S5; BASES
 

hello S5 pilots,
I am starting class on 2/28 and will be on the S5 cert. I live in Chicago and am curious how big is the ORD base (how many crews), also the other three bases. Another question with the other 3 bases are there a lot of early shows, and are they fairly easy to commute to from Chicago.

Also, during my interview Glenda said there is going to be some expansion on the Shuttle side over the summer, is this a true statement, possibly bigger A/C (175?)

Once again thanks for any info...

yea, they are exchanging the 170s for 175s on the delta side and giving those airplanes to united. Chicago is kind of junior now. I'm THE most junior fo ONLINE and I got chicago (unfortunately). Pretty good chance of getting ORD. 2 guys out of class got lines out of ORD from the 11/27 class in Feb... we need reserves there.

Congrats...

I live in Chicago, and I'm hoping to get on with S5 also...however, what's their method to choosing where you got based? Did you get to request S5, or did you request ORD because you live there? How do they decide what branch of RAH you go to? I really want to work for RAH, but only if i can be based out of ORD with S5.

I also live in Chicago, and was hoping for a Shuttle base.

During an info session that I went to, they said that they would be willing to work with you if, say, you lived in Chicago, and would like the Shuttle cert. in order to have the chance to be based at ORD (or at least bid for it in the future). However, I was offered Chatauqua on the premise that they didn't want me flying the 170 with such "low time".

That said, they just shuffled around some classes and put me in the 02/28 Shuttle class, so I guess my low time wasn't all that much of an issue and they just put me where they needed me...who knows.

btw: 700tt/200me/150turbine

What's next, the 190? That would allow RAH to take even more mainline jobs for average regional pay.

From the RepublicPilots.org (or whatever the uRL is) they were saying the next few months classes are only like 7 or 8 170 FO slots. Match your class date with the delivery sched and youre more likely to get it if that's what you want (that's what I've heard, I'm not an insider). I.e. Oct 07 seems to have had a bunch of guys (even low time) get it.

There was some guy from ATP who did a RJ course at 500/300 ME who got the 170 in ORD, but he was instructing in ORD according to ATPs website.

Those line assignments were flukes

How long is reserve running in the four S5 bases?

Does that really factor into your decision process. We have a flat FO payscale and as a consequence of our pay rates being based on seats the Delta 175's will pay CA's the same as a Delta 170.

Regarding the base question. My class (2/4) was assigned to IND and CMH. No ORD. From what I've been told by more senior people here the lines at IND and CMH are not nearly as commutable as many start early and end late. This is one of the reasons that ORD and ATL go senior. Of course, all it takes is a few FO's upgrading and the tables could completely turn. Jelloy, if you want ORD and that's your determining factor, I see Eagle or Skywest in your future. RAH will throw you wherever they feel.

Why does everybody want bigger aircraft? They all pay the same in the right seat. Let's stick with what we have and get a better contract.