Just curious... what is an example of a typical STL schedule/pairing that is considered efficient?

 

we have several 26hr 4 days. I bid for a couple of them and a couple three days. I have 16 days off next month, 87hr line, commutable, and have 8 days off in a row from March. 13th-20th. I didn't request the days but I did bid to get a nice chunk of time off. I'd rather work a stretch then have a nice chunk off. Going on a trip!

Here is one of my pairings I'm doing twice next month.



I'll give 5 to 1 I can 30/7 it to get home on the last day

 

How long will it take a nube to get a line like this? Also, I have read more than a few new guys that really screwed themselves on the PBS. Any thoughts on how to avoid this. I am hoping to get STL asap on the 145s.

 

I've liked it just fine since I've been here. It's got it's pro's and con's...but generally I'm treated well, don't have to put up with too much crap, and it pays the bills with enough left over to live fairly comfortably. Of course, I haven't bought too many toys, taken a lot of vacation, nor did I rack up a crap ton of debt getting here so I don't have any real bills beyond rent, utilities, and cell phone. A $500 a month student loan payment would take a serious chunk out of my disposable income.

As far as the interview is concerned, I did my actual interview over a year and a half ago, and back then it wasn't something to get too worked up over. I couldn't tell ya if the gouge on any website was too accurate because it's been awhile. My interview was straight forward - show up, written test, sim profile, and face-to-face. The sim was just a takeoff, hold, full ILS to missed, engine failure, shutdown after I demonstrated control and declared an emergency. The face-to-face was all HR, no techincal questions, getting to know ya kinda deal. Came into the job with 1800TT and 335 ME (all CFI - no prior 121). Was originally offered the 170, took the 145 and been happy since.

 

Trips like TD's go fairly senior. However, almost all the pairings in STL are fairly efficient with AVG Daily Credits in excess of 5 hours. Sometimes you have to sacrifice commutablity for efficiency. Personally, I only ever worried about making it home on the last day so there were some months were I would work a 22.5 hour 3-day and be home the last day. It gave me 18 days off a month and each trip generally paid over 25 hours in a 3 day period thanks to block or better. That's when I was bidding in the mid-teens. As stated before, even junior lineholders can get a pretty good schedule in STL.

If you're unfamiliar with PBS or would like to get advice on how not to screw yourself, I would consult the wiki section on RP.org or post questions on there. Someone will help.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

ToiletDuck....
THat is a pretty nice trip! Makes our lines at AWAC look like complete garbage! Thanks for sharing man!

 

Wow that is a nice trip. Makes the lines on the 170 in PHL look like crap too. Behold, the miracle of centralized basing.

 

Is PHL not a centralized base? It's all about stage length. The only thing a centralized base does is get you late starts and early finishes. Look at CVG...that's a centralized base and they have the worst trips in the system.

 

It's one thing PBS is good for. Once you're holding a line you might be surprised what you actually can hold. You never know. All you know is the guy in front of you will get his pickings first but he might live in base and want something you don't. Sharky says mine are fairly senior but remember that bid is for my 11th month. Once you're a line holder with just a little seniority it's more about learning how to bid. I still don't have it down. Each month is a new "Guess". I guess I'll do the same thing for next month.