Eagle in LAX
 

Couple of questions for you Eagle guys. When the Saab goes away will the jet take over those routes or will they be scrapped? Any rumor of more cities opening up? And what's the DOH for the junior jet CA in LAX? And how long on reserve for LAX on the jet? Does SJC, SFO, SAN get old after a while?

Thanks, and sorry for all the nagging Q's. I couldn't find those answers in a search.

I think a few of the LAX SF3 routes will be operated by jets. MRY comes to mind as one of them, not sure of the others. I wouldnt be surprised to see a new city open from LAX like Santa Fe, El Paso, Roswell or something like that to bridge the gap between DFW and LAX to repo planes for MX. Junior Jet CA (non-flowback) has a 2/99 DOH. I believe the junior FO lineholder in LAX would be around 11/06 DOH. I think the guys who are LAX based love the routes because they live in the area and are willing to fly to the same cities. Weather is great, crews are great, hotels in the LAX system are great as well. Im sure some LAX guys will chime in with some more specifics, hope this helps.

The jet is going to take over most of the routes. Of the Saab routes only SBP is going away, although I believe there will be some reduction in frequency on the other routes. However the jet is going to loose LAX-LAS, only American mainline will be flying that starting in Nov.

I've heard rumors of other cities opening up but nothing has ever come of it. Santa Fe was supposed to have happened a long time ago, but I think the city won't allow jets in that airport. I'd love to see cities actually ADDED to the L.A. system, they've done nothing but take away cities since long before I started working here.

LAX is going VERY senior with the Saab going away. Before the cuts I think it was 2 years to hold a line on the jet, but when the displacements finally get sorted out I think the most junior FO to even HOLD LA will be a late '06 early '07 DOH. I can only guess what the most junior line holder will be. I don't know the DOH on the most junior CA but I'm sure it's very senior.

The flying out of LA does get old after a while, but it is pretty and the weather is almost always good. Like Flyby1206 said those of us that are here live in California and really don't want to go anywhere else.

No offense, just a question, since you're saying you don't want to go anywhere else. Unless you still live in the basement, or commute to the desert, how can you survive on 30K in LA?

Not trying to change the subject but since it was brought up I'm just interested if anyone knows anything about another try for Santa Fe. We (Great Lakes) stopped service to SAF Dec 10th in anticipation of both Eagle and Express Jet (for delta) starting service which they were selling tickets for. The service never materialized and the last I heard was it never got past the environmental impact study. The city was very motivated to get RJ's and then tried to get Lakes back after it did not work out. I'm from SAF and moved to DEN after we stopped our service and while I would not move back it would be great to be able to get back there directly (instead of ABQ). How would the ERJ do weight restriction wise starting at 6600ft?

From what I understand, the only route they are cutting that is currently operated by the SF3 is SBP. That would mean FAT, MRY, SAN, and SBA will all get ERD service, although most of them already have some of their service on it anyway.

If you learn the contract, and the ins and outs of the OT, 30/7, transition and some other rules, it is not too hard to make 45+ as a realatively new FO. More senior FO's are making 60... it isn't great, and yes, you do have to play the system like a harp from hell, but once you get the hang of it, it's fairly easy to do.... it sure beats working for a living though. Many CA's here doing 120k with 19 day off lines...

Ok.. or you could transfer to SKW and not have to worry about working the contract and actually get some PIC to go where you can actually make 120 in less than 15 years of flying. You might need to fly a prop though if you want to stay in CA.....

True. But then you also need to mention that these CAs are picking up lots of OT during those 19 days off...and have no life. As for senior FOs pulling in 60k, it is possible, if you have no life and no family and don't care about anything other than flying. I'd say 45k to 50k more normal for a senior FO.

As for LAX, by far the best base in the system, with LGA a close 2nd.

Native American tribes near the airport managed to prevent the service from starting. AMR is still quite interested in SAF but it is unlikely the area will ever allow jet service to the field.