Just checked the reserve list for ATL and IAD. ATL reserves were all over guarantee and were crediting between 80 and 97 hours with most over 90. IAD reserves were all under guarantee.

 

Thank you for checking.

Anyone have any idea how much time a commuter would have at home with around 10 flights a day between home and ATL? I'm also wondering how those 11 days off are spread out, whether there are very many non-commutable single days off in between six day block type things.

 

I know that the company is working hard to get properly staffed. Hiring, training, and becoming more efficient with PBS. Once everyone is trained and PBS is up and going I highly doubt anyone on reserve will credit more than guarantee which is 75 hours. I'm not really sure where the Atlantic Southeast reserve rules and such compare in the regional world but they are far from mainline and other quality airlines.

Hopefully the union gets smart on the next contract and bargains to increase the QOL for reserves. No one has seen what a super regional is like yet and with 3500 pilots strong and the way things are going, I can only imagine one would be on reserve for quite some time. Although not on reserve, I myself will be working to improve what reserve guys have to go through when the next contract is being worked on.

As far as commuting and such, you might as well just live in Atlanta. I really feel that reserves will have no say in their schedule for at least two years after this merger goes into effect. You get 11 days off and will be on short call. Long call is actually becoming short call from what I understand. It was a great concept but scheduling has figured out the loopholes and how to get around the contract. From what I hear, no one is ever at home sitting there and gets a call to be at the airport in 12 hours. They usually have your next assignment at the end of your last assignment. But that will probably all change when they get properly staffed.

Most likely for the first year or so you will get a reserve period starting between 4AM and 9AM. They last about 15 hours. Commuting isn't impossible but I wouldn't want to do it. I guess it's all about how much of your life you are willing to trade for a flying job. But hey, most guys are willing to just "work to live" now instead of "living to work".

 

Thanks afterburn. That's about what I figured. Trying to make an informed choice under a fair amount of pressure coupled with a little disappointment 10 years ago it would have been a no brainer, but I didn't have a family and house payment back then. Moving anywhere isn't an option now.

Might be time to hang it up and let someone younger have the spot.

 

If ATL reserves are flying so much, is it possible to get away without a crashpad and just do the hotel? How much are reserves overnighting or is it just a lot of ATL out and backs and back in base the same night?

 

Sure, but I wouldn't bank on it. PBS should be online Jan-Feb 2011 and combined with the hiring efforts that should help out with the staffing issues thus giving the reserves a break. It's one of the top priorities for the company per J. Atkin.

At 24K-30K per year, hotels can be pretty pricey. Please don't end up being those guys that lives in the crew lounge. That reeeeaaaallly lowers the bar if you know what I mean.

 

If you try to commute to short-call without a crashpad, you'll end up living in the crew lounge. I tried commuting to long-call for a month when I was based in IAD and the money I spent on hotel rooms would have more than paid for a month at a crashpad. Short-call will be much less commuter friendly, with a lot of ready-reserve, day lines, and late duty-outs followed by early duty-ins. Commuting to reserve isn't fun, and without a crashpad, it would be miserable.

 

I just got my schedule for Nov (CR7 FO).

I have lots of early duty ins in ATL (0700ish), lots of release between 1700-1900 and 2 - 2 1/2 days from release to duty in.

I'm glad I don't have to commute with this schedule...

 

Echoing what the others said, ASA has become a very commuter unfriendly airline, so if you get hired, plan on moving to the base you are assigned or getting a crashpad.

 

Thanks for the info! I just got picked up by ASA and comig from another airline I just wanted to get some general info. I've done reserve for several years, commuting and living in base, so I know what I'm getting into and how it works. And don't worry, I ain't gonna be a crew room camper