American Eagle website:

"Reserve
New pilots are assigned reserve lines in which they are required to report to their domicile within two hours. Reserves can plan on an average of 11 days off per month."

Does this mean that new pilots only get reserve lines where they are pretty much on standby the entire time instead of assigned flights? I ask because I live in Oklahoma City and didn't really want to move (will if I have to for a job) but was thinking that doing a little reserve each month wouldn't kill me in another city. But, this sounds like the whole thing is reserve and living away from my assigned domicile is not feasible?? Is that last part right? If I get a Regional job, am I pretty much forced to move to domicile to save me a ton of headache?

Thanks!

 

All airlines are like this. You can commute, but you'll need a crash pad in your base city. Your line will be full reserve as a junior pilot, no matter where you go. Plan on being on reserve for 6mos to 3+ years depending on which airline you end up going to. Good luck.

 

You need to be able to report for duty within two hours of notification. You can have a line with reserve days where you sit by the phone and wait, and wait, and wait.

That being said, you may need to get a crash pad with other mates at your domicile/base. That said, your commute may interfere with your days off. Your reserve day may be based on a 24 hour day, or a designated time frame. That said, you may be able to position to your domicile/base on the day your reserve day starts, and go home is your reserve day ends early enough.

 

Also, if you live in OKC, I dont think the commute is too bad. I just checked and there are 7 flights/day from OKC to DFW. So if you get DFW, the largest ERJ base, your commute will not be too bad. Commuting on reserve in general sucks but yours you can make work. You'll need a crash though.

Will you have to move? Absolutely not. Will your life suck a bit more for the first few months on reserve? Absolutely. Will it get better? Absolutely, especially when you get a line. I was surprised to find out how many pilots here actually DO commute. Many live in base, but our contract has a commuter clause which can help. Basically if you try to commute to base on at least 2 flights that would get you in by your assigned check in time, you can use the commuter policy and not have it count against you (as a missed assignment). You can do this up to 3 times in a rolling 12 month period.

 

I find it kind of surprising so many people spend so much money for a job they did little or no research on the lifestyle it provides...

Not trying to pick on you protrident... just saying it's kinda late to ask what the rules are halfway through the game?

 

PT,

Eagle might be your best bet being non-current. Are you going to do Reserves? You need reserve bucks to make ends meet and to control your schedule.

PM me if you need some help.

 

He is an Active Duty Navy guy getting out, 2 yrs non-current on flying. Your comment is not well suited for his situation.

 

I'm a recent upgrade on reserve in Chicago. You can count on a minimum of 11 days off. Initially, you will be on reserve. During reserve, you will either be assigned a trip, home reserve, or airport standby. You will know the day prior. Typically you will fly plenty on reserve, but will need a crashpad for at least the first few months.

I live in OKC. The commute to DFW and Chicago has been fine. Crashpad access in Chicago is much easier in my opinion.

 

Good to know. I have to do a ORD-DFW commute and it always looks impossible to get on - either a seat or the jumpseat. So I will probably have to go through some other city. XNA looked good but then some flights got cut and now everything is full up. OKC looks like it should be my good alternate incase I cannot get on a direct ORD-DFW flight.