Commuting
 

I know airline pilots make some crazy commutes. I'm considering PSA CLT, which would be about a 2hr drive from where I live now. Is that even considered a commute to you guys? How about a 3hr drive if I try to move to the coast? Is that a pretty easily doable drive time to get to work?

A 2 hour driving commute isn't too terrible as long as you hold a line. If you're doing a reserve with a short callout time, it will be very tiresome driving back and forth between the airport and home everyday you don't fly.

So the guys that really have to commute when they're on reserve short call have to shell out for hotel or crashpad when they don't fly?

You got the idea. I knew some people who would fly in for their reserve shift, and try to fly back out the same day. They would call their crew trackers/crew support/whatever else and ask to be released early to make their flight. Sometimes they got off early, other times they would have to get a hotel or stay at the hotel de la crew room.

That is correct. The main reason that I chose PSA was the location of the base. I would not have to fly to commute, but could drive. Also, reserve is only a couple months here, so it isn't too bad. I know people that commuted to reserve for 3+ years before getting a line, and that is not something that I was willing to do anymore.

Cool. Thanks for the info guys.

When I was at Comair and DTW-based, I could sit long-call reserve at home. If it was short-call, I had a crash-pad.

The call out time is two hours in CLT and DAY. Is your drive two hours in non-rush hour traffic or rush hour traffic? As a line holder, your drive isn't going to be a factor as there is no requirement to live in domicile. Living toward the coast, you could drive or jumpseat. I did that as a line-holder in DTW.

I'd be driving from columbia. So it would probably be risky to sit at home with a two hour call out. No telling what could happen on I77

Columbia..argh, you just gave me a shaw AFB flashback.

I've done that sort of commute arrangement before. Bags packed and in the car, uniform pants & tee shirt on...then hang out around the house all day.

Depending on traffic / day of the week sometimes I'd head one town over to give myself a headstart, use the gym, go shopping, whatever. Typically not for the whole 12 hours, but just for the peak traffic (traffic problem was only a few hours once a day in my case). Yes kind of annoying to do that every day but better than hanging out in base for the whole week, and gas is cheaper than hotels. Might want a prius or something if it turns into a long-term arrangement...or a C-152.

We also have visibility on other reserves' schedules and open time so I had some means of gauging risk.

Reminds me of a 757 captain I knew from AA. He had a ranch in Colorado and flew his C-310 in and out of Stapleton, then jumpseated from DEN to DFW for his trips. I'm sure it made for some long days!