I remember some American Eagle (before the days of Envoy) pilots who waited 25 years for an interview with AA,

I have a call with the recruiter coming up, want to compare his info to the folks here: How busy a new hire DEC on reserve would be lately? How long on reserve, roughly? QOL on reserve if I live in KCLT and get awarded KCLT? Any bases busier than others? If they are as short staffed as we all hear, I assume guys are flying 80 to 90 hours a month? Decent hotels?

I am in 91 now, did the regional a long time ago, just trying to see what it would be like if I returned.

Appreciate the feedback.

A DEC at any carrier without a growth plan will sit reserve. Piedmont is projecting growth with additional 145s, so that is added into the equation, maybe. Can't image what envoy looks like right now with reducing the fleet.

It’ll take a minute to get CLT out of training as a DEC but it’ll happen within a year I would say. Who knows, by the time you’re thru training it could all change and you’ll get it then. But I would plan on a year to be safe. I commute and my QOL is decent. As a mid range CA in CLT, I have 12 days off, credit 78-82/no and MOST trips are commutable. On reserve, I flew barely at all but it’s all about timing. Hotels are better than Super 8s and Red Roofs but it ain’t the Ritz. Mostly Hilton and Marriott properties.

Expect to be on reserve until about 3.5 to 4 years of seniority are built. We are at a low point for assigned flying and that timeline may improve as the pilot group grows and AAG assigns more hours to Piedmont. The reserve time may come down a bit after that but not by much.

We have four year seniority Captains next month with straight reserve in CLT and PHL for September and not by choice.

Wow OK. The recruiter I spoke to yesterday told me reserve would be a few months, but he did say he wasn't 100% sure (about most of my questions actually). Thanks for the info guys.

What is the average monthly flight time for DECs that are on reserve?

When a recruiter tells you they “don’t know for sure”, that means the “estimated” answer they gave you is not correct and the odds are it’s a lot worse than what they tell you.

52 to 60 hours of block and likely under the 75 hours guarantee for credit during non-Summer peak or Holiday travel season. Easily over 70 hours block during peak travel season.

General rule of thumb has been 3.5 years on property for a line a PHL 4.5 years for a line in CLT as a Captain and reserves block 60hrs a month avg throughout the year (lotsa of deadheads). That may change as PDT gets more jets but they’ll also be beefing up reserve staffing provided they keep getting applicants. There was a period pre Covid when there was no reserve staffing but JRMs reigned supreme and they were also paying 400% to cover flying for 60 aircraft. It would be prudent for the company to keep a healthy level of reserve staffing and cut off premium pay.