dera

The other main reason why companies do share buybacks is that they simply have to, regardless of market valuation. This is usually done around the time when C-level compensation is due. That affects the dynamics whether it increases or decreases the share value.

flyincoug34

Responding to the previous question- it was 5 737-900ERs…

I thought that was interesting when the board previously voted down more 800s. Could we possibly getting ready to retire some of our older tails for the 900s? Or is this growth?

Hiring has slowed, training is in a bottle neck, attrition will remain about a third of each class each month. I am no math wiz but I don’t think we are going to grow into these new airframes. I foresee another FO shortage this spring.

For the lurker reading this thinking about Sunny: I really like it. But I did move to Minnesota, which I surprisingly like a lot as well. The whole thing has been surprisingly awesome for me and my fiancée. Nice people, traffic ain’t bad (comparing to LA,PDX,SEA,CLT), affordable homes outside the cities with great neighbors who plow my driveway unasked when I am gone.

I commuted for three months at my previous regional and hated it with a passion. I honestly don’t know of an airline today I would commute for. It’s time and stress lost you will never get back again.

Coming up on my year anniversary here: my thoughts
1. If you commute you are twice as likely to not enjoy it here. You don’t get to take advantage of terminal 2 parking, and commuting into MSP isn’t the easiest.
2. Indoc, ground training was kinda a gong show. The sim was fantastic. I do feel like I leaned more on my previous carriers ground knowledge than I learned here.
3. Trips you can win and die by the “efficiency” of how they are built. Sometimes you are stuck in an Amazon cargo layover for 36 hours. That might be Miami or Cinci. Which is worse? Or you deadhead down to Punta Cana and work back. Very efficient, but is that long day really enjoyable? Most days are 1.5-2 two to three hour legs. Perfect for me.
4. Great pilot group. Great chiefs. Overall great support from the company for fatigue, sickness, life event. I feel like I can go to my chief and ask for help and get it.
5. Sunny Country Airlines is lacking in ALOT of infrastructure and technology as a company. Everyone makes due with less in comparison to bigger carriers. The growing pains are real- in a lot of ways it feels like the company is operating at max effort from every department. How long can this go on?

The state of the company is in flux. I believe it will be better because I believe in our leadership. We are profitable. That is the best thing about Sun Country and it’s a great place to be a pilot too.

In one year- is a career at United, Delta, American going to look as rosy? Is buying 100 787s a great way to set up your company for success? Ticket prices are waaay up to keep the legacies afloat. How much longer will consumers pay those prices? Big carriers are struggling to hold on to market share while Sun Country has markets for the taking. Regionals are dying- whose going to service those routes?

Times a changing. That’s for sure.

R0GER BALL

A really good synopsis of Sunny. Intelligent MEC too.

It will be hard for sunny to grow with 2023 the year of the legacy TA. Even the recruiter I spoke to left. Assume for better pay. Why else do so many leave?

Regardless. For FOs with fresh 737 types, why stay at sunny when you can go across the street and make 1/3 more doing the same thing. Airline Apps even has is special box to check for a 737 rating.

The direct entry captain angle is interesting. Leaving a regional with enough 121 pic and walking on as a 737 captain at 73 pay is a new idea.

mixture lean

I agree. Pretty good synopsis of Sunny. I'll throw my .02 in as well since I'm also coming up on my one-year anniversary next month.

1. I commute from the east coast and Sunny does service my home airport, but it's not daily, year-round service. Only from April through December. So from January through March, I have to use United and Delta to get to work. However, I've had pretty good luck so far getting a seat and I've only missed one commute (knock on wood). That being said, I now bid for the lines that have the most trips with deadheads on the front and/or back end which allows me to deadhead-deviate. The deviations have saved me a lot of the stress of commuting and have even allowed me to get a few extra days at home. And because the company pays for my offline deadheads, I've also racked up a decent amount of miles on United and Delta. They've definitely tried to make this place more commuter-friendly, and while deadhead-deviating is still a "commute" in a sense, it is a much softer blow than traditional commuting.
2. I'll echo what flyincoug34 said about the training. Ground school went by really fast, I think too fast. I flew for two regionals before Sunny, and both had two weeks of indoc and two weeks of systems. At Sunny, it was three days of indoc and four days of systems. They send you the logins for the ETHOS modules weeks in advance so you definitely have time to study. Remember, Sunny was never a place to start out. They assume you have prior 121 or 135 experience when you come here. It is a major, after all. But in all honesty, indoc should've been longer, especially considering all of the different kinds of flying we do here. PT's and sims though were a blast! The instructors are top-notch! They want you to pass and are willing to help you as long as you show that you're putting in the work.
3. The flying is definitely interesting. I appreciate the mix that we get here. Sometimes it's nice to have the "drama" of flying pax, even more so on the casino and sports charters. Other days though, I just don't want to be bothered, and that's where the Amazon flying shines. You just show up at the facility, they walk you out to the plane, you get in, and you go. Often times, the plane is already loaded up and ready by the time you get there.
4. Also completely agree with flyincoug34 about the chiefs and the pilot group. They're the best group of pilots I've had the pleasure of working with! Laid back, approachable, professional, and highly knowledgable. Nothing more to add here.
5. One concern I do have is whether the company will move forward with the Amazon long lines. The trial period ends next month, but there's been no word yet on whether they will extend the LOA or not. For now though, after January, it's dead in the water. These trips were highly sought after by the commuters, and surprisingly popular with some of the MSP locals, though I was never able to get one. Too junior..
6. I look forward to seeing some 900's come online next year. I think they'll be straight growth and not replacements. I just saw 801 in the new paint a few days ago so if that one's not going anywhere, chances are neither are the other airframes.
7. The seniority progression here has been rapid and the upgrades are short! I would, however, advise against taking the first available upgrade here unless you already have experience in the 737. Right now, you can upgrade in a year, even less if you have the times. But in my opinion, that's not enough time to fully expose yourself to the operation. With all of the different kinds of flying we do here, particularly the charters, it's easy to get into trouble if you don't know what you're doing. My advice is to give it at least two summers and two winters, and then decide for yourself.
8. Last thing I'll add is the scheduling flexibility is pretty nice here. You can drop your entire schedule during the initial open time period if you want (with stipulations)

Overall, Sunny has been very good to me! It's not perfect. No airline is, and there are definitely some things that the company can do to make this place even better. I'm cautiously optimistic about our future. Even under the old contract, I still would have come here because it was still an upgrade in every way possible from the regionals. For me at least, I'd give Sunny a solid 8/10! Let's see what 2023 has in store for us! Happy New Year everyone!

N152SY

So about the 900s. Yes it’s a thing,but…per Boeing the max capacity is 189 seats due to the emergency exit configuration,so it’s not like we’re going to cram 200 seats in them. Probably not as many -800s on the market as there were during Covid

KingChicken

Either of you care to share what to expect compensation wise in your first year at Sunny? Pay here seems pretty misunderstood and our lower rates but better rules make prospectives apprehensive. Not a lot of Sunny guys contributing to the Salary Survey.

BeanBurritoFlyr

900ER is different from the 900. It has a different exit config.

To answer the other question, I made around 91K including gross and sick time in my first year. I picked up almost no flying, even when there were 300% opportunities due to family stuff going on that required my being home.

BIGRIG

how many pacific crossings?

R0GER BALL

Training delays are increasing. You’ll be in the schoolhouse first six months pulling straight guarantee. I’d base you year one budget off that to be safe.
I might break into $80s. I’ll probably be right at it.
You do get med ins day one. And it’s great insurance. And 401k DC. Equally excellent.

As pay increases elsewhere attrition and class drops will increase. Especially from the coveted regional pilot group. Could move the needle on better year one pay somewhere in your first year. We’re told there’s no current discussion to that end, but 2023 could be a wild one.

snowth1ef

As for pay, I started in may, OE in august and credited 95 hours due to picking up trips after finishing OE. Res sept, and relief or regular lines rest of the year. Worst month was august, rest of the months was able to credit over 100 hours, credited ~170 hours in December taking advantage of 250% trips. Money to be made if you're local and want work. December pay will show up in Jan, but if you counted it I made roughly 70k in 7 months.