EMSpilot135

I'm a helicopter guy interested in making the switch to Airlines. TSA has a few things that make them appealing to me. Their STL base would mean no commuting and they have a very flexible Rotor Transition Program. My biggest concern with making this transition is the impact on my family. I've heard a lot about junior manning and was curious if someone would explain that a little. How often are you getting junior manned? And in regards to family life would it be better to get junior manned from time to time or to go with Envoy and be commuting the entire time? To married pilots with kids are you home enough that the family isn't struggling? Any insight would be great, this is a pretty foreign world to me.

C37AFE

Retired from Scott AFB. Haven’t been juniored. yet. Guess I’m lucky. But yeah know lots of guys that get hit with it. Though it doesn’t seem too often to those I know... Screw commuting. That’s why I came here. Even when I was on reserve it was less than hour from call to gate and varied how often I was called. First few months was only like flying 10 days a month 35-40 hours. I can go out and about locally. My wife hates it. She got used to me being home doing staff work. Kids call it my stupid pilot job. Get angry when I miss holidays and birthdays.


I love it. Never been more happy with a job. I try and reassure wife this is the dues to pay starting out and it will get better. She’s pushing for allegiant asap to get me home nightly. It’s always finding that personal balance. It can be a tough choice for many. Watching and being there for kids growing up vs the dream. I told her when I started to give it a try for 2 years and if it’s not working out well then at least I did it and I’ll find something more suitable. You’ll make the right decision.

FlyingKat

Basically it means just because you have a scheduled day off and you have plans for a wedding, your kids soccer game, wife's birthday, etc it doesn't mean you will get the day off. The way it works is they have to follow certain procedures and if your name comes up on the list and they either get you to answer your phone or legally contact you while working you can be forced to work. Calling the CP won't get you out of it.

We are still short staffed and will be for the foreseeable future. The company is already asking for volunteers to give up March vacations. The company said all would be well once the American planes were parked in December but it is continuing. Very senior people are being Junior Manned and it happens a lot. Not as much as August, but still a lot. I have been getting calls almost every day off from Scheduling calling about a draft list and have been hit with it several times via ACARS.

You get paid extra for Junior Mans and if it takes you below minimum days off you have to be compensated with a day off with pay. However if you come here you better be ready for it because it will happen. I'm not STL based, but just about everybody I know in my base has been Junior Manned or have been getting called for draft lists, including very, very senior people. Not saying don't come here because of it, but you better be ready for it because it will happen.

Good Luck

opas76

Personally, I would take living in base and the occasional junior assignment over commuting. From time to time, as a commuter, you're going to miss-commute on your days off due to: weather, maintenance, not getting the jumpseat, etc.

I'm a commuter, married with three kids. Fortunately, my wife is understanding most of the time.

Just my two cents. Best of luck in your decision.

Green Needles

Don't answer your phone on your days off.

Solar Bear

Hi, scheduler here. We're junioring captains left and right at the moment but we have a good amount of FO's on reserve and rarely have to junior them. It shifts back and forth every 3 months or so when they pump through upgrade classes. During the Summer it gets nasty for everyone though because of the additional flying the airline picks up.

TJBrass

Its not the call at home, its being met on the jet bridge on the last leg.

Green Needles

Gotta love those. I once had a captain I was flying with use his SIDA to walk down the ramp a few gates to avoid the company rep standing up at the gate. Don't know if he got in trouble for it, but have to give him credit for creativity. I was asked about his whereabouts when I went up. I told them I didn't know, last I saw him he was going to do the walk-around.

Day4mx

Back in the day i used to make it a habit to walk out of the airport in jeans and a hoodie. Worked every time.

FlyingKat

You can always bail out of the galley door