Taking the CA slot in initial training
 

I'm currently living in FL with the desire to move elsewhere. Denver has always been on our "list". I qualify for CA and will be relatively low on my seniority list given my age so I'm considering either bidding (hopefully it's available) DEN 737 CA and moving out there to live in base or bidding 737 FO and then potentially transferring to DEN when the option arises.

1) Is there something that I am completely missing about being awarded a CA slot out of initial? Besides being on reserve for a while (which doesn't bother me), it seems like a no brainer?
2) Reserve forever....what's the timeline to get off reserve as a DEN CA or systemwide 737 CA?
3) Where's the reference for callout times? I have looked through 20-K a bit and haven't seen any reference to specific times that have been thrown out here.
4) Anyone know of a reserve rules gouge?

Any other information is welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks

1) No, there's a reason captain has historically been senior. It pays well. Reserve living in base isn't awful
2) Longer than your seat lock. You will be an FO for one year, a captain on reserve for two years then you can move to something else if you desire
3) by the time you get to captain it should be mostly 18 hour for long call and 2 hours for short call. It's a complex system - bottom line it's fine if you live in base
4) see #3, but there are a lot of changes coming to the contract and has yet to be seen how things really work in practice

2.5 hours, not 2 for short call

135 time eligibility for upgrade?
 

Anybody aware of the recent changes to the 121 PIC requirements? Buddy and I were trying to decipher if our 135 PIC in light jets now counts towards the 121.436 requirement.

I know it used to have to be in a jet with 10 or more seats, but now it seems like any “commuter” operation that requires an ATP satisfies the requirement.

According to the FAA, on demand operations cannot be carried out in a turbojet. So does that mean any 135 jet operation falls under the commuter operation definition?

Given the MAX-9 debacle and delay (potential deferral?) of the MAX-10. It’s quite likely to see a significant decrease in Captain slots for new hires in the near future. Could you be happy being a mere new hire first officer?

It’s jet or 10 seats+ or commuter operation. Your 135 jet time counts if it was for a passenger operation.

Anyone have any insight into this issue? Would love to hear thoughts on whether or not the Boeing issues will affect UAL in the very short term. For me, there’s two things I worry as someone with an upcoming class date.

1) I would like to bid captain and am concerned the slots will decrease, possibly making a slot unavailable to me or at the very least severely reducing seniority progression, and

2) if captain slots are decreased due to ordered aircraft being deferred or cancelled, wouldn’t that also mean less growth overall? i.e. fewer pilots hired this year?

If you can't enter a Major as a captain then you shouldn't consider it at all. Just too much risk. Stay where you're at.

Ha! I get your point, and I’m not complaining. I totally understand these are unprecedented times, and I’m grateful there may be a chance to enter as a captain.

So really my main question is the second one—what it would mean for everyone. Right now I’ve seen a few comments that “oh no, there may be fewer captain slots because of the Boeing delays.” But by extension, isn’t that really implying less growth, less seniority progression, etc, for everyone? Smaller classes?

I guess I’m wondering if someone at UAL that’s smart on airplane orders etc can cut through the noise and pontificate on if the Boeing news is a “big deal” in the short term and if it will have immediate impact on the company and the training schedule.

I'm not at UAL but I live in SEA and fly a 737. A good friend is pretty high up in the MAX program at Boeing. He said that the production is capped. He works there and doesn't fully know what the implication of that is. I think if anyone said they knew it would be pure speculation.