Winterking

If you were a new hire and were able to choose, what would be your choice and why? I'm geographically located 1+45 from PIT, 4+00 from CLE, and 4+00 from IAD. There are three commuter flights daily from my local airport to IAD. Any experience, opinions, insights, or advice would be greatly appreciated.

APC225

Commutable pairings. ORD, CLE, are poor candidates on the 737. IAD I don't know. EWR lots of pairings on the 737 that start late and/or end early for commutes. Which is a big advantage for commuters on the EWR 757/767/777 which have lots of flights leaving quite late and getting back quite early.

Then number of flights from PIT. ORD has 13, EWR 7, but to EWR/LGA/JFK there are 24. In a pinch you can take public transportation from the other two to EWR. I did this more than once in a pinch.

Reserve will be the biggest pain. Fortunately with all long call reserve now you should have adequate time to get in place for short call if they assign it. CAL used to be all short call so a reserve commuter had to be in a crash pad or hotel 18 days a month. No more.

130drvr

If I read another post correctly, Long call is 14 hrs and short is 10? Sounds like EWR has commutable trips, does IAH have a lot of early AM 737 trips, or is it also commutable on the 737?

Does scheduling usually call early enough to convert Long to Short to allow for better commuting. How quickly and often are Long and Short call Reserves being used on the 737 at EWR and IAH?

Thanks!

Moombabeach

Definitely try to get iah or Ewr b737. I'd avoid the 757 like the plague, you will be stuck on the bottom endlessly doing London trips,6 days in a row! Houston is easier commute weather and traffic delay wise and I think has more late shows then Newark. Best of luck, you'll enjoy it here lots of great guys to fly with, new reserve rules will make life better!

130drvr

Sounds like the new reserve rules will equal less time in a crash pad, which = happiness.

Ottopilot

I don't know where you guys are getting your information.
New reserve rules are not in effect, except release to pairing after its assigned.
CAL had and still has long AND short call.
Most of the time (short or long) your trips are assigned at 1500 the day before.
The 737 is less commutable by far.
The new reserve rules are not much of an improvement. We are not using them, so we will wait and see.

oldmako

The new reserve rules are heinous and are one of the reasons I cast my plebiscite in the negatron. Reserve has gotten worse for the blue team and is interfering with my golf and fishing regimen.

APC225

Yes, LCAL is still under the old system of short call. My advice was end state in what is in the new contract, and the old will be gone soon. Some new reseve rules are in effect now as you say and the 9 hours behind the door for all is, for we who have never had it, a huge deal regarding rest. Used to be they could get a reserve out into the system and FAR-to-FAR them all month long. On Jan 4 when 117 goes into effect they will not be able to abuse a reserve nearly as much on the duty day either. They will take it to the limit, but the limit is very different. Good riddance to the old.

jetflyger

If you are on reserve, can you aggressively pick up an open trip or are they all assigned in reserve seniority order?

APC225

20-K-1-a A Reserve begins each period of reserve days as a Long Call reserve unless he is awarded a pure Short Call line, is assigned to Short Call Reserve or Field Standby, or picks up a Short Call or Field Standby assignment.

20-K-4-a When a Reserve verifies a Trip assignment, in accordance with Section 5-E-2-a, he shall be released to the Trip and may not be given any additional duty or Short Call prior to the start of that Trip, unless he has a previously-scheduled duty or Short Call or he waives this provision.

20-K-5-a For a Trip assignment, a Long Call Reserve must be assigned the Trip with a minimum of thirteen (13) hours notice prior to scheduled Departure time.

20-K-6-d Ten (10) hours notice is required prior to the start of a Short Call assignment, if the Short Call assignment is given to a Reserve from 0000 to 1759. Twelve (12) hours notice is required prior to the start of a Short Call assignment, if the Short Call assignment is given to a Reserve from 1800 to 2359.

20-K-6-g If unused, a Short Call Reserve reverts back to Long Call.

20-K-6-h A Short Call Reserve shall be released at 1500 on his last day of reserve, unless by that time he has either received an assignment or been notified to complete his Short Call.