Seems most of the aircraft drops for the recent classes are going exclusively to the 320 and the 737.
For those in the know: which aircraft would you recommend and why for us new hires?
Personally I am concerned primarily with Quality of Life, getting to SFO ASAP, and having as good a schedule as possible. Thanks for any input!

 

I'm a new hire just finishing IOE on the 737. I was a 5 May class start and I could have held SFO on this next vacancy bid. I can't speak for quality of life yet, but I thought the training in Houston was a terrible program. I have a C-130 for the AF reserves and CRJ at Skywest background, and that's what I compared it to. Basically self taught until you get to full flight sims. All CBT for systems and the beginning training on VNAV and FMS was marginally helpful for line operations.

 

FWIW, yesterday's snapshot of the current equipment bid has 31 unfilled vacancies on both the 320 and 737. It would it appear that it would be quite easy to get to SFO quickly as a new hire on either aircraft.

 

Flown both out of SFO. Here's my opinion. Your mileage may vary. You should be able to get both fairly quickly, as new aircraft are coming to both fleets. Probably slight edge to 737 for quick bid out west and seniority.

Hands down not even close the A320 is a more comfortable airplane to spend time in. It's quiet, roomy, great to fly. The 737 is ridiculously loud, completely cramped, and the 900 is a pain because you are constantly thinking about the tail as you troll through the weather at FL310. 737 does Hawaii and I feel is more reliable.

The trips on the 737 if you are in the bottom half of the list are horrible. A320 flying quite good all the way down the seniority list. However that can change in a SECOND.

The training experience on the A320 is light years better than on the 737. The 737 has better sims and FBS's however.

So it really depends on what you are looking for, as both have their plusses. If I were bidding I would choose the A320.

Hope that helps

 

That's a helpful overview. Due to circumstances I've been on Boeing for 35+ years now. But if I were starting out (and commute, domicile, QOL were equal) I would hands down take the plane without the yoke. Our workspace in which we spend every minute at work is that few cubic feet we sit in--for thousands upon thousands of hours. The comfort factor of that workspace cannot be minimized. Bose can reduce the 737 noise but cannot expand the space. I heard they're working on that.

 

I have flown both. If you think the 737NG is loud, try flying a 737-200!

I liked FiFI until the day I showed up in the cockpit and the pull out tray was missing. (of course the CA had his) I couldn't believe that they could MEL the tray, and with no yoke, there was no place to put my charts except on my lap.

 

I am going through bus training right now and in stark contrast, the Airbus training is so far been excellent. Small group instruction (2:1 ratio between student and instructor) so you get 50% of the questions asked and a thorough review of all materials covered the day before. Students are paired with instructors from day one and most instruction is facilitated in a classroom environment. We still have our CBTs but for the major subjects, someone is teaching you the right materials to learn.

 

I've flown both..... A320 wins

 

Not that it would make up my mind, but where is A320 training? I know 737 is in Houston these days. Thanks!

 

DEN

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