March 15th Indoc Class
 

Anyone else around these parts going to be there?

Email said planned class drop is:

4 - 756
3 - A320
14 - 737

Bases TBA

I heard there was going to be some 756 vacancies for new hires. Congratulations and welcome aboard!

I'd recommend sticking with the 320 or 737 unless you like sitting in the jump seat every trip and never touching the yoke until landing class once every 120 days… :cool:

And being on reserve for years...at least 2 when you can bid down.

Yeah why would anyone want to have majority of their trips commutable, layover in europe, get paid to kick back and watch movies and nap.. :confused: sounds terrible :rolleyes:
Guess why thats wide body FO has been going so junior these last few bids.
Welcome aboard !

wouldn't surprise me if we saw a good number of new hire slots going to the 756 over then coming months, as they have been making sure they keep the current pilots in the fleet during the transition from 76T to 756.

So, I believe there are a good number of 767 First Officers (whether 756 or 76t) that are waiting for training out of the fleet going up to the 777,787,747 or even Cap seats.

Being a professional bunkie isn't a bad gig when you have a couple years experience on a fleet and NOT on probation. Each his own I guess… being on special monitoring on probation doesn't sound like a great deal.

Not the case in EWR. I've been here almost 10 months and I fly at lest 50% of trips. Come on over its great.

You meant 90 days I assume?

What is this special monitoring you speak of? Is that like double super secret probation?!?

It's probation alright, but it is no secret......extra training, short cycle on checkrides.....

I'm still not sure what you are speaking of? I'm a DCA 756 FO, six weeks shy of turning in my half-wings and received nothing but the standard training, usual landings class, and a normal CQMV/LOE.

Easiest probation year anyone could imagine. Only thing I could wish for was staffing to put more new-hires in below me!

Yes... Sorry!

I never said all new hires would struggle... But many are having problems... Next time at TK ask one of the MV instructors and/or Standards Captains.

Like i said earlier... Pick what you want to fly... Just be ready to "fly" a lot of bunkie trips.

FWIW, I just completed 756 transition. This is not a program for new hires. If you bid it, or get "stuck" with it be prepared to spend a lot of extra time studying. The PI's are well aware of the struggles for new hires in the 756 fleet.

Bad case of thread creep here (my fault) but yeah, I could see that. Although it seems that's a general problem with the 756 program, not just for new hires.

Once online though it's been a great first year airplane and great intro in to what long-haul flying is like. So enjoy it, whoever ends up in it on March 16th. Welcome aboard, you're going to love this place!

Enjoy the 756! In EWR I've had 1 or 2 trips a month on reserve. Welcome!

May I ask how often you've been converted to SC? And also how much notice you've had for those and the trips as well?

I'm 756 EWR.
Training was a pain for sure. My no prior 121 sim partner really struggled, and was pretty stressed.
Over the last year, I have averaged 2 SC conversions a month, although it looks like scheduling is upping that a bit in Feb. I've gotten 3 already with one more 5 day silo to go.
Over last summer, it is correct that nearly all available flying for reserves was IRO, but now there is much more domestic flying. If you're aggressive and pay attention to open time, you can get your landings. I've gotten close but in a year never went to landings class.
Vast majority of trips are commuters dream. 5-8pm reports, with most releasing sometime around noon.

Bottom line: if it's your desire to go quickly to a base not named EWR, bid either NB. If however you live in EWR, or are a commuter no matter where you're based. This is a great fleet with great variety. Europe, Hawaii, South America, domestic, and Caribbean (although not much).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Another benefit to rsv 756. I commute from a city with nearly hourly service from 6a-9p. I haven't even been close to needing a crash pad. Two hotels a month is the most I've needed for the extreme late or extreme early SC.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Retired Mil, 1 year at United. 756 at IAD. No 121 experience. Been the easiest year of my life. I have had only 1 "bunkie" trip in the year that I have been here. I get 2 short calls a month. Glad to see others getting into the 756. The training was what I expected, the problem I saw was the quality of the instructors. Some where good, many where bad. I felt most didn't really know the aircraft and had no interest in being pilots, just hiding in the sim building and taking a pay check. I HIGHLY recommend it.

I think the bigger problem was the confusion between the 76T and 756. Cant tell you how many times I heard "oh wait is that a 76t or 756 thing" most of them taught in the 756 fleet but flew for years in the 76T

Just finished training on the 756 after being out on mil leave for 5 years. I agree the program's a mess, but I was very impressed with the pi's I had. Learned something every sim session, including the checks. But I haven't been paying attention to much for the last 15 years.;)

I'll be there with you! Looking forward to getting started.

Great! Any idea what aircraft/base you might be looking towards yet?

As mentioned earlier in the tread, but not specifically spelled out. This is a warning to any new hire contemplating the 756 fleet.
1. You will be on reserve for a long time, with the possible exception of EWR.
2. You will not get to fly much if at all, meaning landing classes back at TK sims.
3. Now for the big one, since you are on probation this is a big deal. Landings are for currency, and NOT A CHECKING scenario. However, there is jeopardy. Meaning, if you can't fly up to standards, they can bust you and put you on special tracking--more frequent PC's. Not something you want to do on probation.

Those returning from bypass go through indoc with the new-hires. Bypass pilots pick before new-hires. But if there are multiple bypass pilots in the class, how do they determine the order in which you pick your jet/domicile? SSN? Seniority? Age?

Think this is an issue if you've previously flown the plane elsewhere or more just a lack of proficiency from not flying enough? Also, is it likely the recalls will bid this anyways?

not as much… but still not a great scenario if given the choice.

There are three types of pilots in Basic Indoc class with you; (1) new hires, (2) Military Recalls, and (3) Furlough Bypass Recalls. Groups 1&3 bid for the planes/domiciles in the drop… recalls first then new hires. Group #2 already have a plane assigned so they are chillin.:cool:

Recalls pick first based on seniority. Then New Hires based on age.

LOA pilots, as mentioned already, already have a jet.

From my perspective - which has been: not flying much at all, typically IRO, with a 1st year PC and landings class... I wouldn't mind flying more but this has been such a refreshing and different change from a pile of regional years that I really enjoy it. I'm at or under a trip a month, the destinations are great, the flying and oceanic procedures are uniquely different than what I used to do and the crews are pretty great.

Reserve for me has been pretty mellow - you see where you are on the list, long call is commutable for many people and you can use short calls strategically. I'm home way more than I ever was commuting previously to a good line. My wife is jokingly giving me grief about it.

The PC and landings class were something I took very seriously - studied for them and reviewed quite a bit. With that mindset they became just cool events and a great chance to shoot some approaches, V1 cuts etc. Don't read too much into that. It's not a type rating and the instructors were great. You need to be reasonably prepared but both events were friendly and enjoyable and I definitely wasn't perfect - they recognize how much (little) you fly and take that into account. FWIW the 75/76 aircraft handle well and landings shouldn't be a problem if you have good jet stick time and a good scan.

Just my 2 cents. Bottom line is you really can't go wrong - all choices include United wings and a fantastic pilot group :)

Is the training at den for the 75/76?

Yes it is at Den TK. So you an Okie?

Lots of great 756 gouge already in this thread from others, but I'll add I view SC as possible add pay, especially this month. Reserve so far has been a blessing with a newborn at home and living in base. The shortest notice I've received so far (only on the line since September) is 5 hours.

They expect a maximum of 2.5 hours to get to the airport once notified by crew desk of your activation from SC assignment… but normally give you more time when they can.

I'd just like to get to LAX as quickly as possible. You?

If you get the guppy you can be in LAX right away. We had 69 unfilled FO positions on the last bid. None on the Airbus went unfilled. Just a heads up.

Good to know. Thanks!

SFO here, so guppy preferably but I'll take whatever I can get!

SFO is easy to get on both the Guppy and the Bus. 109 and 10 unfilled FO respectively last bid.