As usual, apologies if this has been previously answered (didn't see it in the search results). Can anyone speak to QOL on the 747 out of ANC? What do the lines look like and is there some variety to be had in bidding your schedule. Are most of the lines to Asia or are there some lower 48 sprinkled in too? Fairly easy to get ANC/747 out of training? Thanks

 

There will be a lot of ANC 747 positions for newhires in 2022.

 

Do they traditionally try and keep regional guys/gals on the smaller type’s (domestic) for initial?

 

Can you expand as to why? Any insight into QOL on the 74 in ANC? Thanks

 

I can’t speak to ANC QOL…other than commute issues for some, many seem to like it.

There were a large number of ANC vacancies created following the vacancy bid last month.

 

Ahhhhh, got it. Thanks

 

Yes, that's their preference. They blame it on training difficulties but I'm not sure about that. Same regional guy can bid for the 74 a year later, is he gonna be any better of a pilot and if he washes out then they're stuck with him. Personally, I see it as just another end run on our contract. We negotiated for new hires to be able to bid what they wanted.

 

The 74 guys are relatively disgruntled right now due to the conditions they are subjected to on Asia layovers, which are virtually unavoidable on that fleet. Long story short, if you are a slam clicker who likes to camp out in their room and order room service, it’s “great”. Otherwise, it’s pretty much an exercise in misery. On the bright side, premiums tend to happen much more frequently internationally than domestic. So you will be a financially healthy, miserable person.

 

ANC base has its benefits:

• Its far enough away from Louisville to have some of its own autonomy, its own culture = more laid back.
• ANC tends to have longer trips, requiring fewer commutes.
• Conflict bidding - doesn’t take much seniority to start taking advantage of this = extra paid days off here and there.
  • Guys will then pick up time and a half trips and get paid a whole lot for extra for the same amount of days originally scheduled for.
• Lots of time and a half trips available.
• Tons of premiums on each trip due to schedule changes and covid LOA agreements. Its not uncommon to get up to 10 extra hours per trip.

It has its cons:

• Difficult commute
• long commute
• Typically can’t jump right into a trip like you can in SDF; usually have to arrive 0.5 to 1 day early.
• Trips and schedules are slowly becoming less commuter friendly. More stuffer trips appearing in otherwise clean lines (think short trip sitting in the middle of a row of days off).
  • 1 commute per month is desirable; junior guys starting to look at 3x per month or staying up there on days off.
• Conflict bidding less of an option for those low on senority.

Also, there’s Asia flying on SDF 74 and the Z and MD guys do it too. Prob is ASIA is the ANC guy’s main turf and its more than just hotel lockdowns: The food is horrific, Taiwan especially and the company has no qualms about locking you in there for 2-3 days at a time. The catering isn’t much better in a lot of these places, so youre often getting hit with crap food for days on end. The company can’t or won’t always stock the planes with fresh linens for the bunks - you’re depending on those rest periods to survive. Covid LOA’s are creating some horrific schedules and long days (Europe to HK, change planes then fly to TPE or ICN = 17-20hr duty). Schedule changes by the minute - get old pretty quickly and defeats the purpose of bidding for a line. $hit like this, continually added up with no end in sight makes it a miserable experience.

Re: non heavy drivers not being assigned 74/MD as newhires. I’ve heard consistently from guys in the training dept that the data is pretty clear: putting guys from the RJ’s/corporate/fighter realms into the 75/bus results in fewer training failures.

 

Great summary, thanks.