Originally Posted by HVYMETALDRVR

I'd say more like 30% of our pilots commute, at least here in Florida anyways. They manage to pull it off I guess, I don't know how.

The most junior base is actually called the "home basing," as you've probably read about its a floating base where they put you where they need you for the month (our flying changes quite a bit from season to season depending upon the base). FL is the most common spot, but in the summer time there's a seasonal base in MYR and LAX that goes junior. I've also seen home basing vacancies pop up for IWA and LAS a couple times, but it usually goes to the most senior people bidding the home base. The positive is that you get a hotel covered so you don't need a crash pad.

The negative again though, there's no guarantee of a commutable schedule unless your pretty senior, so its been called the homeless base. They like to junior man a lot here also so that can mess with you getting home also.

Originally Posted by flyingdutchman1

If you are concerned about our instructors out to fail people, I have never found that to be the case. I just finished AB training about 6 months ago and the instructors seemed to care and try their best to get everyone through training. I know of several people that needed extra sim sessions and there was never an issue with getting one and everyone passed when I went through. I had two new hires in my systems class and they never seemed to indicate that they felt that anyone was out to fail them. The thing about our training department is that you had better be able to self study. But if you have a good study group and can look through a book to answer questions you should get through without much problem.

If it helps the last class that went through were all Airbus with 3 757 guys, no one to the 80. I do think FL is the best bet for base for all new hires since that is where all the growth is here. As I tell everyone, I wouldn't consider coming here unless your willing to move to one of our bases. I could only imagine that commuting with the schedules I have seen would be difficult.

My suggestion is don't come here thinking a type rating is going to get you your dream job. Come here with the expectation that you are going to be here for many years, and if the call comes from your dream airline after only 6 months then lucky you.

Originally Posted by INXS

Good luck to the Allegiant pilots waiting for the thumbs up from Southwest. All great guys that will be missed here at G4.

Originally Posted by INXS

Good luck to the Allegiant pilots waiting for the thumbs up from Southwest. All great guys that will be missed here at G4.

Originally Posted by BlueSkies

Home basing sounds awful. I think I read somewhere in this thread that someone spent 9 months bumping around to different bases. I'm guessing that is an extreme example but can junior guys except several months in a row of that? Commuting sounds very difficult even without home basing. Thanks for the info.



That's very good to hear about your training dept. I was planning to move to FL to make life a little easier. When did everyone find out aircraft/base, was it right at the beginning of training or before?

Thanks for the candid advice. I guess I really need to think about if I could handle Allegiant long-term before I head over there.

Originally Posted by Hovernut

As what Thunderpig says, most of the busts have come from a particular Fed who's been on a tear around here since he started. There have been a few personality conflicts in the sims, but that's been 1-2% & is/has been addressed. Most of the instructors will bend over backwards to help out, but you have to be astute & prepare not to be coddled.

As for FL AB Jr CA DOH's, be aware several bases were converted from the 80 to the AB, so jr 80 CA's have been converted to AB CA in their respective bases. Don't expect any future AB upgrades to go junior, except for outliers like the PIT base. Hopefully, if there's a significant influx of AB soon, the situation may change, but realize there are senior 80 CA & FO's that are coming off seat-locks!

Originally Posted by SilkBra

Based on the past few seniority list updates we lost 15 pilots out something like 537 the last 4 months. 3%? That is like Delta losing 372 guys in 4 months and none of those being due to retirements.