737 vs 320 for New Hire
12-04-2018, 08:02 AM
#41
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,527
R57 - here's another statistic - in ten years, or five years after a guy with five years to go retires, 81% of the current Captains will have retired.
There will be a tremendous amount of turnover which is great for the guys getting hired.
There will be a tremendous amount of turnover which is great for the guys getting hired.
12-04-2018, 08:17 AM
#42
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Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: A320 Capt
Posts: 5,299
Glad for you young guys though!
12-04-2018, 08:18 AM
#43
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,918
Although I now prefer the Bus to the 737, I’m glad for the time I spent on the 737 and all the various aircraft I’ve flown here. New hires need to remember that even if the aircraft/base you get isn’t the one you want, it’s going to be very temporary.
While going through recurrent last month an instructor gave us old guys something to think about. He said all of you that have less than 5 years to go, raise your hand. There were quite a few. He said “Just think, if you’re pass riding a year or two after your retirement, the captain on your flight might not be on the property right now.”
I was the baby of my class at Piedmont, so wouldn’t have a choice. I wanted a F-28 F/O slot anywhere so I wouldn’t have to go to Piedmont’s infamous 727 F/E school. Of course I was assigned 727 F/E and it was the hardest I’ve ever worked in a school. But it was a great education and I’m so glad I had the experience.
Welcome to all our new guys, and enjoy the ride.
While going through recurrent last month an instructor gave us old guys something to think about. He said all of you that have less than 5 years to go, raise your hand. There were quite a few. He said “Just think, if you’re pass riding a year or two after your retirement, the captain on your flight might not be on the property right now.”
I was the baby of my class at Piedmont, so wouldn’t have a choice. I wanted a F-28 F/O slot anywhere so I wouldn’t have to go to Piedmont’s infamous 727 F/E school. Of course I was assigned 727 F/E and it was the hardest I’ve ever worked in a school. But it was a great education and I’m so glad I had the experience.
Welcome to all our new guys, and enjoy the ride.
My situation was almost exactly the same as yours... Most junior guy in my class. Unfortunately (fortunately now!) my entire class was 727 F/E. Looking back now I’m super grateful I got to go through that course and experience the 3 Holer even though I never got to upgrade to the right seat in it.
737 is missing a lot of creature comforts and gee whiz stuff that the Bus has. But I wouldn’t trade a single hour of that for anything else... except possibly Super 80 time which was even more fun flying than the 737!
I’m sure I’ll end up flying a Bus some day in my future and believe it or not, despite all the knocking I do over it I’m actually looking forward to the experience. Guess I will have to come up with some other material at that point
12-04-2018, 08:36 AM
#44
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: A320 Capt
Posts: 5,299
+1.... well said.
My situation was almost exactly the same as yours... Most junior guy in my class. Unfortunately (fortunately now!) my entire class was 727 F/E. Looking back now I’m super grateful I got to go through that course and experience the 3 Holer even though I never got to upgrade to the right seat in it.
737 is missing a lot of creature comforts and gee whiz stuff that the Bus has. But I wouldn’t trade a single hour of that for anything else... except possibly Super 80 time which was even more fun flying than the 737!
I’m sure I’ll end up flying a Bus some day in my future and believe it or not, despite all the knocking I do over it I’m actually looking forward to the experience. Guess I will have to come up with some other material at that point
My situation was almost exactly the same as yours... Most junior guy in my class. Unfortunately (fortunately now!) my entire class was 727 F/E. Looking back now I’m super grateful I got to go through that course and experience the 3 Holer even though I never got to upgrade to the right seat in it.
737 is missing a lot of creature comforts and gee whiz stuff that the Bus has. But I wouldn’t trade a single hour of that for anything else... except possibly Super 80 time which was even more fun flying than the 737!
I’m sure I’ll end up flying a Bus some day in my future and believe it or not, despite all the knocking I do over it I’m actually looking forward to the experience. Guess I will have to come up with some other material at that point
I really liked the basic 737-200s. The trim switches were so worn that you could just kinda roll your thumb over them and have slow trim. Probably wouldn’t want to spend a long day in it now.
I wish I’d bid F/O on the 727, but I went for seniority. I flew it two legs when the captains said “Get up there boy, let’s see what you can do.” Different world. Was sitting in the left seat over DEN hand flying it one day (so the captain could eat his lunch on my table) when #3 threw a stator. Kept running all the way to LAX.
12-04-2018, 11:07 AM
#46
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Joined APC: Dec 2010
Position: Reverse Cowgirl
Posts: 546
Not any more. That was pre airbus/ pre Jumpseat reservation days. It's an easy commute now. Airbus= mo jumpseats.
Last edited by QuagmireGiggity; 12-04-2018 at 11:20 AM.
12-04-2018, 11:19 AM
#47
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Joined APC: Dec 2010
Position: Reverse Cowgirl
Posts: 546
What was more junior in DFW two years ago (bus vs. 737) flip flopped. What is more junior in the future may or may not be the way it is today. It's not like a regional where there's a fairly clear line drawn as people move up. Something to consider.. US group is a bit older. More retirements coming on the bus.
The bus is not better just because of "creature comforts".. It's simply an easier to understand airplane.
The bus is not better just because of "creature comforts".. It's simply an easier to understand airplane.
12-04-2018, 11:46 AM
#48
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Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: A320 Capt
Posts: 5,299
12-04-2018, 12:50 PM
#49
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Joined APC: Sep 2010
Posts: 579
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