tankerdriver08

Long story short - I didn't get used much on Short Call, and now I have military leave that is conflicting with getting a Line check for 30 day extension to the 120 days from my American checkride. I can try to move the mil dates around, but but it'll be tough. So, if I don't consolidate and can't get the line check extension, what happens?
If you recommend me doing all I can to consolidate, who do you recommend I reach out to? Training and Chief Pilot?
Thanks.

Sliceback

Don't sweat it. If you don't consolidate they bring you back for a two day pump up (1 sim, 1 day GS 1:1 review with a GS instructor). Then you do into recurrent training and reset ALL your training dates.

I've not consolidated at least once and maybe twice. Got 5 weeks of with pay while they tried to find a consolidate training slot. With some luck when you come off of orders and back onto duty at AA they might not be able to fit you in for several weeks. Run with it. Training slots get filled early in the month. If you come back to AA after the next month's training slots have been assigned there's often no sim capactiy to fit you in. So they'll call you in someone busts out ground school, goes sick, etc. and suddenly they have 3 days of simulator time pop open. Otherwise you'll have to get into the following months training slots.

tallpilot

There is a form to fill out to request a consolidation trip. That's the first solution. Check Comply365 and the training section of AAPilots.

If you do not consolidate then you need another line qualification in the simulator and the consolidation clock resets but so do the hours so your stuck trying to get 100 hours again.

Sliceback

Not consolidating is truly a 'first world' problem. Can't average 25 or 33 hrs per month for 3-4 months so you get paid to not go to work while they try to find a training slot. Guys actually bid reserve hoping to not consolidate and once they do consolidate they switch to being line holders.

Flyinguy

do you have any hard dates or ranges when training fill slots you know of or mind sharing?

WhyIFly

Especially if you are on the 777. You only get 2/3rds credit (or 1/2 credit) for flying. It is pretty easy to not consolidate for 3-4 cycles.

Sliceback

Sit reserve and 'hide'. Hope the phone never rings. It's great for guys who get qualified late in the year when there's slightly less flying. PHL really cuts back. When you have choices pick the trip that gives you the least credit time for consolidation.

A decade ago I wasn't going to consolidate...but actually held a line my last month. Oh well, I guess I will consolidate. Then a Standards called up and said a guy wanted to take my (junior!) trip for proficiency! Have at it! I didn't consolidate and got 4 weeks off as that occurred around the 20th(?) and the next month's recurrent had already been booked (ie sims scheduled). Nice break with pay.

Sliceback

It's whenever recurrent training gets awarded. The first week of the month. By around the 10-15th they'll be scrambling to find you a recurrent training slot + a preceeding sim and ground school pump up that month or the next month. They might get a slot quickly or it might take 2-6 weeks if you don't consolidate. Over the winter the odds of not consolidate increase as flying is reduced a bit.