A350-1000 and other Fleet News
12-07-2023, 04:47 AM
#1671
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Big ones
Posts: 774
ask your coworkers if they know of anyone who has bid WB and regretted it so much that they took deliberate steps to quickly get away. Plenty have voluntarily left the WB but I’d guess that was after at least 18 months in the seat. Just a guess though- good luck and congrats on having the option. also, the ae results show previous category so there’s another info source. Good luck
12-07-2023, 05:35 AM
#1672
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,614
Not sure where to ask, but this thread is about the 350 and it's been active recently.
I'd like to solicit some opinions about bidding to the 350 (LAX specifically). I would be leaving a senior NB FO position where I get all the days off I want and generally cherry-pick specific trips to ultra-junior 350B life. Live in base.
I generally look for easy, fewer legs, shorter trips with late reports so those SYD and AKL trips look pretty good. I've never done long haul though so I'm a little hesitant about the fatigue aspect or getting stuck with a 9 day trip. The last few wide reports show LOTS of coverage awards. Is that standard, or is it just because of the holidays?
TL;DR: live in base, no kids, senior NB to junior WB...should I? Such a personal dilemma but I'd be interested to hear thoughts from the peanut gallery.
I'd like to solicit some opinions about bidding to the 350 (LAX specifically). I would be leaving a senior NB FO position where I get all the days off I want and generally cherry-pick specific trips to ultra-junior 350B life. Live in base.
I generally look for easy, fewer legs, shorter trips with late reports so those SYD and AKL trips look pretty good. I've never done long haul though so I'm a little hesitant about the fatigue aspect or getting stuck with a 9 day trip. The last few wide reports show LOTS of coverage awards. Is that standard, or is it just because of the holidays?
TL;DR: live in base, no kids, senior NB to junior WB...should I? Such a personal dilemma but I'd be interested to hear thoughts from the peanut gallery.
-SYD is a 5 leg day Takeoff, rest, cruise, rest, Landing
-You will spend so much time at home on reserve, your wife will think you were furloughed.
-9 day trips are a fraction of the bid pack that often get broken into smaller pieces.
The downside is if you truly enjoy operating an airplane your opportunities are limited. You will get 2 flying legs per quarter and go to ATL for bounces as an FO.
12-07-2023, 05:59 AM
#1673
Moderator
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,807
This an excellent strategy, btw. If you are thinking at all about moving to the left seat, but also want to try WB life, you can try both this way. Just remember, the balance of your 2-year seat lock for the 350 would be added to a new 2-year seat lock to the left seat. But its really the only 'out' you have if you decide the circadian disruption or longer trips don't suit you (or your family) on the 350. The other potential 'downside' is an extra month on VA Ave in relatively short order, which if you live that far away is not a small consideration. Good luck.
Agreed! The other downside is losing out on the short course if they're going from right to left. But I agree that they should probably go try this out. The seatlock wouldn't be that big of an issue beause by the the time you train and spend 6-9 months on the line, it would likely be less than a year extra on the Captain seatlock. I'd certainly recommend you stick around that long because it took me about 6ish month to figure out how to manage my sleep, before I started feeling somewhat decent on overnights.
12-07-2023, 06:14 AM
#1674
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2016
Position: Not an RJ driver anymore
Posts: 1,066
12-07-2023, 06:17 AM
#1675
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2020
Posts: 2,383
ask your coworkers if they know of anyone who has bid WB and regretted it so much that they took deliberate steps to quickly get away. Plenty have voluntarily left the WB but I’d guess that was after at least 18 months in the seat. Just a guess though- good luck and congrats on having the option. also, the ae results show previous category so there’s another info source. Good luck
12-07-2023, 09:38 AM
#1680
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: Slingin' Gear and Drinkin' Beer
Posts: 595
I couldn’t agree with this more. WB was nice after getting my nuts hammered on the 88 for years, but after a while it got pretty boring IMHO. Do the walk around, make the bunk, eat a sandwich, take off then sit for 15 hours. Rinse. Repeat.
