Bucking Bar

GBU 24, I can confirm the rumors in this thread. 25 per class, two classes per month, three to four weeks from interview to class date meaning 25 to 50 in line for class at any one time.

Aircraft bids are MD88NYC, MD88ATL, and a small handful of 737NG, and 767 slots open in New York and ATL. Plan for MD88 in New York and anything else you get will be a nice surprise.

We were told Delta would start hiring more military as hiring moved along. The civillians can generally get "released" with two week notice which gave them a little more flexibility on class dates when this first got spun up.

Bucking Bar

20, I believe. The 16th class is the first with 25, I think.

GBU-24

Thanks Bucking Bar,

Any idea on when the 767/757s have been going? I heard that they were under bud pretty good, so can more of them be expected?

Bucking Bar

Yes, more are expected out of NYC. I'm not sure the date, but I don't think until after the fall / early winter 2007.

Guard Dude

GBU-24,
The dudes in crew resources(CR) are saying they are working to put a mix of AC in the assignments for new hire classes. What is going to drop in each class I don't know. However, the CR dudes said if they wanted to make their job easy they could put all new hires at NYC on the MD-88. However, assignments are available on just about everything in ATL and NYC. The 4 76/75ATL in my class were scooped up by local ATL folks (prior ATL based regionals and a LCC) Sitting on reserve suits them since all four live locally. Also, the assignments are a snapshot in time of what they need right now. Right after we got our assignments, the CR dudes went through and showed all the vacancies. On Monday there were a lot of 76/75 NYC and a lot of 76/75 ATL vacancies. So if you want big iron and don't mind being on reserve for a while then go for it. It will be a 2 year lock to bid off your initial assignment. Once you get a number you can bid it. With that being said, you will still go through training for your initial assignment, whatever it is. Your initial assignment training is tailored to a new hire. For me, I got a MD-88 to NYC because I was junior. However, I am pleased because the thought of holding a line excites me since I will be a commuter. Plus, I started Delta with the thought I would get the MD-88 to NYC. So, no worries. Just remember the pay in your first year is the same on any AC. So I figure I will fly for a year on the 88 and see what is available in ATL in about 9 months. I am going to bid ATL for easier commuting, but I can't complain. Plus, it could be worse. My old man sat the "panel" for 7 years at a different Legacy when he started. He didn't see the right seat for 7 years and didn't see a Maddog for 9 years. So I figure I am ahead of the power curve considering how cyclic the industry can be. It still has not hit me I have made it to a Legacy carrier. If you can tell I am the "glass is half full" dude! This place is awesome.

Cheers,

G.Dude

Hornet1

GDude,
I was thinking pretty much along the same lines as you as far as my first assignment. I will be a commuter and want to make it as painless as possible for the first few years. Where will you be commuting from? What makes ATL easier to commute to than NYC?

Thanks,
Hornet1

Bucking Bar

Yes, my question is the same as Hornets'.

NYC seems like a better place to commute to. After all, in and out of Atlanta you can get bumped out by all the 25,000 employees who are senior to you (plus wives, partners, ASA folks, their wives, etc...probably adds up to 50,000+ pass riders out of ATL ) when you try to use your passes. Also, many of the ATL based International pilots commute using the jumpseat.

Commuting is much easier when you are trying to get somewhere that is not senior. The other advantage of New York is that a pilot based there could hold a "commutable" schedule much easier than they could in ATL. Also, smaller is better when commuting, from my decade's worth of experience especially if smaller has good frequency of service.

Additional information useful to commuting noob's:
(1) Jumpseaters get bumped for weight and balance before pass riders
(2) Aircraft has to have sufficient crew O2 for the jumpseater, (which is an issue on DCI aircraft which don't get maintenance done as regularly now that they leave base and don't return for several days, don't know about mainline)
(3) A seat in back is a whole lot more comfortable than most jumpseats.

Deez340

It largely depends on where you live and the flight options specific to that city. Sometimes geography is not the only factor. Flight frequency, number of other commuters out of that city, seniority in base, ect...... Where would you be commuting from?

Guard Dude

Hornet1,
Why ATL? I will be commuting from OKC. There are five Delta or Delta Connection flights a day out of OKC to ATL. There are no direct flights to JFK or LGA from OKC from any carrier. So for me NYC will be a 2 hop commute, regardless. So ATL just makes sense for me.

For everyone:
The crew resource dude came and talk to our new hire class an hour before the close of the advanced bid, because it was our first bid. He said all the MD-88NYC folks who want ATL WILL get it! So I will be in ATL this fall. He said everyone who wanted the 76ER to NYC WILL get it. He also said the next classes should see some 76ERs in the drop. So if you want a 76ER to NYC and you last 4 are low (0000 to 3000, my guess), you're in!

Good Luck to All

G.Dude

Bucking Bar

Dude - that makes complete sense. Thanks. You are correct, a two leg commute stinks.