Tomcat

I was born there while my Old Man was flying for the 82nd. Don't know what I hate admitting more, that I was born in Fayette'Nam or my Air Force ancestry!
Of course my parents were closely related, so the Navy took me immediately. Unfortunately they were not siblings, so the Marines wouldn't consider me.

Elvis90

Looks like a net -106 pilots in MSP. I see NYC MD-88B in my future...but I might be off reserve there.

BTW, I've flown both the 73N and A320...from a pilot's perspective, the A320 wins hands down. Legroom, retractable table, simplicity, two jumpseats...just watch out for complacency.

Bill Lumberg

Are you looking for a VD off of the 330? Without the "premium" widebody stuff getting displacements, it might be tougher to get that. Do you miss Saipan that much???? Just wait a couple more years, or until your 2 year training freeze is up, and then you might be a lot more senior on that 330...

80ktsClamp

No it doesn't! The recirc fans are loud and it's not a Boeing!

dragon

Don't forget the required anti-malaria medicine!

Fifi ain't fun!

scambo1

I think Ferd is just waiting for the SEA 330 trips to all start with a deadhead from Phoenix.

capncrunch

I think so too. It seems odd that they want all the training from this AE done by October. That will place the bulk of training over the summer flying schedule, not something they usually do. Add that with the talk about a "quick contract extension" and a picture starts to become clear.

Tomcat

I'm sure you would like either one.... 320 is more comfortable, quiet and seems like a newer generation of aircraft. 73 is realiable, a little cramped for a tall guy and noisey. WIth 100 737-900's on order and coming next year, that would play into my decision matrix. Also, if you hadn't flown glass (which is a rare thing these days) the 320 may be a little more of a leap forward, but it's not rocket science. Then there's the obigatory comment about not being attached to the flight controls. If that bothers you, don't go into the military or fly any new generation of aircraft.

Personally, I have flown both now, but I wanted to see the 320 from the right seat, before the left (it will be a very long time before I can sit Captain on the 320). If I could go directly into the Captain seat of a 320 or a 73, I would choose the 320.

If you're looking at ATL on the 320, it's going senior and the trips are bad. I don't see the quality of the trips improving significantly until some of the 73 flying is moved out of the base, say a DTW 73 base.... Some of the most senior pilots in ATL are flying the 737 down to the Carribean on what's know as, "Dinner and a Movie" or the "Carribean Club". Seems like the 320 is not flying transcons out of ATL and I've been told that the case because the 73 has seatback entertainment (Driven by Marketing). I do miss the West Coast layovers.

Hope that helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.

TC

Boomer

The underboob on Olive is lacking, but Popeye looks like a million bucks wearing short sleeves and a tie!

Going2Baja

Yes both..As said above the Bus is VERY roomy....I LOVED this. And that's about all I loved. The FMS is strange and the autopilot is the reason for the a/c having the highest # of ATC busts in all of aviation.

The NG is a little cramped, but @ 5'9" I didn't mind too much. As far as flying the NG is great. Easy FMS, great AP, but the overhead is still 60's tech. Systems goto the bus...VERY easy to master.

The best of both worlds would be if they combined the two a/c - but we know that won't happen.

I'm on the ER now and I miss the screens of the NG and the room in the bus...but the trips on the ER are better than both. Good luck in your hunt!

Baja.