tsquare

You left off the -ER. That's a pretty good gig.

BlindBentBingo

What's Junior life in NYC ER like?

Paok

+1, please anyone chime in. From someone who went through two training courses in 2013 (and initial airline/type rating and a military upgrade) I would really love to stay on my current aircraft (76ER), but really have no idea what to expect if I were able to get it in training. Would be hoping for NYC base. Anyone?

gloopy

The ER is a senior airplane with some of the best flying and variety in the airline. But there is a reason 12,000 pilots all say "no thanks" to being junior on it.

Not that long ago it was the queen of the fleet. The worst thing you could get was a evening JFK report for a 24 hour layover in DUB (2 man ops, lower credit compared to points east) as it was an international category. Now its mostly domestic, tons of early AM reports, lots of red eyes West and South, lots of Mexico City, reporting from all 3 airports, and it lives in the malaria belt when it does fly over water. There is still some premium flying embedded within the mix, but junior pilots will only see it sporadically on reserve or the occasional trip trade.

Its also a shrinking fleet, and while there *should* be enough positive movement to avoid most involuntary displacements, this round of new hires on the ER will be the first to get bumped if enough pilots don't voluntarily bid off as it shrinks.

One positive the fleet historically had was that in the trough months it was radically over staffed. To the point where even junior pilots could get a lot of time at home on long call. But staffing is tighter in general these days, and network has gotten pretty good at finding things for pilots to do in all but the fattest months.

Absolutely go for it if you gotta have big or have the Paris-First-Class-International bug. Just keep in mind the down sides, and that junior pilots will get a lot of that. Then as you start to get senior, people will continue to pile on top of you for a while because it truly is a fantastic plane to be on when you have some seniority. Everyone wants it. But no one wants to be very junior on it.

Also keep in mind that the plane and the flying that it does will be there for your entire career, and you will be able to jump the line whenever you feel you hit the sweet spot to do the kind of flying you like, without ever having to put up with the negatives. YMMV.

flycozter

Probably a repeat question. Can new hires book positive space travel to/from training on breaks right out the gate...for example, the weekend in between the two weeks of indoc?

badgerned

Here is the updated spreadsheet. As previously reported looks like 50 in the Jun 2 class with a few deferments. Hires from Dec 19 to Feb 4 in the 2 Jun class (approx. 66 CJOs) so either some deferments, dropped out of the pool, or my numbers are wrong.

Note: New spreadsheet link due to trouble with the old one.

I have very little info on CJOs after Feb 20, so this spreadsheet will rapidly lose its usefulness if I don't get the number of CJOs offered after Feb 20.

Finally, a personal question. I will be commuting for about a year from DFW with the hope of eventually getting out west (SLC or SEA). Any ideas for best aircraft to start out in to get off reserve quickest. Anyway, best of luck to all those starting. Keep sending me updates especially on class drops. Cheers,


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...20May%2014.JPG

JungleBus

Yes, in my class probably 80% went home that weekend. They'll show you how to book it on the 2nd or 3rd day of class.

flycozter

Awesome, thanks!

Check Essential

ned-
1) Best aircraft to get off reserve quickest is probably the 88.

2) You will enjoy your life a whole lot better if you move to a base. Commuting sucks.

If you are going to be a brand new Delta pilot, I would pick a Delta base city and move your family. If its out west then you might have to wait a little while before you can get there but it shouldn't be too long at the rate things are going.

badgerned

That's the plan. Anchor for a year in our current home then move to the Delta base I think we can hold soonest. Thanks for the info. Of course this is assuming, I get into training soon and Putin doesn't start WWIII.