iFlyRC

Maybe because I grew up in the North East, and got tons of experience driving in the snow, that I personally do not think that winter operations are really that big of a deal. Follow the procedures, be smart about taxiing on slippery area's, and give yourself more than enough room. During my CA IOE, I got to fly out of CLT and in the middle of winter operations. I am grateful for that experience, but I really gotta tell you, I think it requires much more thinking, planning, and being on top of your game dodging summer thunderstorms in and around DFW. Especially with fuel loads, and re-routes. You really need to be thinking like a captain to avoid fuel emergencies. ALWAYS contact dispatch if you get a reroute while taxiing to the runway. I'd say that it is much easier to find yourself in a hole with summer flying than in winter flying.
By no means take this as advice on holding off from upgrading. Do what you feel is best for you.

Navmode

Glad I get to use this again

prior121

Where did I say summer T-Storm flying was less of a threat than winter flying. The guy made a comment about not having much winter experience.

I'm also a northeaster and as an FO I flew with a lot of new upgrades who had spent their entire FO career in the PHX system. To some of those guys/gals, winter ops was a huge deal and sometimes they appeared to barely be able to keep their head above water in winter situations.

EngTrnorPplSwm

I am thinking about going to Mesa. What are the flight benefits with AA? Are they going to change as US/AA merger rolls along?

airflight999

Zero flight benefits with AA other than jumpseating privileges. Even then you'd be lower than the guy who walks the dog of the ex-wife of a retired AA employee.

No word yet on any sort of flight benefits with AA coming our way yet.

flapshalfspeed

These Chahlotte boys know all 'bout them thundahclouds--them thundahclouds done torn up ma's house like a big ole' Carolina hurricane

tinman1

Oh yeah I forgot about this. All I got to do is flip dem cards brotha!

tinman1

Unless you're JSing on company metal

Navmode

Too bad not everyone lives in Louisville or El Paso

24/48

Prior, you make a good point, but would you really be landing in this type of situation to begin with, or are you just throwing it in for the "drama"?

I tend to agree with iFly in that thunderstorms, etc are where the experience matters. The snow storm in YYZ is something you know is going on before you leave your departure airport and you can get a pretty good idea of the conditions you are going into via PIREPS, etc. And chances are with "poor" BA reports and crosswinds forecasted as you suggest, enough fuel will be boarded so that if those conditions actually exist at the time of arrival its an easy divert. (pretty sure those flip cards would say "no bueno" in those conditions)

A Spring dry line in Texas on the other hand is much less predictable. You could be on short final thinking you've beaten it in only to see the field slowly disappear as the gust front moves in, your airspeed jumps 25-30 knots (what goes up must come down). Windshear missed to a divert, that'll get the blood pressure up!

I'll take the blizzard over the +TSRA any time.