tom14cat14

how did you get it after only 3 months in the saab? Have you been with colgan only 3 months? And i thought there was a 12 month seat lock

Fly782

Saab bases closing = disppacements

Seat locks go bye bye with a displacement

flyboywbl

Actually i've been with Mesaba. I get displace dec 23rd. Since i live in NYC JFK was my first pick after Saab in LGA. Seems dumb that they hired me to a base they knew was closing.

CAPTAINPCL

Good luck in training, you'll do just fine!!

Lowlevel

And that...is why regionals start at $18k a year salary LOL!

Don't worry about going back to the SAAB, DCI will not have those much longer.

I was based JFK for 4 years, at the over-abused step-child of DAL (you know, the one that was told to close their JFK base because DAL only wants aircraft with a first class cabin in NY airports, then put 9E 50-seaters there...another lie), but hey I'm not bitter or anything! LOL!

I am actually one of the few that loved being JFK based. Easy commute on JetBlue, you get to mingle with airlines of the world (watch out for the really big white ones, that will hit you), and the action of the whole place is "electrifying". Best of all, it's not a bunch of red/white/blue tails, like ATL and DTW.

Advice for in/out of JFK? Learn the lingo, learn the radio calls. Don't miss calls! You can tell the regulars from the outsiders when you listen. Be brief and quick to respond, but at the same time, be a professional pilot on the radio. Know your expected crossings and speeds, and be ready for them. Expect your heading off LGA, and plan ahead. Expect to keep up the speed, until you get to an assigned speed. My personal suggestion when flying a CRJ: if you are at 16K, and given a decend to 8K, come down quick (idle, 250kts, speed brakes and 2000+ fpm. The controller will see this, and usually keep you coming down and cut you in early. If you do it slowly, you'll be heading out to sea somewhere off New Jersey (to put you in the line). I'm not a huge fan of speed brakes (rumble for passengers), but this is one time when it works great.

On the ground, know the airport. Learn the taxi routes that they use. Learn the frequencies and what the controllers want to hear (DAL ramp, ground, tower...). When approching the airport, you can see the routes they are taking on the ground, plan your turn off's to better your chances of getting to the gate quicker. (Landing 22L, plan a roll to J..it's quick to DAL gates. Landing 31R, plan a quick left turn off if they are taxing clockwise, if it's a counterclockwise taxi, get off to not mess up the guy behind you landing, but it's not as important to rush it). If you are landing 31L, right turn off at M or N is right where DAL is, so it works great.

Best food on ready reserve: T5 (JetBlue) has a great salad bar, and other restautants. T4 has a few good places, and it's fun to watch the international crowd. Or take the airtrain to Leffert's Blvd, walk up Leffert's about 1/4-1/2 mile and go to Pizza Port (on right). Great NY pizza and a great penne pasta in vodka sauce!

Hope these tips help. Just enjoy it!

Lowlevel

Oh yeah, and don't fear the VOR/GPS 13L It's one of my favorite approches. 3000ft at Assualt, 1500 at CRI, down to 800 and follow the blinky lights...easy peasy Try to roll out of the turn over the hotel, on final at 600 feet and you'll be right on the GS.

On crappy weather days, they will give you lower altitudes at Assualt and CRI to get you in (it's on the chart).

This one is fun. Other fun ones in the northeast are the River Visual 19 at DCA, the Mt Vernon visual/circle 33 at DCA (cross the bridge at 600-700 down the river and turn final toward 33 and you'll be right on), the Harbor Visual to Portland is beautiful too!

flyboywbl

Thanks LowLevel! Huge help

flyboywbl

I'm offended, I make 23k a year!

Lowlevel

SWEET! That extra money will come in handy for your crash pad and more expensive NYC lifestyle

rightside02

Pretty much all what this guy said. Not
As bad ass some people say, really depends where you commute from.