NoRegrets

Ok, so if I am posting this in the wrong spot I apologize, I am new to the forum. I also don't completely understand Auburn17Pilot's information (I guess that is clear based on my questions).

What are the chances of holding Houston out of training?
How long are new hire FO's on reserve.

I am 56 years old pilot living in Houston and looking to make a career change. I have been a GA pilot for 17 years with just under 1500. I always regretted not following my dream into an aviation career so in the current environment I figured I should just go for it. Thus my username.

The best case for me would be to hold Houston, on reserve or holding a line. If I can't hold Houston but am holding a line somewhere else I won't mind the commute. To be honest sitting on reserve and commuting scares me a bit.

Thanks in advance for any feedback and for putting up with my newbie post.

Geardownflaps30

Its actually pretty clear from Auburn’s post. He listed the date of hire of the most junior line holder in each base. These are the people that hold a regular schedule (they are not on reserve). So let’s take CMH for an example... the most junior FO in CMH that held a regular schedule for August was hired on April 3 of this year. That means since training takes 2.5 - 3 months to complete that person hit the line flying about July 1. So they spent the month of July on reserve and became a line holder in Aug...hence one month on reserve.

As to IAH as a base for a new hire, as has been said over and over on these threads, the base is too new to make any accurate predictions on how long to hold it. The base has literally only been open 35 days! There’s no track record of its flying, seasonal increases/decreases and people flowing in and out of the base. Suffice it to say, it’s a very small base and it’s going to take time to see any changes there.

njd1

I won't say zero chance, but near there. Right now IAH is small and growing slowly so there are limited opportunities to get in there.

That said, it is generally accepted you can hold almost any base OTHER than MIA and IAH out of training, but you'll be on reserve for a few months. EWR is running 6 months of reserve right now, for example but I think that's on the high side. LGA, on the other hand, is handing out lines within a month of completion of IOE.

The best strategy for most people is to seek an initial award base where you are likely to hold a line right out of training or with minimal reserve and then move to the base you want when you know you can hold a line there. Knowing whether you can hold a line at any particular base requires being on property, having access to Flica, and comparing the recent awards at the desired base to your seniority number.

NoRegrets

Thank you. Your right, it is pretty clear. You explanation helped a lot!!!! I did think to factor in the time between Hire Date and completion of IOE. Thanks again.

Ticon

How long to reserve at PHL? What about a line? What are the trips like?

BosoxH60

From earlier in the thread.

planesense

What are the most junior captain bases right now? Once I get to that point in a couple of years, I'd like to have a general idea of where I might be able to spend the least amount of time on reserve.

Ticon

I saw that, I was asking about reserve and what the trips are like as well.

bscott58d

No way to even predict the end of this year let alone a few out in many situations. The whole shabang to jump to warp drive or goes tits up depending on where you are or circumstances.

bscott58d

Minus the what are lines like just need to do a little basic math bud