flyingreasemnky

The people that don't like reserve are commuters as commuting to reserve is the most miserable thing in the world. If you live in base, it can be one of the greatest things in the world. The days I don't get used, I'm just sitting at home while collecting a paycheck. If you are commuting to it then you are paying money to sit in a crashpad (or worse a hotel) and doing nothing when you could be at home. Its especially bad at RAH as you always have to commute in the day before your reserve starts. I've done both and have to say that commuting to reserve is like being stuck in purgatory.

FishSammichNat

So, I am am currently driving a dash...I am very interested in republic, and in particular a PIT or PHL base. I'm kinda over the whole turboprop thing and realize guys with jet time have more competitive resumes than me with my TP time. So what are the odds of being hired into republic with a PIT base at this time? Keep in mind as a dash driver I am accustomed to min days off (as a senior lineholder no less), 16 hr duty days and flying on min rest. So republic would be a qol upgrade regardless. Just wonderin if PIT or PHL in a 170 is realistic right now?

magnus0322

That isn't always true. Scheduling is very proactive about assigning flying. Most of the time they will call me the day before, even on a day off in an attempt to notify me. The nice thing about reserve here is once you are notified you are no longer on call. So say your reserve is at 3am to 3pm, if they notify of a trip with a noon show, you are no longer on reserve at 3am. I never answer on my days off but rather go on flica to see what they want, sometimes I get lucky and it's a later show so I call them back and I get to commute in that morning instead of the night before. It's all about playing the game, overall reserve here (Shuttle) has been easier than at my previous airline, despite the lack of work rules. So while reserve sucks, and it sucks everywhere, I still find it better than what I was used to. Of course I've heard much differently on the other certificates. Maybe someone from Republic or Chautauqua can comment on their experience on reserve.

astec

Interesting I heard the same from another shuttle fo. I wonder if its anything like the other certs. The reserve times suck, 3-3 is less than desirable if you're a commuter, but if its a habitual thing to let you know the day before, it wouldnt be as bad.

flyingreasemnky

PIT is the most junior base on the 170 for FO's so if you can get on the Republic certificate on the 170, you could definitely get it. The problem is they are desperate for fo's on the q and 145 hence the reason they dropped the training contract on them. They do however give people the opportunity to pick the cert and airframe if there is an availability and guys with prior 121 usually get first pick. There is a PIT base opening on the Q but don't know how interested you are in that.

On the Republic side, if you are the most junior reserve guy, you will get used non-stop as the contract requires the most junior as first out. Once you get a little seniority and can start holding the days off you want, you will no longer get used. I only worked 8 days last month and only 13 days this month. It is true that your report time changes if they assign you something but if not, you are commuting in the day before. Reserve here isn't too bad especially because you don't have hot reserve but a few work rules would be nice (like bidding first or last out). I do have to say that the schedulers treat you better than my last airline and will work with you (if it benefits them). I know my sim partner (who commutes) a lot of times will get scheduling to move his reserve back to a later start so he doesn't lose a day off but it only works if they need the coverage.

In PIT, most of the trips start early (like 530am) so you have to commute in the day before anyways. Also, the trips typically get in after the last flight out leaves so its a commuting black hole (especially because there is only one crash pad in the whole city [for males only]).

DSRoss996

Everything you're saying about reserve at Shuttle is 100% true. Our schedulers (for the most part) have made reserve much better than it could be. Reserve does suck but they usually go out of there way to make it easier for you.

3stripes

How much on average is a first year taking home on the Shuttle side, both on reserve and as a line holder? Things are really taking a dive at my current airline and I need to decide whether to take the plunge in the next few weeks. I'm on 2nd year pay at my current airline and hover between reserve and a relief line. The $5,000 signing bonus will definitely help, but I need to get an idea of what I could expect to take home in the first year.

astec

anyone have any idea what theyre hiring into the Q basewise now? and is the CHQ cert even worth going to?

MasterOfPuppets

whether or not its "worth" going to CHQ is up to you I posted all the info....I don't know why you wouldn't go...

There will be either a EWR or IAD base for the Q but nothing has been announced yet all new hires on the Q are going to PIT. It looks like PIT will be 40-50 crews.

troyb

I've had the same experience and I've noticed that there really is no method to their system since sometimes I have gotten a call 4 days in advance, but not often. Usually they call the day before with a good 3 or 4 day trip. I'm very junior in my base and I just had a week off for Thanksgiving and I have the last 8 days of next month off for the holidays. The rest of the month I get paid to go to the gym and use my xbox all day with the occasional call to work. Life is good but like yourself I had a bad experience at my last job working 20 shifts a month of uniformed airport ready reserve and getting junior manned on my days off so I can appreciate what I have now.