JetDoc

Having just missed out on the 6-18 B.I. class (late February CJO) and anticipating the next announced class, I am curious about the trips out of SFO as I live in Northern California. I want to make an educated choice on fleet type and would like just a general idea on things like trip credit, overnights, reserve times and the like, primarily on 3 to 4 day trips. I will have about a 90 to 120 minute drive to the airport and would like to do that only about 4 times a month eventually. Thanks in advance for any insight any of you might be able to provide.

DashTrash

SFO 756: The training can be a lot, especially if you do not have any prior Boeing experience. You are responsible for knowing five different airplanes (UAL 757-200, CAL 757-200, 757-300, 767-300, & 767-400). The training was developed for pilots with prior Boeing and United experience. The flying is very boring. Transcons to Newark, Boston, Orlando, Chicago, etc. No Europe and very little Hawaii.

Guppy (737): Training is difficult, but in a different way. Some instructors teach and check their "techniques". This can result in a lot of ambiguity. The flying has a lot of variety.

Aibus: I don't really know much about. Lots of former RJ flying.

BAe3100FO

Seniority movement seems to be very good in sfo, after 11 months on property it’s shows me at 46% in the 320. 56% on 737 and 62% on 756. Dudes in my newhire class were holding lines right out of ioe on the 320 and a month after on the 737. But that all fluctuates as sfo is the junior base and most new hires bid out ASAP.
If you’re a local then I would look into 737/320...it really depends on your background and what your future expectations are for the first year or two. 320, a lot of RJ style trips (or mainline trips prior to the floodgates of rj scope relaxation) 3 legs is the most I’ve flown... usually 2 and often 1 on day one and four(albeit, I prefer red eyes on the last day - get home early and essentially another day off). 737, gets more beach layovers and such (but in a less desirable office). 756 out of sfo.... you’ve read why it’s just not that exciting.
Good luck in your choice! Even the dudes/dudettes forced into the 756 are in a great seat!
Welcome to United!

Edit: I’m an east coast dude

ufgatorpilot

I’m on the 320 in SFO. With close to 4 years seniority, I’m at 20% on the 320, 25% on the 737, and 37% on the 756. Training on the bus wasn’t challenging. If you get the 320/737 in training, you can always bid up to the 756 right away. At least one person from my class did that. I don’t pay too much attention to our fleet plan, but the 756 is a shrinking fleet from what I understand. I think the 756 flying out of SFO is mostly transcons to ewr, bos, etc. If you like flying one leg a day, go for the 756.

No Hawaii flying on the 320. If you want Hawaii flying, bid the 737.

The 320 trips seem a lot busier than when I first started. No shortage of 3 leg days. I avoid 4 leg days, but there aren’t many of those.

You can’t really go wrong with whatever you end up with, especially living in base. It’s great place to work!

gon2fly

757 is a slowly shrinking fleet....but as mentioned...one or two legs per day transcons....mostly to hubs, Vegas, Orlando, etc...

Bus fleet is very slowly growing (used 319s from China, one at a time in random timing). As mentioned, many multiple leg days. Some of the Bus pairings do indeed resemble RJ flying.....up and down the West coast all day long.

737 is a growing fleet (185 total Max on the way). Generally one and two leg days, with an occasional three leg day. Transcons and a good mix of Hawaii flying.

Most movement will be on the 737 or Bus.....and slower on the 757. Flew the 757 for 10 years and it is a sweet ride. Don’t let the training footprint scare ya....767-400 is quite different, but most of the others are generally minor differences (Rolls or Pratt motors, etc.)...

Congrats on the new gig!

JetDoc

Thanks guys for all the good info! I greatly appreciate it!

MiLa

There has been a large amount of turnover on the fleet and although I can’t say that this doesn’t still happen, I know it’s way less prevalent. There has been a huge push for standardization and improvements have been made.... Can more improvements be made? Sure but there is no reason to be afraid of guppy training for this reason IMHO.

JetDoc

Thanks for the insight!

Andy

I'm a bottom lineholder on the 320. My schedule for June is 3x3 days and 2x4 days for 88 1/4 hrs' credit time.
There are enough 4 day trips in the schedule.
I have a mix of transcons and short flights up and down the left coast.

SDP08

I am going to be lazy and quote JetDoc, except I am east coast and live in base at EWR (Bucks County, PA)! Any east coast people that can offer insight into the different airframes, especially for someone living within an hour of EWR? Thanks in advance!