737 or Airbus 320

[BTerence]

Not sure which aircraft to bid. Anyone have some pros and cons. Likes and dislikes. Thanks

 

[BEfly]

737. Since you're already typed. Hell, make it easy on yourself. BTW, I know nothing about either of those machines.

 

[Guppiedriver]

It depends on who you're flying for.

 

[reepicheep]

If you're typed and have significant time on the Boeing, the (il)ogic of the Airbus will drive you batty. The autoflight and flight management systems don't think the way North American airline pilots do. Lot's of little gotchas that a Boeing engineer would be fired for. The plusses: It's more roomy, quieter, cooler in summer, with better seats than the 737. If you pick the 'Bus just remember, you're never really "flying" the thing.

 

[Capi_Cafre']

737 or Airbus 320

Straight or Gay?

 

[BTerence]

Thanks for the info. I have no time in the 737 and I accepted a job with United. I have also thought it might be better for the resume to have another type. However it might be easier on me in training if I went 737 because I am already typed

 

[C-17 Driver]

Look at the schedules at United. Look at the Dec bids on Skynet and see how many legs you fly a day w/ the guppy vs the airbus. 2 different types of flying. You will get to the Caribbean in the Bus, not w/ the guppy.

Good luck..

 

[skyslug]

also consider where you'd like to be based. The bus is based almost everywhere while the guppy isn't in LAX or SFO.

 

[contrail67]

Just remember you get a PIC type at United on either aricraft...so you might want a new type?...there will be movement on both aircraft. Bus guys are going home for a longer break after training because they are sooo busy training instructors on the 320. Just remember you are aircraft locked for 3 years, so make sure you take a aircraft that will get you to your desired hub eventually if not immediate.

Good luck to you.

 

[AV80R]

Not sure which aircraft to bid. Anyone have some pros and cons. Likes and dislikes. Thanks

Well, ridin' as a pilot - 737, as a passenger - 320...

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

A 130 seat jet is a 130 seat jet.

Bid which ever will give you the better mix of QOL and pay.

 

[Jet41]

Go to the 737 if you get type, so when you get furloughed you'll be able to go to Southwest.

 

[filejw]

Base sch and type of flying....

 

[snow-back]

Thanks for the info. I have no time in the 737 and I accepted a job with United. I have also thought it might be better for the resume to have another type. However it might be easier on me in training if I went 737 because I am already typed

You've got a job with the majors now...you don't need to worry about that resume...or your logbook.:laugh:

 

[NEDude]

I am typed in the 737 and A320. No time in the 737 though. I have flown with three guys who have significant time in both and am in a crashpad with another - it stands at 3-1 in favor of the bus.

The pros and cons of each according to them:

A320 Pros - MUCH (!!!!!) more comfortable for the pilot (can't be emphasized enough according to them). The cockpit is a nice place to spend several hours. The MCDU (FMS) does a much better job at planning descents and crossing restrictions. No significant differences as far as the pilot is concerned across different models and generations. Better at flying with autothrust on and autopilot off. Apparently the 737 autothrottles struggle a bit when the pilot is handflying. The Airbus does just fine.

A320 Cons - Not as good a performer as the 737. The systems and logic can be a little difficult to adjust to coming from other airplanes. (My note - coming from a background of Beech 1900s, CRJs and a 737 type, I found the A320 very easy to learn.)

B737 Pros - Much better performance. Some models are downright hotrods. The FMS will automatically command a descent when appropriate and selected. Reputation for being tough and well built aircraft.

B737 Cons - Lots of busy work operating simple systems due to 1960s technology. Cramped cockpit and apparently the environmental system up front can be a little lacking on hot days. Due to many genrations and Boeings history of making everything custom for a specific customer, some airlines can have several different variations meaning a lot of different procedures even for one airline (that comes from a CAL guy).

Again, these are comments from guys I know who have experience on both. Not based on my experience.

EDIT- From what I have gathered many guys fly the Airbus completely automated. When you turn the autopilot and autothrust off the airplane flies very well. Coming from the CRJ, the Airbus is a much nicer flying airplane.

 

[AV80R]

I'm not a big airbus fan but must say that I think A320 is much quieter than the B737, at least in the cockpit. I used to fly the 737 (never flown A320 except numerous jumpseats) and found the cockpit pretty loud, especially comparing to the A320 whenever I'd jumpseat. Frankly, I think Boeing did a crappy job when it comes to sound proofing the airplanes from the pilots’ perspective. That's just my take on it.

 

[Truckdriver]

The 320 is nice and comfortable, but I really didn't like the way it flew. I actually like the MD-88 better than the 320 as far as flying characteristics go. I'd still probably go with the 320 because it is so darn comfortable up front with all the room and no yolk.

 

[Shrek]

Great post NE Dude........... very accurate.

 

[reepicheep]

A320 Pros - MUCH (!!!!!) The MCDU (FMS) does a much better job at planning descents and crossing restrictions.

I would have to take issue with this. I've flown both. The Airbus lies to you and will try to get you busted. And what kind of airplane when you program a 300kt descent flies a "window" between 280-320? Sorry; that's not how ATC works in North America. And you can't change the descent speed in managed mode without basically tearing the airplane apart and rebuilding it? Again, not designed with the realities of the ATC system we operate in. I could go on. Maybe I'm just a biased Boeing guy. The one thing I've noticed is the folks who never flew the Boeing and come to the Airbus love it. The ones who've flown Boing come to the 'Bus and spend a lot of time rolling their eyes.

 

[Marko Ramius]

I would have to take issue with this. I've flown both. The Airbus lies to you and will try to get you busted. And what kind of airplane when you program a 300kt descent flies a "window" between 280-320? Sorry; that's not how ATC works in North America. And you can't change the descent speed in managed mode without basically tearing the airplane apart and rebuilding it? Again, not designed with the realities of the ATC system we operate in. I could go on. Maybe I'm just a biased Boeing guy. The one thing I've noticed is the folks who never flew the Boeing and come to the Airbus love it. The ones who've flown Boing come to the 'Bus and spend a lot of time rolling their eyes.

I've flown both and came to the bus from the Boeing, and never rolled my eyes once except when I looked back into the 737 cockpit and wondered why it didn't look so cluttered when I flew it. I actually like the speed bracket thing on the decent speed. One of the things I hated on the 737(300/500) was that it seemed to do a poor job of holding speed in a VNAV descent-especially higher speeds. Even at 300kts, it would have a tendency to get 20kts or so fast before it realized it, then it would freak out and raise the nose big time to correct and next then you know the speed is at 280 and this phugoid dance would continue most of the way down if you left it alone. If you used the vnav capture mode and pre-programmed a slower speed it seemed to do better. Can't speak for the later models. The Bus does a better job imo. It gives itself room to increase or decrease the decent rate and it seems to be more civilized in how it handles things-of course both suck if you forget to program in a big tailwind in advance but that's not really the plane's fault. If you need it to maintain a speed, just pull the knob or if you are fast a little speed brake will usually keep you on speed and profile. After I got used to the plane, I didn't use the cruise altitude trick to reset the decent plan nearly as often.

 

[johnsonrod]

You'll get more route variety on the Airbus at UAL. Add the comfort factor up front and I'd say the Airbus would be my likely pick.

I guess it also depends on where you want to be based. I know a UAL 737 FO based out of Denver who does a lot of intra-California flying and that's what he likes to do - so, he won't be bidding the Airbus for a long while.

 

[wscrj]

The 737 is NO better at holding speed in descent. Hell, the -400's seem quite happy at 15 knots slow. For that matter, nearly any pitch command is inadequate in the 737. Far smoother ride to use LNAV and handle the pitch yourself.

I don't know what other 737 operators use, but whoever came up with the "crosshair" command bars should be taken out, beaten, nursed to health, beaten, rehabilitated, and beaten again...then shot.

Performance is pretty good in the climb. Too bad nothing much more happens when you level out.

 

[AV80R]

... I don't know what other 737 operators use, but whoever came up with the "crosshair" command bars should be taken out, beaten, nursed to health, beaten, rehabilitated, and beaten again...then shot...

Huh??? I fly the 75/76 now and if there was only one thing I could change it'd be the darn v-bar flight director. I love crosshair FD, the best thing that ever happened to an airplane! (besides the coffee maker). The ability to use lateral mode only is a great advantage of crosshair versus v-bar. Also, it's more logical - in a crosshair flight director you are focusing on the middle of the display, whereas in a v-bar flight director you really need to be looking at the edges of the flight director as the center is very hard to see when making very small changes. The way you feel about the crosshair FD is the way I feel about the v-bar FD.

 

[BTerence]

Many good points, I appreciate them all. Thanks

 

[vetrider]

I've flown with cross hair and vbar flight directors and like both. I think they are both so intuitive and easy you just fall into it no matter which it is.

As far as the 737 vs. the 320 its no contest to me, I'll take the 737 any day. All that stuff about the comfort, quietness, etc. of the bus is true and understandable, I suppose its whats most important to you that matters.

I like noise. I like throttles that move. I like feedback and feel. I'll take the 737. I miss the -200s and those Jt8s. Comfort is for the living room, and so is carpet by the way.

 

[AV80R]

...As far as the 737 vs. the 320 its no contest to me, I'll take the 737 any day...

- Well, I too will pick Boeing anyday, mainly for reliability issues. Also, I'm a big rudder aficionado - I really like to have it available to me...

...I like noise. I like throttles that move. I like feedback and feel...

I agree with you on mostly everything except when it comes to noise - you sound like my former flight instructor - "real pilots don't need no stinkin' headsets..." Fast forward 10 years - I ran into him and his wife at a mall and it was embarrassing to his wife and to me how loud he was when we were chit chatting at the mall; I guess all those years of flying without a headset did some damage to his hearing after all...

In a nutshell, I would like a Boeing product with Airbus comforts...

Boeing, are you listening? Hello??? Nah, I guess the hearing is gone…

 

[Spooky 2]

Huh??? I fly the 75/76 now and if there was only one thing I could change it'd be the darn v-bar flight director. I love crosshair FD, the best thing that ever happened to an airplane! (besides the coffee maker). The ability to use lateral mode only is a great advantage of crosshair versus v-bar. Also, it's more logical - in a crosshair flight director you are focusing on the middle of the display, whereas in a v-bar flight director you really need to be looking at the edges of the flight director as the center is very hard to see when making very small changes. The way you feel about the crosshair FD is the way I feel about the v-bar FD.

Agree with you completely. I started my airline flying with the Zero readers in Connies and the old (like me, Collins ID48's) later the Collins FD105 (singe steering needle) and then the usual FD108,109' and a few FD110's all of which were the single cue command bars. Finally grew up and started flying the DC10/L1011 with the dual cue cross hairs and never looked back except for a couple of years on a corparte B767/757 that had the single cue V bar. The G5/550 has the ability to switch between the two so I guess everyone can be happy on that airplane. I do some B777 work these days and while the single cue is an option I have yet to see an airline that has selected it. So bottom line, I like the dual cue best and I really believe you can hand fly an approach to a higher degree of accuracy with this system.

 

[PreContact]

Huh??? I fly the 75/76 now and if there was only one thing I could change it'd be the darn v-bar flight director. I love crosshair FD, the best thing that ever happened to an airplane! (besides the coffee maker). The ability to use lateral mode only is a great advantage of crosshair versus v-bar. Also, it's more logical - in a crosshair flight director you are focusing on the middle of the display, whereas in a v-bar flight director you really need to be looking at the edges of the flight director as the center is very hard to see when making very small changes. The way you feel about the crosshair FD is the way I feel about the v-bar FD.

Gotta disagree with you there. I like our v-bar flight directors! But depends on where you come from I guess!

 

[AV80R]

Gotta disagree with you there. I like our v-bar flight directors! But depends on where you come from I guess!

You're right; we all have our own preferences. I am not singling out "our" flight directors just saying that, in my view, crossbar FDs are easier to follow, especially at night when one's tired. It’s so much easier to track the center of a crossbar FD than the outer edges of the v-bar FD - just my view of course.

Maybe the fact I'm a computer game nerd makes me bias toward the crosshair FD? (most "shooting games" use some form of crosshair for aiming)... I'm not sure... Either way, Boeing is a great product, too loud but great nevertheless...

 

[cactusboy53]

Straight or Gay?

Sir, I fart in your general direction!!:laugh: