ASTAR Questions

[Tweaker]

- While on a 7 on 7 off schedule, are you away from ILN the entire time, or do you return for any overnights there?

- What does a typical 28 day period earn on average for pay credit? I see that guarantee is quite low at 65 hours. (I usually earn 100+ hours at current job)

- How long is a typical duty period each night? How much block time?

- What is a typical schedule each night (report time, break for sort, check out time)?

- I live in central VA. I don't expect to choose to commute long-term, but if I did...Do any of the following cities have service to ILM or CVG from ASTAR or ABX?

RIC
IAD
LYH
ROA
any others in area?

- Does it not seem like it would require really substantial growth (more than advertised by your management) to avoid furloughs or at least big time stagnation as you transition to 2 man cockpits? As the FEs are already 10 year men, this concerns me a lot.

- Because I have no experience in 3 man cockpits, what does the FE do besides run the gauges? Radios, checklists, coffee-bitch, anything else?

Thanks for your assistance. I am really considering this move, as I would love to leave the problems of the 121 Passenger industry behind for good.

 

[erichartmann]

- ...Do any of the following cities have service to ILM or CVG from ASTAR or ABX?

RIC
IAD
LYH
ROA
any others in area?....

Tweak, FYI its ILN, not ILM.

ABX operates flights from ROA, RIC, & IAD. A feeder operates direct from LYH to ILN.

 

[jmreii]

- While on a 7 on 7 off schedule, are you away from ILN the entire time, or do you return for any overnights there?

- What does a typical 28 day period earn on average for pay credit? I see that guarantee is quite low at 65 hours. (I usually earn 100+ hours at current job)

- How long is a typical duty period each night? How much block time?

- What is a typical schedule each night (report time, break for sort, check out time)?

- I live in central VA. I don't expect to choose to commute long-term, but if I did...Do any of the following cities have service to ILM or CVG from ASTAR or ABX?

RIC
IAD
LYH
ROA
any others in area?

- Does it not seem like it would require really substantial growth (more than advertised by your management) to avoid furloughs or at least big time stagnation as you transition to 2 man cockpits? As the FEs are already 10 year men, this concerns me a lot.

- Because I have no experience in 3 man cockpits, what does the FE do besides run the gauges? Radios, checklists, coffee-bitch, anything else?

Thanks for your assistance. I am really considering this move, as I would love to leave the problems of the 121 Passenger industry behind for good.

I have always heard the FE is the hardest working member of a three member crew, especially on the 27 and the dinosaur-8 or steam engine. In a emergency you will be busier than a one-legged man in a hind kicking contest.

 

[fodc8]

The 727 is true he is busy. The DC8 and the A300 S/O's job is to jumpseat between preflights.

 

[AV8OR]

The 727 is true he is busy. The DC8 and the A300 S/O's job is to jumpseat between preflights.

Shhhhh. Quit that! Lies, lies....all lies!

 

[Tweaker]

Thanks, auto-type inserted ILM there by default.

Is it possible to jumpseat on the feeder flights? I actually live in CHO, I just know I have never seen ASTAR or ABX operate here. Does a feeder run to ILN from CHO as well?

Any help from someone on these ?s

- While on a 7 on 7 off schedule, are you away from ILN the entire time, or do you return for any overnights there?

- What does a typical 28 day period earn on average for pay credit? I see that guarantee is quite low at 65 hours. (I usually earn 100+ hours at current job)

- How long is a typical duty period each night? How much block time?

- What is a typical schedule each night (report time, break for sort, check out time)?

 

[Flyin Tony]

The feeder flight goes CHO LYH ILN and back to CHO in the AM, leaves CHO at 9pm. Its a Ameriflight bro. Im not sure if they will let us take Astar guys (only southwest) It wont hurt to ask though. I will let you know

 

[Chubaka]

The best thing about this job is there are no peeps. Only boxes and an occasional jumpseater. If you can condition yourself to sleep during the day, this is a good job. I'll answer one of your questions, about 7 on, 7 off. Firstly reserve schedules are 8 on and 6 off. The bid period is 28 days. There are 13 bid periods for the year. Why? I have no idea. But it works. The first day of reserve or a line for that matter your trip will have you show at about 3:00 am. You will do one or two legs to get to your destination. The hotels are top notch, quiet, and places to eat nearby. At roughly 9:00 pm you will start the return flight to Wilmington. Arriving at about 1:00 am. If you have another trip, the show time will be about 3:00 am again. While in Wimington at the hub, there is an OK cafeterea, bunk rooms, and a quiet lounge with lazy boys. After a couple of years I'd say you'll make $75,000 pretty easy. To add, DHL does not generally fly on the weekends or on holidays, so if these days fall on your schedule, which they will, they are yours to do as you wish.

 

[Tweaker]

At roughly 9:00 pm you will start the return flight to Wilmington. Arriving at about 1:00 am. If you have another trip, the show time will be about 3:00 am again.quote]

Thanks, let me make sure I understand you. Rather than a 7 day trip, you usually do one day out and next back to the hub? A series of these makes up the 7 on?

Also, after you get back to ILN at 1 AM and work the next day, would you be done for a night in ILN, or ship out 2 hours later at 3AM?

 

[AV8OR]

At roughly 9:00 pm you will start the return flight to Wilmington. Arriving at about 1:00 am. If you have another trip, the show time will be about 3:00 am again.quote]

Thanks, let me make sure I understand you. Rather than a 7 day trip, you usually do one day out and next back to the hub? A series of these makes up the 7 on?

Also, after you get back to ILN at 1 AM and work the next day, would you be done for a night in ILN, or ship out 2 hours later at 3AM?

Our "days" begin and end at 0330 so your last "day" always with an inbound leg to ILN. Once you get back to ILN on that leg, unless you have another day of duty beginning at 0330ish, you are done and can leave to drive home, the crash pad, the hotel, catch a js or whatever.