Jetblue2

[atphen]

IF hired and had a choice between the EMB-190 or Airbus, what MIGHT be the upgrade time for each if I had a class date this June?

Thank you for your time and effort in responding to my questions.

 

[MercuryPilot]

I don't think the E190 FO slots will be available in June.

To answer your question, probably 10 months or less for the E190 and more like 2.5 years or more for the A320. FWIW, you'll also be frozen in whichever a/c you choose for 2 years from the completion of training. With that in mind, you'd be financially better off (during those first two years) taking the E190 slot right from the start. The E190 slot MAY get you on property (and get you a seniority number) more quickly than waiting for an A320 spot.-Which certainly isn't a bad thing.

Just my thoughts.

MP

 

[FNG320]

atphen,

Management said they expected 6-10 months for new FO in the 190 to up grade to Capt, however that was assuming 60-80 current A320 FO bid to be 190 Captains. They also provided a total compensation comparision that showed that if you went 190 FO, 190 CA, then 320CA you would have more total compenstation at the end of 3+ years than going 320 FO, 320 CA. However that again assumed 60-80 Current Airbus FO upgrading to Captain first. If more than the 60-80 Airbus FO bid to Captain (say 100+) in the 190, now you are looking at 12 months + and the total compensation comparison it blown out of the water.

Right now I don't think management has a real good feeling on actual numbers of Airbus FO that would bid 190 Captain. The bid should take place in APR/MAY and then there will be a better guess on upgrade to Captain on the 190. Thing to remember is the plan is to upgrade 10 per month starting this summer with 10 capt upgrades paired with 10 FO upgrades.

Also as MercuryPilot points out, you may get a 190 class a whole lot faster than waiting for an 320 class, which get you a higher seniority number for that eventual 320 captain position in 3-5 years.

Good luck.

FNG

 

[jaxgus]

June Class Date

IF hired and had a choice between the EMB-190 or Airbus, what MIGHT be the upgrade time for each if I had a class date this June?

To bid Captain in either aircraft JetBlue requires a minimum of 300 hours as an FO in a 121 operation. Depending on your background, starting in Jun may prohibit you from the E190 until Oct 07. In addition to the 2 year equipment lock, a 2 year fence is being established starting Oct 1st to help manage the upgrade time, i.e. compensation of new hire E190 FO's. The fence keeps all current JetBlue pilots in their assigned aircraft until Oct 07. The E190 system bid is scheduled for May and if you start in Jun you will miss the chance to bid the E190 initially since the bid is complete.

It has been mentioned soon new hires are being given the choice of which aircraft they want to start in, but I don't know the exact date this begins. If you are being offered a class right now ask whether or not you can defer starting until the first E190 class, late Aug. I suspect upgrade will be around 6-9 months and this is definitely in your financial and quality of life interests.

Best of luck

 

[C425Driver]

Is there any word on where the E190's will be based? Will JB open new bases in the near future?

C425Driver

 

[TooBad]

B6 is Looking into a Dynamic Basing Model. Not sure how it's going to work, however, it does have some real QOL potential. Only makes sense to see places like BOS, MCO, OAK, DEN, Midwest?, etc...to come into the mix. In additon, a total overhual of the Reserve system is being considered.

 

[SoCentralRain]

"To bid Captain in either aircraft JetBlue requires a minimum of 300 hours as an FO in a 121 operation. Depending on your background, starting in Jun may prohibit you from the E190 until Oct 07."

Okay, fine. So...what if one is hired with greater than 300 hours as an FO in an 121 environment? Will he or she be allowed to go directly to the left seat in the -190, assuming his seniority # allows him to hold -190 Captain?

"If you are being offered a class right now ask whether or not you can defer starting until the first E190 class, late Aug. I suspect upgrade will be around 6-9 months and this is definitely in your financial and quality of life interests."

What's the basis for this? I'm just wondering where this 6-9 month upgrade time is coming from if indeed someone meets the qualifications to upgrade to the left seat of the -190 (121 flight experience, seniority #, etc.) I certainly can accept that JetBlue wishes their new skippers to be suitably immersed in the company ops with [/I]some line flying. But is 6-9 months written down somewhere?

Regards,

SCR

 

[psysicx]

Any chance they will buy big busses and go international?

 

[stillflyn]

Atphen,

The money is a wash after year four. Take the first class they give you. You want a senority number. PM me if you want the hourly breakdown on pay between the 320 & 190.

 

[FNG320]

Quote:
"To bid Captain in either aircraft JetBlue requires a minimum of 300 hours as an FO in a 121 operation. Depending on your background, starting in Jun may prohibit you from the E190 until Oct 07."
Okay, fine. So...what if one is hired with greater than 300 hours as an FO in an 121 environment? Will he or she be allowed to go directly to the left seat in the -190, assuming his seniority # allows him to hold -190 Captain?


The management hasn't really said. They just said 300 hours as an FO. But since current JB 320 FOs will be upgrading first (how many?), you will be behind them. The model/prediction is 6 to 10 months to upgrade to Capt for new hire 190 FOs.

Quote:
"If you are being offered a class right now ask whether or not you can defer starting until the first E190 class, late Aug. I suspect upgrade will be around 6-9 months and this is definitely in your financial and quality of life interests."
What's the basis for this? I'm just wondering where this 6-9 month upgrade time is coming from if indeed someone meets the qualifications to upgrade to the left seat of the -190 (121 flight experience, seniority #, etc.) I certainly can accept that JetBlue wishes their new skippers to be suitably immersed in the company ops with [/I]some line flying. But is 6-9 months written down somewhere?

As mentione earlier they project 60-80 320 FOs to bid to be captain in the 190. With upgrades of 10 per month that is were the 6-10 months comes from. Thus all of the current 320 FOs will be done in the 6-10 months. The fence temporary fence that goes up in the fall will split the groups for 2 years, then it will be open again to bid back and forth. Again if 100+ 320 FOs bid the 190, then upgrade time slides to the right (10 per month).

FNG

 

[Capn Mike]

FWIW, According to the FOM, Upgrade Candidates must have 100 hours in the last 90 days and a minimum of 300 hours total time in type. Instructors and initial airplane cadre are waived from this requirement.


Mike

 

[jaxgus]

Where's the Math Comning From

Okay, fine. So...what if one is hired with greater than 300 hours as an FO in an 121 environment? Will he or she be allowed to go directly to the left seat in the -190, assuming his seniority # allows him to hold -190 Captain?

What's the basis for this? I'm just wondering where this 6-9 month upgrade time is coming from if indeed someone meets the qualifications to upgrade to the left seat of the -190 (121 flight experience, seniority #, etc.) I certainly can accept that JetBlue wishes their new skippers to be suitably immersed in the company ops with [/I]some line flying. But is 6-9 months written down somewhere?

Regards,

SCR

If someone does have the time, they will be allowed to upgrade provided they have the minimum hours in type per the FOM. The 6-9 months is a goal the company has defined so E-190 new hire FO's won't take it in the shorts financially. They desire the quick upgrade so new hires will begin drawing 70+ an hour during their first year. The basis of this goal is what leads to the initial bid only being 100 current JetBlue pilots being allowed to bid the E190 as a Captain. All of this information was briefed to us in February by Dave Bushy, VP for Flight Operations, during pilot meetings at all our domiciles.

jaxgus