XJT Upgrade <2yrs

[xjlifer]

Got a ? for ya. How can hiring XJT people at CAL hold down their (XJT) cost's. Way back when NWA was hiring we always heard they did not want to hire XJ or 9E folks cause then XJ and 9E had to hire and replace costing more than if they (NWA) hired from elsewere.

 

[Millls22]

So about my question before, there is not even a chance of holding a line at EWR after about 6 to 8 months. What is IAH like...I have been on reserve for a little over a year now at my current regional, I was under the impression that our reserve and scheduling system was the worst out there..

 

[Paul R. Smith]

Got a ? for ya. How can hiring XJT people at CAL hold down their (XJT) cost's. Way back when NWA was hiring we always heard they did not want to hire XJ or 9E folks cause then XJ and 9E had to hire and replace costing more than if they (NWA) hired from elsewere.

I'm not expert but I believe its partly due to the fact that we are sending most of our guys directly to CAL. They leave from the top of our list in large numbers so we lose relatively high tenure (8-10 year) guys making more per hour and having 3 weeks vacation. We replace them with relatively junior captains with less vacation and make much less per hour. And the company does not have as much to match on the 401k and less on the b-plan. I could go on but I'm just speculatin anyway but this is how it was once explained to me by a union rep.

 

[Paul R. Smith]

So about my question before, there is not even a chance of holding a line at EWR after about 6 to 8 months. What is IAH like...I have been on reserve for a little over a year now at my current regional, I was under the impression that our reserve and scheduling system was the worst out there..

Trust me, as far as scheduling systems go, some may be better but they all suck.

 

[Superpilot92]

Reserve system isnt that bad but its alot better if you live in one of the base cities.

It would benefit both companies if CAL would take more of our pilots. Costs go down plus easy transition for our guys that are already based in one of CALS bases. JMHO

 

[xjlifer]

I'm not expert but I believe its partly due to the fact that we are sending most of our guys directly to CAL. They leave from the top of our list in large numbers so we lose relatively high tenure (8-10 year) guys making more per hour and having 3 weeks vacation. We replace them with relatively junior captains with less vacation and make much less per hour. And the company does not have as much to match on the 401k and less on the b-plan. I could go on but I'm just speculatin anyway but this is how it was once explained to me by a union rep.

Well that makes sense..kinda what XJ is trying to do in BK!

 

[Superpilot92]

So about my question before, there is not even a chance of holding a line at EWR after about 6 to 8 months. What is IAH like...I have been on reserve for a little over a year now at my current regional, I was under the impression that our reserve and scheduling system was the worst out there..

if you get on now probably, hold a line in ewr in 8-9 months and remember 2 of those months are while in training.

 

[BigShotXJTdrvr]

The schedule cut (gut?) in Cleveland is no rumor. Reason is CAL is not making any money there. Peter Sailer is telling it to the upgrade classes. And the thread has not really been hijacked. A big schedule reduction will affect upgrade times. Another thing that's no rumor is that the number of lines in Newark is going to vary a lot next year. For whatever reason crew planning has not been happy with keeping the number of lines relatively consistant, so next year there will be greater swings of the number of lines each month. Could mean holding a line one month, a relief the next, and flirting with reserve the next. Back to a line the next.

Now for the thread hijack.

I have a question. If you look at a website called airlinepilotcentral.com they say that CAL and ALPA are in negotiations for additional pilot bases in Florida, the Northeast (?), and the West Coast. Does anyone know if that is accurate? Or is it just BS CAL is putting out there to get more guys to apply to go work in their crap bases? If it is true, it may mean an XJT base in one or more of those places. Has anyone heard any real information?

 

[Superpilot92]

Thats what i was saying. The west coast is pretty much where CAL still has room to grow in the USA so i think its only a matter of time before it happens.

Could we merge with Horizon? Who knows i sure dont but i wish i did.

 

[BigShotXJTdrvr]

We won't merge with Horizon, but CAL may look to get turboprop feed from them out there. They could probably offer very attractive rates with a large prop fleet, and high fuel prices.

 

[Alchemy]

As a mid-04 hire, I'm going to be thrilled with anything less than a 5 year upgrade at Expressjet. A 4 year FO can make about 40k so it's not thaaat bad, sure, it could be better, but it can always be better.

I think everyone is encouraged by the G-tard upgrades on the last perm bid, but we should all listen to Peter Sailer. This guy knows what he's talking about. As a matter of fact, he told us a year ago in indoc that we would see a G captain by the end of 2005.....dead on. If Peter says movement is going to slow to a grinding halt after 300 more upgrades, it probably is.

 

[Superpilot92]

Be positive thinkers. Hope for a 2 year upgrade pray that its not 4+. We will see when we see. Mid 04 huh well you are doing better than me. Carry on

 

[Alchemy]

I'm not entirely opposed to a few more years in the right seat given my experience and only a year of flying here under my belt.

There's a lot of things I still haven't done....I wanna see a 3 hour ground hold in the ballpark in EWR with a blizzard outside. What do you do, how do you handle that? I wanna see freezing rain falling on departure with deicing at the end of the runway in CLE. I wanna sit in that giant microwave in EWR. I wanna do a CAT II to minimums at least 2 or 3 times. I want to go missed at night on a VOR approach in the mountains of Mexico and divert to an alternate. Heck I still haven't done a diversion of any kind. Is it sadistic to want to see at least some kind of emergency in this airplane before I get put in the left seat? Over a year here and the closest I've come to an emergency is having the flight attendant close the main cabin door with the Acoustic curtain stuck in it.

But that's just me. If nothing else maybe sitting in the right seat for 5 years will make me better qualified for the left seat when (if) I ever do get there, but I could see how somebody coming from Indy air would get pretty frustrated with a 5 year upgrade. Maybe my opinion will change in a couple of years, but it's tough to complain when you're flying with guys who sat reserve for 2 years after 911. Just my 2 cents.

 

[145 Lawndart]

Alchemy,

I have been here 8 years and have not done all that, well except for the EWR thing:laugh:

 

[Lexy]

Now for the thread hijack.

I have a question. If you look at a website called airlinepilotcentral.com they say that CAL and ALPA are in negotiations for additional pilot bases in Florida, the Northeast (?), and the West Coast. Does anyone know if that is accurate? Or is it just BS CAL is putting out there to get more guys to apply to go work in their crap bases? If it is true, it may mean an XJT base in one or more of those places. Has anyone heard any real information?[/quote]

CALALPA did a survey about bases in the locations you mentioned. That's it.

 

[mckpickle]

I'm not entirely opposed to a few more years in the right seat given my experience and only a year of flying here under my belt.

There's a lot of things I still haven't done....I wanna see a 3 hour ground hold in the ballpark in EWR with a blizzard outside. What do you do, how do you handle that? I wanna see freezing rain falling on departure with deicing at the end of the runway in CLE. I wanna sit in that giant microwave in EWR. I wanna do a CAT II to minimums at least 2 or 3 times. I want to go missed at night on a VOR approach in the mountains of Mexico and divert to an alternate. Heck I still haven't done a diversion of any kind. Is it sadistic to want to see at least some kind of emergency in this airplane before I get put in the left seat? Over a year here and the closest I've come to an emergency is having the flight attendant close the main cabin door with the Acoustic curtain stuck in it.

But that's just me. If nothing else maybe sitting in the right seat for 5 years will make me better qualified for the left seat when (if) I ever do get there, but I could see how somebody coming from Indy air would get pretty frustrated with a 5 year upgrade. Maybe my opinion will change in a couple of years, but it's tough to complain when you're flying with guys who sat reserve for 2 years after 911. Just my 2 cents.

Very well said. Just the fact that your thinking about it tells me you'll make a fine skipper.

 

[miles otoole]

Very well said. Just the fact that your thinking about it tells me you'll make a fine skipper.

Move on old man

 

[dojetdriver]

I wanna see a 3 hour ground hold in the ballpark in EWR with a blizzard outside.

Is it sadistic to want to see at least some kind of emergency in this airplane before I get put in the left seat?

1. It doesn't take a blizzard to be stuck int he ballpark
2. I'd be happy going my entire career without ever having an emergency.

 

[Superpilot92]

1. It doesn't take a blizzard to be stuck int he ballpark
2. I'd be happy going my entire career without ever having an emergency.

WELL said HOSS

 

[ERfly]

1. It doesn't take a blizzard to be stuck int he ballpark
2. I'd be happy going my entire career without ever having an emergency.

Ditto. I've been stuck out there for quite some time on a beautiful, sunny day because there is a stop on (Pick any or all fixes).

Emergencies, yeah, I think I'd learn a lot from having one as an F/O. On the other hand, I think I could still sleep at night not ever having one.