schedules for new hires

[blue water]

Would like to know what a newly hired pilot could expect for a monthly schedule on embraer or relief pilot on the 767. Based out of Toronto. With a young family commuting. Any feedback would be fantastic as I have a lot to learn.

At what point can you begin commuting? if this is an option.

This is assuming there are 50 pilots or so underneath you. Basically a very junior position. But happier than hell to have been chosen.

Thank-you

[square]

What kinda time did you have?

[FL020]

If im not mistaken, the embrarer is seeing almost 18 days a month, based on 2 - 4 day pairings?? This is from a friend based in YYZ.....

[yycflyguy]

With a young family commuting.

That is the hard part. You didn't mention where you would be commuting from but when you are on reserve you need to be available within 3 hours of a call. With only 10 below your options will be pretty limited. You will need to get a flop house close to the airport to spend your days on reserve and will only see 4 hard guaranteed day off per month. The other "days off" are flexible and crew sked can schedule you into them and slide them until the flying has been completed. Reserve rules suck.

Congratulations and welcome!

[bcflyer]

Embraer pilots are flying between 10-15 days a month with a full block. I don't know how many days guys are actually flying while on reserve but I can tell you that the last two months there have been a ton of IROPS so the guys are likely flying alot. The good news is that if you are on reserve and fly alot there is always the possibility of "flying out" quickly and having a bunch of days off. (flying out is flying up to the DMM for that month)

As for the commute, it will be tough on reserve for sure. You won't be home much and the actual commute could be tough depending on where you are commuting from. (you will likely be the very bottom of the standby list to get on any flights)

Having said all that, it will get better as you get more guys below you!

Good luck and welcome to the team!!

[lawndart]

Bottom EMJ reserve have been flying every day on call for the last 8-10 months, which translates into 18 or 19 days per month, depending on if it is a 30 or 31 day block month. Mostly min credit flying, so you will fly out...on the last on-call day of the month.

Guys do commute, but it is pretty tough on reserve long term. Which, depending on what happens with future hiring, it could be.

[flyguycanuk]

Where will you be commuting from? I know some commuters who spend more nights at home than YYZ based pilots due to the layover.

[yycflyguy]

Where will you be commuting from? I know some commuters who spend more nights at home than YYZ based pilots due to the layover.

That may be true for block holders. Forget about it if you are bottom of the reserve list.

[blue water]

Thanks YYC. Would be coming from Winnipeg.

[flyguycanuk]

Ouch... a Winnipeg commute. My family is from Manitoba and it's a challenge every time I try to go home to visit on passes. Since they closed the Flight Attendant base there are so many senior FA's commuting out of there, plus the loads are usually always tight. Can't rely of the jump seat because of a lot of pilots commuting out of there as well. I was considering doing the commute, but thought better of it having been on reserve for the past couple of years.

On the bright side, there are quite a few Winnipeg layovers that come up in open time on reserve.

The other note is, depends on when you get hired in the hiring wave. Some guys became very senior very fast and never have to have a bad schedule again. Our equipment bidding allows us to choose the lifestyle we want... once you have some seniority that is.

[Disco Stu]

Thanks YYC. Would be coming from Winnipeg.

Move.

I did, and it was the best decision ever. The YWG commute is BRUTAL, especially junior, and on reserve.

[ywger]

Blue Water - there's always the WJ option too. I'm sure you'll have a challenge with the commute for the first year or two, but it does get better. If living it YWG is what you want to do, then you'll find a way to make it work. Might take some effort.

On a side note, if you can get an RP position, that'd probably be most beneficial to your circumstances.

Good luck!

[Dockjock]

Seriously consider moving.

YWG is an Airbus base. The positions there are generally not replaced when somebody retires. Eventually the base will close. Furthermore, when the Airbus fleet is replaced in 10 years time, my guess would be that there won't be any positions in YWG on the new narrowbody, so the base will probably close. I think the writing is on the wall.

So if you are committed to living in YWG, you are more than likely committing to commute for the duration of your AC career. Knowing is half the battle.

[Johnny767]

Good advice on moving, the company will crusify you if you have (...which you are guaranteed to...) a commuters disaster and miss a check-in.

[paddy]

How many people does AC keep on the reserve list, i.e. how many people do you need below you to hold a block? On both the Embrier and 767 RP. Lets say for Toronto for a comparison of both.

Thanks

[snag]

January has the bottom 5 or so 767 RP's with reserve, the bottom 35 or so EMJ FO's are working reserve. Keep in mind that these numbers could change with new hires, and even though the numbers on the EMJ seem bigger, its a much larger pool of people, and it all depends on how many people get hired after you onto that position.

[paddy]

Any thought on pros and cons of each position? Emb fo vs 767rp?
No, no call just curious.

[snag]

EMJ:

-Fly the aircraft for the whole trip
-Junior crews
-Work a few more days per month
-Shorter legs to more destinations
-Domestic Hotels and perdiems
-A lot of reserve coverage

RP:
-Do the paperwork/walkaround and operate only during cruise portions
-Long deadheads
-Senior crews
-Pairings are longer with long legs to fewer destinations
-Overseas travel, hotels, and perdiems
-Cover more timezones

Whether you see each point as a pro or con is up to your individual perference. There are no bad jobs, and the money is the same for the first 2 years.

[paddy]

Thanks snag,

Where is the money at after the first two years? Agian between the two positions? Is the 767 RP paid the same as an 767 FO or as a EMB FO?

Paddy

[bcflyer]

EMB F/O and 767 RP are both paid the same... 767 F/O is a big jump in pay and is much much more senior (the most junior 767 F/O has about 10yrs service)

[aviatrx]

Just curious how long you could expect to be on reserve as an EMB F/O vs. the 767 RP or 777 RP?

Also wondering if someone could post a typical trip on the EMB....is the flying mostly long days, short layovers, typical airport hotels?

Thanks!

[chancellor]

Emj F\O commuter hired in January. 2 months on reserve, and a block (much better as a commuter) since then I have over 50 behind me now. I work 16 days a month. Current pairing: Commute to cyyz, Day 1 yyz-yxe, Day 2 yxe-yyz-ewr, Day 3 ewr-yyz-yhz-yyz done in time to hopefully get home, 4 days off. L/o were 20 hrs and 15.5 hours. But it depends how you bid and seniority. There has been about 20-25 on reserve usually every month.

[Lost in Saigon]

Luck and timing are BIG factors in determining your working conditions. Currently, there are B777 RP's hired in June 2011 holding a block, and only working 9 days a month.

Until very recently, you needed at least 12 years seniority to hold B777 RP. All pilots hired after 2003 (post CCAA) are PERMANENT Position Group pilots if they ever bid an RP position. It seems the have run out of senior enough to bid B777 RP and get formula pay ($120/hr for level 10) The last couple of bids had vacancies for the B777 RP position because if you are a Position Group pilot, it pays the same as EMB FO. Pilots with 5 and 6 years would rather fly as 320 FO or EMB CA and make real formula pay. I believe that less junior pilots are often frozen from bidding RP or would face a 4 year freeze. (anybody know?)

[chancellor]

It has been all timing for me for sure. In addition anyone that moves to a lower position faces a 4 year freeze. I know of a couple of people that bid off the emj captain position to 320 and 767 fo mainly for schedule and they both are frozen but lifestyle will improve greatly. As far as being and emj fo if i bid lower to the rp positions then I would be frozen. In my case I chose the emj more so to be closer to home and the possibility of layovers at home with a couple young kids. It doesn't really matter what you choose while you are on flat salary, I think the hourly pay is slightly higher on the emj once the third comes around but I think it will be pretty easy to move across when the time comes. I also have friends on the 767 rp position that work the same as me due to the deadheads one way. But it is all personal preference. Hope this helps.

[learcapt]

Hey everyone.

Sorry trying to get a little more specific info if I can. After the two years at the same pay level, what is the schedule after that...assuming remaining on the EMB.

Thanks so much!