quick Q's for Jazz pilots

[jpar84]

Hey,

I was just curious as to how things work at Jazz. How it is determined among new hires who gets on the RJ and who gets the Dash. Also is it common for dash pilots to move up to right seat in the RJ after a few years as an FO in the dash or do they have to progress from right to left in the dash and then up to RJ? Just curious as to how it works???

cheers
JP

[teacher]

They draw names in groundschool and first name gets first pick and the first seniority number and it continues until all names are drawn.

As for aircraft type and base the first pick gets well, the first pick. Whatever positions are vacant in the Jazz system are what the new hires can select, doesn't matter whether it's CRJ or Dash.

As for changing types, after 2 years you can move. It is more common for dash FOs to go to the CRJ than the other way around although some guys stay in their right right until a Captain's spot comes up than move.

Hope this answers your questions.

[jpar84]

They draw names in groundschool and first name gets first pick and the first seniority number and it continues until all names are drawn.

As for aircraft type and base the first pick gets well, the first pick. Whatever positions are vacant in the Jazz system are what the new hires can select, doesn't matter whether it's CRJ or Dash.

As for changing types, after 2 years you can move. It is more common for dash FOs to go to the CRJ than the other way around although some guys stay in their right right until a Captain's spot comes up than move.

Hope this answers your questions.

Yes it does thank you. I would imagine the RJ spots go first right? I mean who wouldn't fly a jet over a prop?

thanks for clearing it up

cheers
JP

[Stan_Cooper]

who wouldn't fly a jet over a prop?

Somebody who doesn't care about jet time as much as quality of life--not that the jet is awful, but the guys who choose the dash generally see going to the jet as a sacrifice of some sort.

[Canoehead]

who wouldn't fly a jet over a prop?

Somebody who doesn't care about jet time as much as quality of life--not that the jet is awful, but the guys who choose the dash generally see going to the jet as a sacrifice of some sort.

Bingo Stan. I chose the Dash over the RJ for a few reasons, and never regretted it (okay, almost never). I write my schedule where I sit on the Dash, but could not be nearly as specific over on the RJ. With 30 years of this game to go, I'm in no big hurry to go fly the RJ.

Now, if the status-pay system ever disappears, you can bet that I would rethink my position.

[jpar84]

Thanks for all the replies guys. So now I am quite curious, what are the advantages to choosing the dash, in what ways is it a better quality of life? Is it just a matter of being able to make a better schedule? I imagine those who wish to move on quickly would prefer to build up the jet time right? Why is it that dash guys get better choice of skeds?? Why is moving to the RJ a sacrifice?

Sorry for being curious George
JP

[Flying Low]

Generally more guys (and gals) want to fly the jet. This means that on the Dash you will move up the seniority list (for the Dash) faster as people above you leave the Dash for the RJ. This means you can bid a better schedule within your equipment/base.

In my class there were 5 RJ spots available in YYZ and 6 Dash spots available in YUL. The guy who got number 1 or 2 in my class lived in YUL and decided to take the Dash for obvious lifestyle reasons. I picked the RJ because I wanted to commute from YQT, however, if the Dash spots had been in YYZ and the RJ in YUL I might have picked the Dash too. Another guy in my class wanted YUL but also wanted the RJ so he picked the RJ in YYZ and immediately put in a bid for a YUL spot on the RJ. Due to the amount of hiring going on at the time it worked out and 2 weeks out of line indoc he had his transfer to YUL. At Jazz you are frozen on type for 2 years but you can change bases as your seniority allows.

I hope this helps explain some of the different mindsets!

[GTFA]

Thanks for all the replies guys. So now I am quite curious, what are the advantages to choosing the dash, in what ways is it a better quality of life? Is it just a matter of being able to make a better schedule? I imagine those who wish to move on quickly would prefer to build up the jet time right? Why is it that dash guys get better choice of skeds?? Why is moving to the RJ a sacrifice?

Sorry for being curious George
JP

WHAT? DID YOU SAY DASH-8? SORRY CAN YOU SPEAK UP PLEASE???
WHOA!!! LOOK OUT HERE COMES ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM!!!!

[Flying Low]

WHAT? DID YOU SAY DASH-8? SORRY CAN YOU SPEAK UP PLEASE???
WHOA!!! LOOK OUT HERE COMES ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM!!!!

That and...holy smokes it's hot/cold sitting on the ramp! Gotta love the APU!

[TopperHarley]

I had the option of Dash or RJ and went RJ. Although the Dash would be a fun airplane to fly, the biggest downfall to it is you'll never get to see ORD, EWR, ATL, LGA, DCA, and all the other fun places the RJ pilots "enjoy" dealing with... especially in the summer time

[Canoehead]

Well, you'll get all kinds of reasons why one is 'better' than the other (and the Dash is better IMHO ), but if you are all hard for flying a 'jet', go for it if you have the choice.

We Dash F/O's love the RJ too, but for different reason(s)

[teacher]

I chose the dash over the RJ to avoid an unwanted commute. The base I wanted was up for grabs on the dash and not the RJ.

Lots of folks like the dash if you have a family as most of the pairings return through the main hub every second leg and if needed one can book off and go home. Also, with status pay the aircraft type does not matter when it comes to pay.

As for destinations I've been coast to coast on the dash when on reserve, an airport's an airport's an airport and personally I have already been to all the CRJ destinations in a previous job. You really get to appreciate the dash in the winter.

Chasing metal will disappoint you. Always fly for lifestyle and place of living. Airplanes get old real fast as does not being where you wanna be. Having said that sometimes I think it'd be nicer to be at 350 rather than 250 but when I'm ready for a change all I gotta do is bid the RJ.

[airway]

Lots of folks like the dash if you have a family as most of the pairings return through the main hub every second leg and if needed one can book off and go home.

I don't think the company would be too happy if you did this very often.

[jpar84]

Okay its definitely falling into place now. Thanks to everyone for all the detailed responses! When and if the time comes for me to make the decision I now have a much better understanding.

cheers
JP

[teacher]

I was told in no uncertain terms "family comes first" and this from a Jazz company check "A" pilot AND one of the chief pilots. Imagine you're on the road your spouse gets into a car wreck or your son or daughter gets hurt at school or comes down really sick I know for a fact that Jazz will support a crew member that needs to book off. Having said that you don't want to abuse this right or call crew sched 15 minutes before a flight is to leave if you can avoid it. It's common sense I'd think.

I actually had to use this once, called at an out station, informed them that I was booking off upon arrival at the hub and that was that. I should have used it again a few months later but came into work anyway for a single day pairing and the "A" check told me that I should have booked off and stayed home with my family.

Now, this isn't the reason I'm on the dash but I've been told by a few people with kids that it was one of their reasons.

[Stan_Cooper]

Thanks for all the replies guys. So now I am quite curious, what are the advantages to choosing the dash, in what ways is it a better quality of life? Is it just a matter of being able to make a better schedule? I imagine those who wish to move on quickly would prefer to build up the jet time right? Why is it that dash guys get better choice of skeds?? Why is moving to the RJ a sacrifice?

Sorry for being curious George
JP

There are mainly two things I'm thinking of when I said it JP: 1) If you can't live where you want to live flying the RJ, or 2) If you have better seniority on the Dash.

you'll never get to see ORD, EWR, ATL, LGA, DCA, and all the other fun places the RJ pilots "enjoy" dealing with...

haha I will try to remember I'm supposed to be jealous of the expressway visual while I'm sitting on the beach in Penticton this summer.

[grosmourn]

I was told in no uncertain terms "family comes first" and this from a Jazz company check "A" pilot AND one of the chief pilots. Imagine you're on the road your spouse gets into a car wreck or your son or daughter gets hurt at school or comes down really sick I know for a fact that Jazz will support a crew member that needs to book off. Having said that you don't want to abuse this right or call crew sched 15 minutes before a flight is to leave if you can avoid it. It's common sense I'd think.

I actually had to use this once, called at an out station, informed them that I was booking off upon arrival at the hub and that was that. I should have used it again a few months later but came into work anyway for a single day pairing and the "A" check told me that I should have booked off and stayed home with my family.

Now, this isn't the reason I'm on the dash but I've been told by a few people with kids that it was one of their reasons.

[grosmourn]

Sorry Teacher about the mispost, but

What is the difference between a check pilot "A" and a regular company check pilot?

Cheers

[teacher]

By "A" check I mean a pilot who does actual flight tests on pilots in the sim and does line indoc. "A" check is a guy that can evaluate another pilot, kinda like a DFTE. Regardless I just meaned to say that even senior and management pilots agree that family comes first, that's what reserve pilots are for, I should know, I've spent enough time on reserve.

[jpar84]

[/quote]
There are mainly two things I'm thinking of when I said it JP: 1) If you can't live where you want to live flying the RJ, or 2) If you have better seniority on the Dash.
[/quote]


Cool thanks, I guess it really depends on what your objectives are and what stage you are at in life.

thanks for all the input guys!

[navajo_jay]

There was a guy on my initial Dash 8 Training who was Capt RJ, after few years, couldn't get a decent scheduled, because there's not lots of movement and the guy doing his initial training on the dash to get a better schedule. Depends on everybody choice of lifestyle.

[jpar84]

There was a guy on my initial Dash 8 Training who was Capt RJ, after few years, couldn't get a decent scheduled, because there's not lots of movement and the guy doing his initial training on the dash to get a better schedule. Depends on everybody choice of lifestyle.

Really, so he went from RJ capt to dash F/O, thats a pretty big hit in the pay check for lifestyle no? I guees he would still get a decent F/O pay with his seniority though right?

[Swerved]

No, he would have been going from RJ Captain to Dash Captain. Captaincy is purely a matter of seniority... there is no requirement to have experience on the airplane. As for why he was in the initial groundschool, if you've been off a certain aircraft for more than a certain period of time, you have to do the whole course over again.

By the way, I'm a Dash pilot who commutes from an RJ destination, and I have NO interest in switching to the jet at this point (almost 2 1/2 years in). We all have our reasons...mine are plentiful. If you're ever in this position, you'll figure out yours...

Swerved

[flyinhigh]

you'll never get to see ORD, EWR, ATL, LGA, DCA, and all the other fun places the RJ pilots "enjoy" dealing with...

haha I will try to remember I'm supposed to be jealous of the expressway visual while I'm sitting on the beach in Penticton this summer. [/quote]


HAHA, no doubt. Sorry there but you can have all the LGA, DCA, EWR cancellations you want. you consider that fun. wow.

I'll take the iah, aus, rdu's and sit by the pool with my beer any day of the week.

[jpar84]

No, he would have been going from RJ Captain to Dash Captain. Captaincy is purely a matter of seniority... there is no requirement to have experience on the airplane. As for why he was in the initial groundschool, if you've been off a certain aircraft for more than a certain period of time, you have to do the whole course over again.

By the way, I'm a Dash pilot who commutes from an RJ destination, and I have NO interest in switching to the jet at this point (almost 2 1/2 years in). We all have our reasons...mine are plentiful. If you're ever in this position, you'll figure out yours...

Swerved

Cool well I still have a way to go until I will be qualified to fly either, its nice to know how things work though!