Chautauqua peeps

Dugie8

Well-Known Member
Anyone with some insight give me a little low down on life at Chautauqua. Broad question, looking for lots of answers and input.

Thanks
 
What exacly do you want to know? Here's some random info...

We currently have 4 codeshares (UAL, DAL, AA and US) and about to get a 5th (CO).

CHQ has 9 bases: MCO, SDF, CMH, LGA, GSO, RIC, BUF, IND and STL. We're really into the whole outstation basing thing which makes for a good variety of bases to choose from, but most have incredibly uncommutable trips. Commuting is doable, but be prepared to commute on your days off. This makes for a very tough lifestyle on reserve and as a junior line holder. Min. days off on rsv are 11....12 as a line holder. I'd suggest living in base if at all possible. Thats what I do, and have a fairly good QOL. Not many complaints from me.

Upgrade is currently at a few months over 2 years. It has definately slowed since i got hired in 11/04, when it was at just under 2 years. Needless to say, after this spurt of growth from Continental, things will pretty much grind to a halt. I can't imagine us getting a 6th codeshare anytime soon if at all, (although I can see us getting an extra handful of 170s, but nothing significant). Those getting hired over the next few months can expect an upgrade time significantly longer then 2 years.

We're currently at 1500 pilots. Hiring and training for the continental flying is supposed to start in October. Exactly how many pilots we will hire to staff this additional flying is unknown, but most expect the seniority list to be well over 2000 pilots this time next year.

As for number of aircraft, pay etc...that can be all looked up on airlinepilotcentral.com.

Hope that helps....I'm sure Kingairer can add a lot more useful information.
 
What exacly do you want to know? Here's some random info...

We currently have 4 codeshares (UAL, DAL, AA and US) and about to get a 5th (CO).

CHQ has 9 bases: MCO, SDF, CMH, LGA, GSO, RIC, BUF, IND and STL. We're really into the whole outstation basing thing which makes for a good variety of bases to choose from, but most have incredibly uncommutable trips. Commuting is doable, but be prepared to commute on your days off. This makes for a very tough lifestyle on reserve and as a junior line holder. Min. days off on rsv are 11....12 as a line holder. I'd suggest living in base if at all possible. Thats what I do, and have a fairly good QOL. Not many complaints from me.

Upgrade is currently at a few months over 2 years. It has definately slowed since i got hired in 11/04, when it was at just under 2 years. Needless to say, after this spurt of growth from Continental, things will pretty much grind to a halt. I can't imagine us getting a 6th codeshare anytime soon if at all, (although I can see us getting an extra handful of 170s, but nothing significant). Those getting hired over the next few months can expect an upgrade time significantly longer then 2 years.

We're currently at 1500 pilots. Hiring and training for the continental flying is supposed to start in October. Exactly how many pilots we will hire to staff this additional flying is unknown, but most expect the seniority list to be well over 2000 pilots this time next year.

As for number of aircraft, pay etc...that can be all looked up on airlinepilotcentral.com.

Hope that helps....I'm sure Kingairer can add a lot more useful information.

Thanks for the info, what, if any, was pay and housing in training, and how was training. Are trips commutable, ie 4 day trips with multiple days off between, etc.

Thanks again

Rob
 
Training for the 145 was held in STL, indoc. in IND. Hotel provided. Pay is $200 a week (if I recall? can't remember now) as a per diem check, then regular pay after 30 days.

Training is done by Flight Safety. The instructors are all FSI staff...mainly ex TWA and furloughed AA guys. A good group with a ton of experience to share, but some have complained that they aren't always up to speed on company procedures as they should be. Not surprising, since one instructor may teach several companies (TSA, CHQ, part 91 operators etc..) Personally I had no problems and found training to be good.

Trips vary wildly amongst bases. Currently SDF 4 days have taken a pummeling in credit hours as Delta shifts our flying to shorter but more numerous out and backs from CVG. Some of our 4 days went to as low as 16 hours of credit! This of course means having to fly more to meet the target/min credit for the month and leads to many lines with 12-13 days off a month. Of course, I've also been told that SDF is one of the least commutable bases due to low time, early start/late finish pairings and a two leg commute from anywhere.

Over all, a good company to work for, but QOL can vary from month to month depending on how well they build our pairings. I don't really commute myself, other then a trip back to FLorida once or twice a month when number of days off permit. Right now I'm on a 5 day stretch off, but the remainder of the month is only 2 days off in a row. Of course, not being a true commuter, I didn't bother to actually bid for a min of 3 days off in PBS, so I pretty much got what I bid for.

Hope that helps.
 
CHQ has 9 bases: MCO, SDF, CMH, LGA, GSO, RIC, BUF, IND and STL. We're really into the whole outstation basing thing which makes for a good variety of bases to choose from, but most have incredibly uncommutable trips. Commuting is doable, but be prepared to commute on your days off. .

Im courious about the bases - Do they have the 170's at all the bases? And, Can a new hire get the base of his choice? Im origionaly from CMH and would love to live at home once I meet the Min Hours to get an interview :)
 
The bases listed were CHQ 145 bases. However, if CMH is what you're after, you're in luck - it's both a 145 and 170 base. Of course there's now the possibility of newhires getting the CRJ, who's only base right now is SDF. But I'd expect CMH to also become a base eventually for the CRJ.

As for getting the base you want out of training, thats always a question mark. It used to be that most, if not all, newhires were shipped right out to Buffalo for a month or so until a spot opened at their desired base. These days I've been seeing newhires going to a fairly diverse number of bases, few seem to end up in Buffalo. CMH has actually been a destination for a lot of recent newhires as have SDF and RIC. This all changes though from class to class...but if you don't get CMH right out of training, chances are you'll get it soon after.

The only base I can safely say you will NOT get will be MCO. although they actually rescinded some displacements for September and the base looks like it should remain open for now, it's ridiculously senior for both captains and FOs.
 
The bases listed were CHQ 145 bases. However, if CMH is what you're after, you're in luck - it's both a 145 and 170 base. Of course there's now the possibility of newhires getting the CRJ, who's only base right now is SDF. But I'd expect CMH to also become a base eventually for the CRJ.

As for getting the base you want out of training, thats always a question mark. It used to be that most, if not all, newhires were shipped right out to Buffalo for a month or so until a spot opened at their desired base. These days I've been seeing newhires going to a fairly diverse number of bases, few seem to end up in Buffalo. CMH has actually been a destination for a lot of recent newhires as have SDF and RIC. This all changes though from class to class...but if you don't get CMH right out of training, chances are you'll get it soon after.

The only base I can safely say you will NOT get will be MCO. although they actually rescinded some displacements for September and the base looks like it should remain open for now, it's ridiculously senior for both captains and FOs.

Thanks for the INFO!!!!
 
Chris
Is Chautauqua still flying 170s? If so is ORD still a base, and if so, are they hiring into that airplane anymore?
 
Chris
Is Chautauqua still flying 170s? If so is ORD still a base, and if so, are they hiring into that airplane anymore?

CHQ doesn't fly 170s, just 145's (and soon CRJs too). 170s are flown by Shuttle America and Republic. Same seniority list, contract and all, but different certificates.

ORD is a 170 base for Shuttle America. Right now we're in the process of recieving our last 170 delivery, and that'll most likely bring hiring into the 170 to a halt. We do still have options for more aircraft, and may have more coming in the future, but nothing for certain right now. We will be recieving 175's to replace US Air 145s next year, however, those will be going onto the Republic certificate which has no ORD base.
 
How is LGA? Senior? Decent flying?

LGA is fairly senior. Lowest FO on the totem pole was hired on 8/30/2005. You are unlikley to get that base right out of training, and it's future is uncertain with the shift of US Air 145 flying to Continental.

Thats not to say if you get hired tommorow that you won't eventually get it, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
 
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