Commuting

G

Gyroguy

Well-Known Member
I have a question for the group. I've been told that in order to find a job with a regional in the DFW area that it will most likely be difficult right after receiving my certificate. Therefore, the advice is to take the first available job where I can commute and try to return ASAP. That being said, what is the average time people in the same boat are having to commute in other States before they can return home to where their family is? I'm just trying to get an honest feel for the reality of what I'm about to embark on.

Thanks, GG
 
If you are up on your stuff it is possible to get hired at a regional ( I assume you mean Envoy) right out of dispatch school. Also there are a couple cargo carriers that hire dispatchers in the DFW area so keep you eyes open there (Ameriflight, Martinaire). Study the Oral exam guide and maybe focus on some practical questions since you won't have as much experience around real life scenarios. The interviews I have been to asked very typical flight scenarios. Medical, Mechanical, Weather, Pilots requesting additional fuel/routing ect.

I don't have experience with commuting or working at a regional so I will keep quiet on that and letter others share from their experience.
 
Serious question,do you have a wife and or kids? If you do you need to have a very serious sit down conversation before you accept any job offer. Commuting sucks,you will miss out on important family milestones because you might miss a commute,or weather might cause an impact,etc. Many relationships/marriages have not survived the commuting lifestyle (that’s why they call it AIDS)


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Right now Envoy is scrambling to hire dispatchers as their loss rate is spiking. SWA took more in one class from ENY than they’ve taken in entire years (6). AA is supposed to hire again soon and they’ll likely take a similar similar amount. SWA is supposed to also hire again so the Voy is looking down the barrel of some pretty serious attrition on top of their Covid losses. Currently they’ve had 4 new hire classes in varying stages of planning since June and it wouldn’t surprise me if they open for another in a few months.

I commuted for a year to build my experience and get in to my local regional. It was pretty miserable, but it had its moments. You can get into Envoy without experience, you just need to be very well prepared. Bobber is spot on.

My personal advice is, try for Envoy but don’t get target fixation on only that regional. Keep your options open and gather as much experience as you can while keeping your end goal in mind. I’ve got a classmate that said they’d only go to the Voy and they still haven’t entered the industry after 4 years.
 
Go to Mesa for 6 months,get some 121 time and you’ll likely be a lock for MQ


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FlyinRyan92 said:
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO WORK FOR A REGIONAL JUST TO GO TO ANOTHER REGIONAL? SETTING THE BAR RATHER LOW....
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I've heard about the interview process at Envoy from several people who've made it in and who haven't. It sounds like they set the bar higher than others. Really, it's almost like you're going through the motions to the likes of a major, but then you remember it's just ENY.. I suppose it's worth it if you want a chance at AAL. Personally, I'd shoot for SKW with the regionals but any initial experience is good.

As for the commute lifestyle, it definitely is tempting but may not be as glamourous with an entry-level dispatch gig. OP, if you decide to go elsewhere other than a regional in DFW, go with one where you can hang your hat for some time. Jumping around doesn't always look great on a resume, and it weighs heavier if you show some commitment to a shop with growth progression.
 
FlyinRyan92 said:
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO WORK FOR A REGIONAL JUST TO GO TO ANOTHER REGIONAL? SETTING THE BAR RATHER LOW....
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Because you get the first job at any place that will hire you so you can start gaining experience and then when a regional, that is lactated in your hometown, posts you apply and try to get the job there so that you do not have to commute anymore. That advice was specific to the OP who wants to stay in DFW and commute from there.
 
Don't forget about the various 135/91 operators that are based near DFW, I know a majority of folks go the 121 route but you can make very good money at the right 135/91 shop.
 
I've really enjoyed this discussion so far and I hope it continues. All of your answers have been full of great advice and very insightful.

I recognize the investment one takes in someone when hiring them and I don't feel good personally about just taking the first job offered to gain experience and then moving on as soon as something better opens up. That was the advice given to me by someone who is much more involved in this career than me! Maybe it is the way I was raised but I feel a sense of obligation to return the favor of someone offering me a job by giving back in the form of a great employee and being a part of the company for a reasonable period of time. Things have changed though and I can accept that employers plan for attrition and what I consider reasonable is open for interpretation. I'm also less interested in commuting as I don't want to live or work in another State but I understand the need to gain valuable experience and commuting might be a necessity. That being said, I want to return to Texas (assuming I have to commute) and work here in the long term. This is why I asked the original question of how long the average person had to commute before they were able to return or settle in a place they wanted to live in. My prayer is that I might be able to defy the odds and find work in the DFW area as my first choice remaining here altogether.

Thanks, GG
 
Gyroguy said:
My prayer is that I might be able to defy the odds and find work in the DFW area as my first choice remaining here altogether.
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I mean, I’m sure that has happened (people who were able to get hired by Envoy right after dispatch school, and then later got hired by AA or SWA) but it’s definitely not the norm. I certainly did not choose to be living in the city where I now do, but when you get an offer with a major you have to kind of commit to where they are located (or prepare to commute long-term, which has never sounded like an attractive lifestyle to me.) There’s absolutely nothing wrong with putting Envoy as your #1 for short term goals and AA/WN as your #1 choice for long term goals, but I wouldn’t hold out for years, especially for your first job.
 
Gyroguy said:
I've really enjoyed this discussion so far and I hope it continues. All of your answers have been full of great advice and very insightful.

I recognize the investment one takes in someone when hiring them and I don't feel good personally about just taking the first job offered to gain experience and then moving on as soon as something better opens up. That was the advice given to me by someone who is much more involved in this career than me! Maybe it is the way I was raised but I feel a sense of obligation to return the favor of someone offering me a job by giving back in the form of a great employee and being a part of the company for a reasonable period of time. Things have changed though and I can accept that employers plan for attrition and what I consider reasonable is open for interpretation. I'm also less interested in commuting as I don't want to live or work in another State but I understand the need to gain valuable experience and commuting might be a necessity. That being said, I want to return to Texas (assuming I have to commute) and work here in the long term. This is why I asked the original question of how long the average person had to commute before they were able to return or settle in a place they wanted to live in. My prayer is that I might be able to defy the odds and find work in the DFW area as my first choice remaining here altogether.

Thanks, GG
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Allow me to pose another option…you want to stay in DFW and it sounds like ENY is where you want to go. Why not get your foot in the door as a scheduler,do time in Scheduling,get to know the folks in the SOC and apply for dispatch as an internal. I know several people who have started their careers in scheduling and are at mainline carriers now or are in management roles (myself included) at various carriers.


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azmedic said:
Allow me to pose another option…you want to stay in DFW and it sounds like ENY is where you want to go. Why not get your foot in the door as a scheduler,do time in Scheduling,get to know the folks in the SOC and apply for dispatch as an internal. I know several people who have started their careers in scheduling and are at mainline carriers now or are in management roles (myself included) at various carriers.


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This is not a bad option at all if ENY is a must with the other DFW carriers in the picture for the long term. Just be an exceptional employee. Build connections and give them a reason to hire you internally.

Edit: also be prepared for a potential pay cut from scheduling to DX with ENY.
 
Well if you’re going to go the crew sched/internal route why not just skip “enovy” altogether and try free sched at AA/WN for an internal option to dispatch? Better pay and all that and you could cut out 2.5-5ish years of the process.. not a guarantee but beats trying to do the impossible while making pennies.
 
Someone else told me that they could get me a job as a baggage handler with AA and if I did it for like a year, I could apply internally for DX positions and other opportunities. He said that they would then most likely pay for the DX training if I got in. Handlers, however, according to him supposedly only start out at like $15/hour but it would be temporary and I would at least be in DFW with AA and rocking some benefits. Do you really think something like that is a smart option to consider vs this route like many others of getting the cert and applying/working through the ranks? Which would be faster as well?
 
Gyroguy said:
Someone else told me that they could get me a job as a baggage handler with AA and if I did it for like a year, I could apply internally for DX positions and other opportunities. He said that they would then most likely pay for the DX training if I got in. Handlers, however, according to him supposedly only start out at like $15/hour but it would be temporary and I would at least be in DFW with AA and rocking some benefits. Do you really think something like that is a smart option to consider vs this route like many others of getting the cert and applying/working through the ranks? Which would be faster as well?
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Be careful with the internal route if you don’t have experience. It’s not as easy as it sounds, even internally some shops may prefer experience over nothing. It’s a bit more competitive than it once was, even in this COVID environment.

Also any way you spin it, this will be a 2-3 year commitment minimum before getting that call from a major. That’s on the faster side in terms of time before hitting a major.
 
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