Starting 121 career with Sun Country

[Karnage]

And you may, in fact, get groped when you appear in your coat and hat at that coffee shop.

She left before they closed that food court*, went to work for DGS. She now works for SouthernJets on the ramp. Those poor poor widget heads.

Although, to be fair, she was probably the hardest working ramper at DGS in MSP and I honestly miss her wonky stare and super enthusiastic wave off after pushback.

P.S. never bought a new hat after upgrade. Mostly just because I'm cheap.

* Incidentally, what moron at the MAC decided it was a good idea to remodel all but two restaurants between C4 and A13/B16 nearly simultaneously? As if that half of the airport wasn't already sparsely populated with dining choices. Thankfully it's over now that I am no longer based in MSP, naturally.

 

[NickH]

You must be one of those weirdos that walks the whole terminal if your layover is longer than 45 minutes.

I'm a passenger. With a 45 minute layover, I've calculated the time it takes to get to the nearest Skysclub, and how many drinks it will take to survive the next flight. 'Stand to the right please', with an emphasis on 'get the funicular out of the way'.

 

[BlueMoon]

MSP has to be one of the most poorly laid out hub airports.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

P.S. never bought a new hat after upgrade. Mostly just because I'm cheap.

Although, to be fair, she was probably the hardest working ramper at DGS in MSP and I honestly miss her wonky stare and super enthusiastic wave off after pushback.

Indeed, though I must say getting felt up on the train (serious) I could do without.

I'm almost bummed I never saw said waveoff, though.

* Incidentally, what moron at the MAC decided it was a good idea to remodel all but two restaurants between C4 and A13/B16 nearly simultaneously? As if that half of the airport wasn't already sparsely populated with dining choices. Thankfully it's over now that I am no longer based in MSP, naturally.

MAC is an otherwise fairly competent body, but I guess they got a super good deal or something, dontcha know, all good.

 

[Karnage]

Indeed, though I must say getting felt up on the train (serious) I could do without.

I'm almost bummed I never saw said waveoff, though.


MAC is an otherwise fairly competent body, but I guess they got a super good deal or something, dontcha know, all good.

I've contemplated going to M.A.F. Mainline now that I can hold something other than LGA reserve. Perhaps if that happens I shall revisit the hat situation since I will then be among the true elite then flying a REAL airliner (because tail mounted engines don't count for some reason).

She's an odd duck for sure and thankfully I never had anything close to proximal contact, but for all the crap the pilot group gave her she's one hell of a hard worker.

Honestly MSP is generally well run and I do give the MAC plenty of credit for ensuring a smooth operation. But the layout of that airport and the accompanying services (food, etc) leaves a LOT to be desired, especially for those condemned to the regional boondocks. The new central food court area is quite impressive looking and indeed most of the remodeled areas are equally well done. But I spent too much time in that place on RDY and the hodgepodery of the add-ons over the years becomes too obvious after a while with the different building styles. Then again, I also spent enough time there to notice that at the entrance to every restroom has three black lines of carpet as well as the red carpet leading to the boarding doors (and sometimes the location of former boarding doors). There is truly a method to their madness.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

But I spent too much time in that place on RDY and the hodgepodery of the add-ons over the years becomes too obvious after a while with the different building styles. Then again, I also spent enough time there to notice that at the entrance to every restroom has three black lines of carpet as well as the red carpet leading to the boarding doors (and sometimes the location of former boarding doors). There is truly a method to their madness.

You definitely spent too much time on RDY. I guess, now that I close my eyes and think about it, you're right.

I didn't like RDY (and only ever got rescheduled out of it once or twice in the bajillion hours of it I sat at OO - truly, there has to be a better way - wait, there is, it's called call-for-release), but there were occasions in which I didn't mind it. Drop your bags and walk laps around the terminal.

 

[Karnage]

You definitely spent too much time on RDY. I guess, now that I close my eyes and think about it, you're right.

I didn't like RDY (and only ever got rescheduled out of it once or twice in the bajillion hours of it I sat at OO - truly, there has to be a better way - wait, there is, it's called call-for-release), but there were occasions in which I didn't mind it. Drop your bags and walk laps around the terminal.

The ONLY redeeming quality of RDY, it was what got me to break guarantee many of the months I sat reserve. Probably grossed about $15,000 more last year because of it. Thankfully most of it was during gaps between flights and not on it's own.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

The ONLY redeeming quality of RDY, it was what got me to break guarantee many of the months I sat reserve. Probably grossed about $15,000 more last year because of it. Thankfully most of it was during gaps between flights and not on it's own.

"Some people actually LIKE ready"

Errbody who likes it other than compensation raise your hands...yup didn't think so.

That entire compensation model was in our "master plan" to address. A daily reconciliation would have been an equal-work-for-equal-pay proposition, and would probably not have cost anyone (on either side) much other than the really weird corner cases. That and call for release. Oh well.

 

[Low_Level_Hell]

Welp. Sun Country is no longer doing interviews. I’ve spoken with a regional carrier that said they would interview me but they’re on an indefinite hiring freeze.

On the bright side Microsoft is coming out with a new Flight Simulator. Maybe the best way to realize the dream is to buy a nice PC and a pilot hat.

 

[MikeD]

-Never mind the pilots working towards a better contract with better pay being undermined by their management’s ability to fill classes with pilots willing to fly a 737 for near-regional wages.

Like I’ve said, we are back to the early 2000s again. When John Ornstein used to tell the Mesa pilots why should I pay you more? I’ve got a stack of resumes of pilots willing to work for less than you, and in some cases, even for free.

Meant as a joke in the early 1990s, the “will fly for food” t-shirts and signs, sadly became an industry reality.

 

[MikeD]

I'm currently looking into VA funded B737 type training, does getting this type of training on one's own look unfavorably to airline interviewers?

if you’ve got the VA $$ and don’t plan on using it for a further college degree or some other education, use it for flight training. You’ve earned it

 

[Skåning]

Like I’ve said, we are back to the early 2000s again. When John Ornstein used to tell the Mesa pilots why should I pay you more? I’ve got a stack of resumes of pilots willing to work for less than you, and in some cases, even for free.

Meant as a joke in the early 1990s, the “will fly for food” t-shirts and signs, sadly became an industry reality.

Are you still flying for SP?

 

[Low_Level_Hell]

if you’ve got the VA $$ and don’t plan on using it for a further college degree or some other education, use it for flight training. You’ve earned it

That is a consideration for sure. About 15 years ago I paid for my fixed wing certs out of pocket. If a instructor rating or type ratings would significantly change my chances of getting hired I would getbut as of now my GI Bill is going to my kids.

I’m 7 months out from retirement. The most financially sound option for me is to stay with the Apache as a maintenance test pilot contractor, but I just don’t want to.

Looking more towards medevac now.

 

[Flyinthrew]

That is a consideration for sure. About 15 years ago I paid for my fixed wing certs out of pocket. If a instructor rating or type ratings would significantly change my chances of getting hired I would getbut as of now my GI Bill is going to my kids.

I’m 7 months out from retirement. The most financially sound option for me is to stay with the Apache as a maintenance test pilot contractor, but I just don’t want to.

Looking more towards medevac now.

Dude, I was supposed to go on terminal tomorrow for retirement. Now I'm not. The most financially sound thing I can do is let the Marine Corps have its way with me, but that's not happening. As soon as I can get something that doesn't give my family a huge haircut, I'm out.

I've thought about getting a type rating with GI Bill. I don't know how to go about choosing which one.

 

[Finny]

Dude, I was supposed to go on terminal tomorrow for retirement. Now I'm not. The most financially sound thing I can do is let the Marine Corps have its way with me, but that's not happening. As soon as I can get something that doesn't give my family a huge haircut, I'm out.

I've thought about getting a type rating with GI Bill. I don't know how to go about choosing which one.

737, hands down.

 

[ASpilot2be]

737, hands down.

I would do something unique. That way if he does fly the 737 somewhere, his mind is a clean slate.

 

[Nark]

@Flyinthrew I'm not sure I'm in the camp to use the GI bill for a type rating. I used it to obtain a masters. Not that getting masters makes you a better candidate, but I was able to pocket a few extra $$$ per month after it paid for tuition. aka income supplement.

Post 9/11 though, pays the school directly and unless you attended in person, I'm not sure you get a stipend beyond a few dollars to make it worthwhile. (I had to use post 9/11 for the last 3 months of my course).

@Low_Level_Hell are you an IP by chance? I'd recommend that course, if grad school doesn't twist your crank. It'll be helpful outside airline world.
What about guard and reserves? Our unit is hurting to get folks. I'm sure if you want to fly a real helicopter again (hehe), there are dozens of -60 units hiring also. Lastly, do you have any fixed wing time?

 

[Low_Level_Hell]

Dude, I was supposed to go on terminal tomorrow for retirement. Now I'm not. The most financially sound thing I can do is let the Marine Corps have its way with me, but that's not happening. As soon as I can get something that doesn't give my family a huge haircut, I'm out.

I've thought about getting a type rating with GI Bill. I don't know how to go about choosing which one.

I was looking into a 737 type, being I just barely qualified for the Sun Country job at the time. As of now I’m saving the GI bill for the kids.

@Low_Level_Hell are you an IP by chance? I'd recommend that course, if grad school doesn't twist your crank. It'll be helpful outside airline world.
What about guard and reserves? Our unit is hurting to get folks. I'm sure if you want to fly a real helicopter again (hehe), there are dozens of -60 units hiring also. Lastly, do you have any fixed wing time?

Not really considering going Guard or Reserve. If I were going to stay in defense I’m better off retiring at twenty and work as a contractor. I’m not an IP. I have about 300 hrs fixed wing with 25 hrs multi engine.

Thank you for the input. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been better off going Guard/Reserves earlier.

 

[MikeD]

Not really considering going Guard or Reserve. If I were going to stay in defense I’m better off retiring at twenty and work as a contractor. I’m not an IP. I have about 300 hrs fixed wing with 25 hrs multi engine.

Thank you for the input. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been better off going Guard/Reserves earlier.

which track did you go? MTP, safety, Tac Ops?

 

[Low_Level_Hell]

which track did you go? MTP, safety, Tac Ops?

MTP