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Cockpit Chronicles: A Captain No More
Occasionally, pilots seek out a better ride by climbing a few thousand feet. Sacrificing a bit of fuel to climb earlier than scheduled often makes sense as long as there's less turbulence at the new altitude. But it's frustrating to discover that the premature climb didn't help and then find yourself headed back to where you started.Discontinuing a takeoff roll or performing a missed approach – or even a mechanical at the gate – are all annoying for pilots. But nothing, perhaps short of being laid off, is more frustrating than upgrading to captain and then being bumped back to a co-pilot position.
And that's where I find myself today. After enjoying eleven months on the MD-80 in the left seat, the company has noticed that there are too many captains in New York on this airplane. So they're displacing eight of us back to our choice of co-pilot positions, and they've announced intentions to bump another group back in April and May.
Once I knew it was inevitable, I could give my displacement preference – a line of text saved in a computer system for just this kind of action by the company – some more thought. Initially, I had planned to fly the 777 as a co-pilot, an airplane that I flew briefly in 2005. But after looking over the various destinations, schedules and the seniority (or lack thereof) my choice came down to three:
777 International: While there are only four destinations on our largest airplane from New York – London, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires – they were all exceptional places to see. But even as a co-pilot, the 777 was a senior airplane, meaning I would likely be on reserve just as I was as a junior MD-80 captain. Reserve means that you don't have much say in your schedule and typically fly when needed, which is often less hours than a full month. This may sound nice, and it can be if you're working around the house or, say, blogging on the side, but it limits the flexibility in this job. It's hard to string a bunch of days off in a row to travel, for instance.
767 International: Going back to what I did before the El Jefe position seems like a let down. But at just 36% down the seniority list, I would be able to fly to some of my favorite places in Europe, the Caribbean and Rio. The hourly pay is a little less than the 777, but could be made up by flying full schedule. And as a side bonus, many of my captain and flight attendant friends are still flying there.
737 Domestic: One of the happiest times of my career was 14 years ago when I first flew the brand new (to our company, at least) 737-800 and snagged trans-cons to Seattle, where most of my family still lives. Today in New York, there's a one-leg-out, layover for 30 hours and one-leg-back trip I could easily hold since I'd be number one on the seniority list there. But what if that trip switched to the 757 in the future? There weren't any other trips I was tempted to fly and it would be a larger pay cut. It also felt like I'd be taking a giant step backwards.
Goodbye Grand Canyon. Hello again, North Atlantic.
So in the end, I elected to go back to the 767, flying internationally to Europe and Rio. We're adding a new destination, Dublin, in April and I'm excited to fly there.
Rumors are always flying (no pun) around the company, and the word is that the MD-80 will likely be leaving New York before any other base, possibly by the end of this year. So I doubt I'll get the chance to fly it again, but I will always have a soft spot for the airplane that introduced me to the left seat at this company.
I suspect we may have a few light bumps in the ride going forward, but with the announced aircraft orders, it will hopefully smooth out soon. Perhaps I'll be writing about an Airbus upgrade in the future – an airplane I've always wanted to fly and never thought I'd get the chance.
Through video over the next two posts, I'll explain just what little features I grew to love in the MD-80, plus how one feature has changed our job. Stay tuned.
[Photo credit: Kent Wien]
Related: "Captain on the MD-80? Why?"
"Cockpit Chronicles" takes you along on some of Kent's trips as acaptain co-pilot on the MD-80 757 and 767 based in New York. Have any questions for Kent? Check out the "Cockpit Chronicles" Facebook page or follow Kent on Twitter @veryjr.
767 International: Going back to what I did before the El Jefe position seems like a let down. But at just 36% down the seniority list, I would be able to fly to some of my favorite places in Europe, the Caribbean and Rio. The hourly pay is a little less than the 777, but could be made up by flying full schedule. And as a side bonus, many of my captain and flight attendant friends are still flying there.
737 Domestic: One of the happiest times of my career was 14 years ago when I first flew the brand new (to our company, at least) 737-800 and snagged trans-cons to Seattle, where most of my family still lives. Today in New York, there's a one-leg-out, layover for 30 hours and one-leg-back trip I could easily hold since I'd be number one on the seniority list there. But what if that trip switched to the 757 in the future? There weren't any other trips I was tempted to fly and it would be a larger pay cut. It also felt like I'd be taking a giant step backwards.
Goodbye Grand Canyon. Hello again, North Atlantic.
So in the end, I elected to go back to the 767, flying internationally to Europe and Rio. We're adding a new destination, Dublin, in April and I'm excited to fly there.
Rumors are always flying (no pun) around the company, and the word is that the MD-80 will likely be leaving New York before any other base, possibly by the end of this year. So I doubt I'll get the chance to fly it again, but I will always have a soft spot for the airplane that introduced me to the left seat at this company.
I suspect we may have a few light bumps in the ride going forward, but with the announced aircraft orders, it will hopefully smooth out soon. Perhaps I'll be writing about an Airbus upgrade in the future – an airplane I've always wanted to fly and never thought I'd get the chance.
Through video over the next two posts, I'll explain just what little features I grew to love in the MD-80, plus how one feature has changed our job. Stay tuned.
[Photo credit: Kent Wien]
Related: "Captain on the MD-80? Why?"
"Cockpit Chronicles" takes you along on some of Kent's trips as a
Filed under: The Cockpit Chronicles
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Grant Martin Mar 7th 2013 12:24PM
See you in Brazil, my friend.
John Mar 7th 2013 2:28PM
Good luck with the merger!
Nelson Mar 7th 2013 7:17PM
Good choice! The MD-80 is a great airliner, but, the 757/767 are new generation aircraft. Look forward to more great words.
Iñigo Mar 7th 2013 7:16PM
I'm a plane lover from Spain, don't worry about the change OF THE seat, THE most important is to continue flying. I world Nike to mete You in once OF your flights.
Best regards
Darren Murph Mar 7th 2013 7:00PM
Man, good luck -- love to read your stuff and I wished more folks in the airline industry were as positive as you.
Lvcivs Mar 8th 2013 3:56PM
Sad... but hoping to see you again with 4 stripes soon.
E-mail me when in Rio, I work at the control tower of Rio's general aviation airport (SBJR).
Grant Martin Mar 8th 2013 10:57AM
I'll be in Rio from May 24-27. Anything fun we can film or put together for Gadling?
David Mar 8th 2013 9:18AM
Kent—
Will you still commute from Germany?
Ken Mar 12th 2013 1:57AM
That's a bummer to get bumped down, but I love reading your blogl!
Kent Mar 12th 2013 11:13AM
Just out of curiousity, but do you have enough seniority to hold onto a captain's line on the MD-80 out of O'Hare or DFW?
Kent Wien Mar 12th 2013 11:18AM
No, unfortunately. Of the first 12 that were displaced, none could hold captain anywhere else in the system.
Panos Mar 17th 2013 12:25AM
Hi Kent,
I'm sorry you had to move right again.
Plain curiosity from an aviation outsider, do you get to keep the 4 stripes and any salary benefits from your recent promotion?
I understand than even though you're back in your previous place, you are now way up the seniority list, so not everything was ripped off on the way back.
Thank you for your nice posts and pics.
Kent Wien Mar 17th 2013 12:33AM
Hi Panos,
No, we give up the stripes and the pay. But interestingly, at our airline, we keep the wings with the small star on top. A small consolation gift, I suppose.
moo kahn Mar 16th 2013 9:50PM
Wow -bummer. I just happened across your blog. I don't think the average passenger has any idea how much turmoil there is in the airline industry for the crew members. I had this same discussion with a Delta flight attendant who had been royally jerked around with Delta's merger with Northwest (or the other way around- whatever). She had 25 yrs seniority and suddenly found herself commuting again and , forced to stay in crash pads with 20-somethings. Another thing I found surprising - she told me she rarely, if ever, would be with the same crew members from one trip to another. As a process improvement specialist I find it hard to believe that a group of strangers could be as effective in emergency as a crew who always - or even often - worked together.
Kent Wien Mar 17th 2013 12:32AM
That's a good point, Moo. We almost always are with a different crew from one trip to the next. But when the training is exactly the same for everyone, and the procedures are followed by every pilot and flight attendant, it makes it easier to work together. Flight attendants have some leeway in their service that can cause some confusion, I guess, but for the most part, pilots tend to be standardized.
But don't cry for me, I just have the second best job now.
TXcavu Mar 19th 2013 4:43PM
You made the right choices and a lot of things can change, as they already have here at DFW. The 76/75 is like an old friend, isn't she?
Lastmate Mar 26th 2013 8:22AM
I'll be very interested to see what you can hold after the "merger". Good luck!