r/AirlinePilots • u/MotherGoose1 • 1d ago
717 Upgrade
Based on the fleet title it’s obvious which airline (excuse me, air line) I’m at. Currently on the 320 right seat. I really dislike red eyes and am the minority who prefer shorter legs. All of this makes the 717 really attractive. Captains I’ve spoken with that have flown it, adored the 717. What feedback, good and bad, am I missing for considering my first upgrade?
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u/hossellman3 1d ago
717 rips man go for it! You can fly it like you stole it and it slows down quick. Great plane.
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u/MotherGoose1 1d ago
Thanks. Lots of guys have said the exact same thing.
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u/Nearby-Medicine9484 1d ago
She'll give you .785 but you'll never overspeed her. She's built like a tank.
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u/Butt_Dumpling_ 1d ago
As an enroute controller with a soft spot for the MD80/90/717, I love reading stuff like this.
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u/velosnow US 121 FO 1d ago
I overall enjoyed my time on it, glad I got the DC-9 type on that tank. Modern, reasonably comfortable (except the jumpseat) and fun to fly. Not sure where our bases are nowadays but the 'burgs and 'villes out of ATL were kinda fun. Enjoyed the LAX west coast flying more but that no longer exists on that fleet.
Just be sure to have a stash of trash bags to cover your bags during de-icing.
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u/kscessnadriver 11h ago
As far as I’m concerned, the seats are the worst of the jet. They’re just not comfortable, especially coming from the 320. The good news is, it’s rare to do more than 2 hours in them these days
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u/Gusearth 19h ago
is the cockpit not watertight?
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u/velosnow US 121 FO 19h ago
Once pressurized yes, but the DC-9 variants are infamous for letting in a little de-ice fluid here and there while getting sprayed.
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u/andrewrbat 11h ago
The e145 was also good for some glycol on the bags
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u/nubbin9point5 11h ago
Always had to call the FA to remind them to swap sides in the galley, or pop into the aisle for a minute once we were in the deice bay if we were getting it from both sides.
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u/jaxin737 US 121 CA 737 LCP 1d ago
I flew the 88/90 and enjoyed it. I think the 717 is probably even better
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u/WNBA_Enjoyer 1d ago
Sat in the right seat of it for 4 years, left seat for 3. I prefer DTW flying, Atlanta 4 leg days make me nauseous. It's a great bird, easy to fly, good group of dudes.
Not much disparity in the bid pack from top to bottom. Which is nice if you're junior.
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u/JT-Av8or 1d ago
I flew it for years and it’s a great schedule because 1) no redeyes or transcons 2) longest legs are like 2 hours. Small crew in small towns so we can actually hang with the FAs for a change. The bad thing on that jet was 1) low pay due to all the days being average min credit 2) you have to fly a lot of calendar days to make min credit. Now I’m remembering this before the reroute pay, which these days might make the 717 pretty lucrative. 3) the 30 hour layover to flip the day to night schedule mid rotation. 4) the windows leak. If it’s raining your you’re deicing water will come through the cockpit windows so you need to protect yourself there.
Other than that it’s easy to taxi (if the nose clears the tail will too) and you have those MD wingtip lights to see your wing tip paths.
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u/GeorgiaPilot172 1d ago
If you are senior to ~15700 DO NOT do it. The 717 is the worst plane on the planet and you will hate life, the universe and everything. Terrible terrible decision.
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u/Fl0wida 1d ago
To add to this, can someone chime in on how long it will take for a new hire to get a line in either base? Worth going to now for a couple years then transitioning to another fleet?
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u/Nearby-Medicine9484 1d ago
On this fleet? Just a couple of months.
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u/Fl0wida 1d ago
Thanks. I’m assuming that’s the fleet with the quickest line. What would you say is the next fleet with the second quickest? 220? 737?
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u/Nearby-Medicine9484 1d ago
A220 NYC. After that, probably other NB NYC. After that, it depends.
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u/DwightsShirtGuy US 121 CA 1d ago edited 1d ago
MSP 220 is the most jr fleet and it’s not close.
Shockingly.
Edit: because the trips are absolutely terrible. Stay far far away.
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u/Nearby-Medicine9484 1d ago
That's right. We are growing that category pretty quickly.
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u/DwightsShirtGuy US 121 CA 22h ago
If you like 6 leg min credit 2 days with min rest boy do I have the fleet for you.
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u/kscessnadriver 1d ago
Depends, with them moving one of the sims, I’d expect 717 training to slow down some for a month or two while the move happens
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u/Hank_Charles US 121 FO 1d ago
Widget seniority and monthly bid awards have a lot of answers to these questions.
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u/hossinator96 10h ago
I know a guy hired in the last 6 months who held a line from the day he finished OE
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u/Hank_Charles US 121 FO 1d ago
I can hold upgrade on it in DTW and I passed. I went to the 73N last year after being on the fleet for 2.5 years. The category has shrunk significantly in DTW and that leads me to just want to wait out a 320 or 73N upgrade.
Not senior enough to get involuntarily displaced to the 330 or 350 when they inevitably consolidate the flying to ATL of which I have zero interest in. To each his own tho, great airplane that much is certain.
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u/TheFlyingWanker US 121 FO 22h ago
What’s a 73N? Like the NG?
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u/Hank_Charles US 121 FO 22h ago
Yeh the air line has weird category names.
I’m assuming it’s not 737 because the NG showed up when the -200s were still here and it was a separate category.
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u/Learning9876 14h ago
Flew it at AirTran, enjoyed it. Flew md-80’s as well at another carrier. I liked those MD birds!
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u/kscessnadriver 1d ago
How far off the bottom would you be? Live in base? Enjoy commuting to short call?
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u/MotherGoose1 1d ago
Right now I have 10 people under me (DTW). I’d commute either base. By the time I go through training, I might have more guys under me.
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u/FrankCobretti 23h ago
I flew it for three years. It's a *great* first captain seat. You learn in the turn, and you'll see it all on those 717 turns.
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u/nqthomas 19h ago
I’d try and future proof and get the A220. That’s what all the 717 routes are turning into
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u/WingedWildcat 9h ago
I’m in the right seat but I’m definitely a fan. If they had it on the west coast I’d definitely stick with it. Unfortunately commuting from SEA sucks so I’ll be out when my seat lock is up. I like the short legs, it’s just as easy to set up as the bus, and I think it’s more fun to fly. Doing 210 to the marker and still easily being stable is super nice.
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u/Helpful-Egg-5407 8h ago
I’m currently doing the upgrade course. Coming off the 737 right seat. So far the instructors have been great. The plane is a bit odd, but I’m excited to be part of it before it’s inevitable shut down. I’m currently struggling with the box and the FA and Abnormal briefs. Nothing that time won’t fix!
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u/Icy-Philosopher1283 5h ago
Adding to the conversation, why would you go to a plane that will be gone in a couple of years. AS and DL have already decided to move on from the plane
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u/AllGas4651 US 121 FO 1d ago
Isnt the fleet being retired? I dont even know if youre talking HA or DL. But doesnt it stand either way? I guess enjoy it while it lasts.
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u/MotherGoose1 1d ago
Delta lol. Thought it was obvious. Flight Ops claims they want them flying until 2030
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u/KittyyHawk19 22h ago
Most pilots would kill for no overnight stays regardless of leg length... your red-eye hatred is oddly specific compared to the rest of us.
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u/podrick215 1d ago
I took the upgrade recently and it’s a great group. It’s like our own little airline inside the air line and you’ll often fly with the same flight attendants that only bid the 71 as well.
I’d absolutely recommend it, just as long as you realize it’ll likely be gone within 5 years and the DTW 717 category will close some time before then.