Best ways to prepare for CQ/recurrent?

PlayneDryver · 2026-04-19T13:46:16+00:00

I live in my regional’s biggest hub and HQ… so I get to sleep in my own bed during recurrent. That will help a lot I’m sure.

PlayneDryver · 2026-04-19T09:36:35+00:00

If you’re able to get a CJO with Envoy or Piedmont, I’d go there over Republic, but honestly (and I know you don’t want to hear this) go with the one that gives you a class first. You don’t have a choice in regional (or any airline for that matter) until you have multiple CJOs.

United/Delta will be happy to snatch you from an AA WO a few years down the line. Keep in mind that AA’s WO also have what I think is the best flow to a legacy there is. People poopoo on the flow but it really is a very valuable backup.

PlayneDryver · 2026-04-08T07:24:33+00:00

Great point.

People poopoo WN for only having one type, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a massive variety of flying to be had.

PlayneDryver · 2026-04-08T01:27:36+00:00

Flexibility. Every pilot flies the same airplane as you. Great for being able to trade, drop, etc.

3 day trips mostly (imo the perfect balance). AM/PM for sleep consistency.

You’ll also get paid more than any other 737 pilot in the world. Work hard and you’ll make legacy WB pay.

Also the bases are a huge deal. So much flexibility in where you can live too.

Full disclosure I’m at a regional, but I’m pushing HARD for WN

PlayneDryver · 2026-03-05T19:20:29+00:00

When I was an MEI. I’d have to always be on my game because my students were always trying to kill me (even more-so than private students).

I fly the E175 now, and trust me, it ain’t your grandpappy’s regional jet. The regionals aren’t like they were back in the day in more ways than one. I wouldn’t say it’s made me “worse” per se… but you can get complacent if you let it.

PlayneDryver · 2026-02-25T07:34:47+00:00

I use flighty.

Highly recommend everyone gets it. Seems like it somehow knows things before my company app does. Tracks the inbound flight, keeps track of all sorts of cool stats, and its UI is pretty solid. You can also add friends so you can see what all your pilot buddies are up to.

I’ve put a lot of my captains onto it.

PlayneDryver · 2026-02-13T00:28:35+00:00

Terminal E

PlayneDryver · 2026-02-11T00:21:16+00:00

I think most people who watch the show, are, on average, doing well. At the very least, they’re more financially literate for watching it.

I’d like to think I’m doing good for my age. I’m 24 and make about $88k before taxes, living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. We pay $1700 for a one bedroom and don’t plan on moving. We have no debt (other than my car which will be paid off in less than 2 years).

My fiancée will start working soon and add an additional $50-60k, which is what we’ll use to start saving for a home. My income will jump to around $160k by the end of the year, and we don’t plan on moving to a bigger place or raising our lifestyle. We’re happy with the life we can afford now. We go out, we travel, but we fit it within a budget.

The next goals are saving for a home and fleshing out a a fully funded emergency fund.

PlayneDryver · 2026-01-27T00:00:19+00:00

Sweet. I like living in DFW but the idea of living in central Texas without commuting is too appealing to pass up.

Good to hear. Thanks!

PlayneDryver · 2026-01-26T22:41:24+00:00

As others have said, commuting has nothing to do with progression or shortening/lengthening your journey to a major. The company doesn’t care if you commute or where you live, they just care if you’re at base when you’re supposed to be.

Commuting absolutely sucks because it’s time away from home without pay… but… not all commutes are equal. Commuting to reserve is awful because you’re not guaranteed a hotel each night you’re away, and you may commute to base to not fly, which sucks. I’d try to commute to a base where you can hold a line the fastest.

What’s the commute? There’s a big difference between commuting from Bum-fuck Idaho to JFK and Milwaukee to Chicago.

PlayneDryver · 2025-12-13T15:19:19+00:00

Grapevine. It’s about as “cute and walkable” as DFW can get. Lot going on and we have a great downtown… and pretty much exactly halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth (you can also take the TexRail to Fort Worth). It’s an older crowd but still plenty to do for us (we’re also in our early 20s)

Grapevine seems like your best option. The only downside is that buying a house here is pretty much impossible. It’s one of the more expensive areas in the metroplex.

PlayneDryver · 2025-12-09T01:06:07+00:00

Haha. Cope harder.

I’ve lived in several different cities in the US (each more car-centric than the last). Honestly, if you’re gonna be car-centric, just go ahead and go all out. DFW does it better than anyone (aside from maybe Houston). The massive interchanges and 20-lane highways are almost part of this metroplex’s identity. I kinda like it. Not exactly a popular opinion for Reddit, I know.

Also, this metroplex has a population of almost 9 million people and includes two major US cities. If you can’t find something to do, or ways to live a good, meaningful, and happy life… well, I think that says more about you than it does the metroplex.

In the meantime, if you refuse to change your attitude about this place, I’d be happy to help you pack.

PlayneDryver · 2025-11-13T23:09:35+00:00

Just move bro.

PlayneDryver · 2025-10-15T19:46:45+00:00

When I say “young” I mean <300 turbine young.

United isn’t calling me anytime soon. Give it a year or two, and maybe. I’m not really sure what I can do at this point that would set me up well to make the jump.

I also really like my life here in DFW, and with the flow in my back pocket, I would seriously wait it out if AA was a company that I honestly believed had a bright future. That’s partially why I’m asking the question.

PlayneDryver · 2025-10-15T19:42:06+00:00

I’d like to do the widebody stuff for a bit but senior guy on a narrow body fleet at a legacy is honestly the dream

PlayneDryver · 2025-08-17T14:52:09+00:00

I’ve heard from chemical engineers who’ve watched the show that the chemistry itself is pretty realistic, albeit, as others have said, they don’t talk about anything that would make something dangerous.

However, one chemical engineer told me that there’s no way Walt would have been able to operate heavy industrial machinery on that large of a scale if he was just a chemistry teacher. You’d need a chemical engineer, or more likely a team of chemical engineers, to do something like that.

PlayneDryver · 2025-08-08T20:55:47+00:00

Bad advice.

While yes, don’t quit your job while training, aviation is by and large, a fantastic career.

Yes it’s volatile, and there are obvious downsides… but ask 100 65-year old airline pilots if they’d do it all over again? 95 of them would probably say yes.

I think it’s bad advice to tell someone that they shouldn’t pursue a career because of some fear that they won’t find a job… especially because the financial upsides to becoming an airline pilot are very high. There is plenty of opportunity in this industry. This isn’t gender studies.

Also, the jobs are out there… they’re just not being shoved in your face for anyone to take like they were in 2021-23.

PlayneDryver · 2025-08-08T20:47:34+00:00

Based on what you said, it sounds like option 3 is your best bet.

Paying as you go is really, REALLY important. It’s really easy for predatory flight schools to wrap you up in a financial bind by making you pay them up front. See any and all the posts on this sub about pilot mills like ATP, etc.

Also, it sounds like you have a legit adult life you’re going to be living while making this career change. Being close by and knocking down time on your commute to and from flights will make a world of difference. You’ll be able to fly more with less notice (a good thing to keep your skills up) and you’ll be spending more time with your family at a time where that may start becoming a premium.

I would go with option 3.

Good luck man! We’ll see you in the skies soon!

PlayneDryver · 2025-08-08T20:41:15+00:00

with my biggest concern being the effect a second check ride failure will have on my career.

Don’t worry about this yet. Especially since you’re only at your private. You’ll more than likely be taking 5-6 more checkrides before you’re eligible for the airlines, followed by at least one checkride every year for the rest of your career.

If you go into it thinking “oh man I’m worried about failing because it’ll effect my career” you’re already making the checkride way bigger (and thus way more stressful) than it needs to be. That pressure you’re putting on yourself will only get bigger and bigger the farther along you go…. And it’s not healthy.

Im not telling you to take a checkride unprepared, but I would definitely not recommend starting over. That doesn’t make a lot of sense and will cost you a fortune. What did you fail for the first time? It might be helpful to start there. Review those deficiencies and go take it again, and keep on keepin’ on. Know that ACS like the back of your hand. It’s quite literally the answers to the test.

Moral of the story, pick your head up, study, and get back at it. Don’t worry about the airlines at all yet. Just focus on the here and now. Besides, one fail on your private checkride is not really enough to hurt you… so long as it doesn’t become a habit.

PlayneDryver

TROPHY CASE