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Position: Slimy Contractor, hoping for another flying gig.
Posts: 331
What is PBS?
I know what the acronym stands for, but what exactly is it, how does it work? It seems that it is referred to with much disdain every time it is mentioned. I understand it is a method of scheduling, and for those who despise it, what other methods are available that might work better and why aren't they used?
With "traditional" scheduling, they construct lines of time and then pilots bid on them in order of seniority. Theoretically, every pilot could end up with a line that he didn't like. With PBS, pilots submit their preferences first, then the lines are constructed. Theoretically, more pilots could get a line that closely reflects their individual desires. In practice, this has had a mixed record of success -- some like it, but many don't.
PBS seems like it would actually help more guys get what they want.
It might, but there will always be some pilot dissatisfaction with having your preferences weighed by a computer and then getting an unexpected result.
For those who are senior, it's golden. If you're not in the top 10% or so, it's really just up in the air. Plus, it helps if you have an idea on where you stand in the mix, because if you bid over what your seniority should get, the computer just chucks it all out and gives you what it feels like.
I love PBS, and I'm pretty junior.
It's a great system if you're like me and you really only care about getting specific days off. Instead of combing through 100+ lines looking for those days off and then bidding them all, I just put in a couple of quick "Prefer Off" requests and I'm done bidding for the month.
Can you just bid for "Days off"? So for example, say you want to commute for a while as a newhire, and you want blocks of days off.. Can you just say 6 on 4 off or something? How do you know how many days off you're going to get in a row? Seems totally random if you're junior.
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Total perfection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6txOvK-mAk
The problem with it is you need a Computer Science degree to take full advantage of all PBS has to offer. If you bid like your seniority should allow, maybe with a few swings for the fences that could be denied, you will usually end up with as good a schedule as possible.
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What is PBS?
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