Brown

Wow, Continental is truly run by a bunch of scumbags!! I am very glad I got out of that place, and I really wish you furloughed guys the best of luck.

In my opinion, ANY CA that picks up an FO trip is the lowest scum of the earth.

That place is really run by scumbags. Yes, I know I said it again!


Subject:
Voluntary Junior Manning Opportunity

To:
All B737 Captains and First Officers (except GUM)

In the face of Tropical Storm Edouard and the previously explained issues (repeated below) surrounding staffing in the B737 BES, the Voluntary Junior Manning program for 737 First Officers and Captains is being extended.

If you are a B737 Captain or First Officer in IAH, EWR or CLE that does a straight pickup of a First Officer trip (only) from open time that originates on August 4 through August 8, 2008, that pickup will be treated as a “voluntary junior manning” (VJM) event and you will be paid a minimum of 4:30/day or flight time flown, whichever is greater, at 150% of your normal hourly rate
(Captains who fly as First Officers under this program will be paid 150% of their Captain rate).

Please note that Captains must request these pick-ups via telephone with Crew Scheduling. First Officers may conduct the pickup via CCS or via telephone. Captains are reminded to review Flight Operations Manual section 5 to assure they carry the appropriate manuals when operating flights as a First Officer.

Our current staffing issue is centered in the First Officer ranks of the 737 while the Captain Status is staffed in-line with the target LPA of 82.5 hours set last fall. The cessation of hiring this spring, the agreement to withhold a System Bid in May while discussing furlough mitigation strategies, and an increase in attrition have contributed to this temporary situation in First Officer staffing, which has been exacerbated by Tropical Storm Edouard.

As we have stated, the company is sensitive to the implications of paying a premium and asking pilots to fly so much on the eve of furloughing a substantial number of pilots. The 26% reduction in 737 hours this fall will immediately correct this imbalance.

If you are available to fly, please consider taking advantage of this program to help us cover the operation.
Regards,
Captain R. J. Starley

Senior Director, Flight Operations

gufusu

Brown please don't give the union a free pass on this.

Ottopilot

Who's the scum bags- management or the pilots (CA's & FO's) picking up open time?

I'd say that:
-management is stupid for understaffing again.
-the pilots picking up time for 150% are scum.
-the rest of the pilots are stupid for allowing management and the other pilots for doing the above.

__________________
-Otto Pilot

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Does your contract allow open time flying when furloughs have been announced? It seems very hostile to the junior pilots in my opinion but maybe I’m misunderstanding what's going on? I think especially any pilot over 60 who picks up open time should be ashamed of him/herself.

My friend received his furlough notice a few weeks ago and I just hate seeing him being so depressed about the way things are going…

HercAC

Good points Otto
I'd add ANY airline management will:
-exploit the financial greed of pilots
-exploit the selfishness of pilots
-exploit the lack of unity of pilots as a result of financial greed and individual selfishness

Scumbags or Geniuses? The truth seems to be in the eye of the beholder.

__________________
"Keep your friends close...your enemies closer"

RonnyK320

I don't think any contract in the world would prevent pilots from picking up open time when there are furloughs. The guys that do it are pieces of crap!

My question is are all CAL 737 captains qualified in the right seat? We are at USA 3000, unfortunately, but we have to do a sim check out every year to keep qualified. I hate it! I'm going to make sure our next contract states that it is voluntary to do a right seat check out.

RK

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

Well, is the CAL union calling for an open time ban to protect the junior pilots? Are they even allowed to do that?

I'm not sure how it works at other places but here's the article that allows the union at Big Brown to call for an open time ban during furloughs or furlough announcements:


K. Open Time Pick Up

9. It shall be a violation of this Agreement if the Association engages in any action to encourage or suggest to its members that they not pick up open time or decline junior available assignments. This language shall not be applicable during a time of furlough or furlough announcement.

newKnow

The only Captains at NWA that are qualified to fly as FO's are called instructors.

__________________
Choice is an illusion created by those who have power for those who don't...

DANCRJ

That's pretty much it...legally, or "lawyerly".......(I'm just making words up) in terms of ALPA involvement. There've been so many times ALPA wanted to shout DON'T OUT LOUD!!!!!!! and they weren't able to....... This is probably one of them......

sailingfun

A Captain can not fly in the FO seat unless he completes training in that seat including annual recurrent.