Originally Posted by
Jack Bauer
This would take away the companies ability to perform "leveling" where all reserves for a given month on a given airplane/base share the flying more or less equally.
Pilots, given the ability to choose which days they are on call/short call, could actually effect their likelihood of getting called in a given week (some might argue that gives seniority its due and helps pilots once again control their lives somewhat better). Bottom line, the company is only interested in constructively engaging when they feel the outcome is more to their benefit than what the pilots are getting. I don't think this one would qualify. That said, when you get a moment, check out how Alaska pilots are able to bid/trade/give away/pick up. and what their reserve guarantees are (I'll get you started....short call pays 79 hours, long call pays 75 hours).
The thing that will be really disappointing is to find out 6 months down the road how many missed opportunities went by as rules are changed without memrat in order to help the company adapt to the new FTDT. Leverage smeverage.
Yeah this reinforces my argument about how the elephant in the room that causes a need for trip parking (in most categories) is the reserve system and the utilization of reserves across bases. The company is not accountable (for lack of a better word) to ensure the number of reserves in all bases is sufficient to cover the requirements on any given day. Some are over staffed.. some are under. That is no skin off skeds' nose because reserves are their biyotch, and go where/when they are told. Problem is that this affects lineholders, because in those categories that are understaffed, there is no drop/swap/etc... Needs to be fixed.. in some fashion.