Originally Posted by
PCL_128
Using July's lines, an ATN 717 CA would need to work only 15 days to credit 87.5 hours flying nothing more than his original line. By swapping around for more efficient trips and getting some premium pay, that could be reduced.
The 6.5/day is the minimum trips can average, so the 16 days is a worst case scenario. I was trying be conservative. A typical trip density pays around 7.5/day. (some up around 8.5/day, and a few down around 6.7/day) I was trying to be generic, but here's what the July SWA FO lines look like:
Work 11 days: 90-95 trips (only a few of these)
Work 12 days: 89-100 trips
Work 13 days: 90-107 trips
Work 14 days: 94-110 trips
Work 15 days: 99-112 trips
To visualize the distribution: The 12 day pairings trend toward the low 90s , while the 15 day pairings trend towrd the upper end, 108-109. (Only a few 15 day pairings pay 99-100, while only a few 12 day pairings pay 98-99 or more.) 13s cluster around 98-100 and 14s around 103-105.
So, in July, to reach the breakeven 106-110 trips, the SWA FO will have to bid a line working 13-14 days.
A 12-year captain will be a senior FO, and can bid the line of their choosing. A junior 7-year ATN CA will be a mid level FO, and will be able to hold a 106 trip line, but may have to work either Saturday or Sunday, but probably not both, or move up to a 15 day line.