Originally Posted by
Upsddown
Andrew,
Most will at some point of sitting on reserve experience the horrors of reserve. But as you express, if managed correctly it is livable. There are bid statuses that are notorious for excessive use. They are the exception not the rule.
Commuting makes it harder, but that's every pilots choice. Don't know many other professions that when your job has you transferred to another city or your hired by a company where your position is in another city you can continue to commute from your home.
Commuting is tough but it's great benefit to have the ability to take advantage of.
If you live in base you do your yard work on your reserve days. You can go golf. Go waterski. Go bike riding.
Whatever you enjoy doing.
Don't know many office jobs where the boss tells his employees go golf, waterski, etc., I'll call you if I need you.
If you commute, you make it harder. If you bid larger equipment or upgrade early and your junior in the status, you just made it harder on yourself.
Often reserve is what you make of it.
Holding a line is always better, unless your goal is to not fly. Go look at the reserve utilization of LWB pilots. I don't hear them complaining.
LUS reserve was MUCH better. The schedulers simply treated us like adults and recognized that there are contractual limitations to what they can do.
I came from a regional, and LUS reserve was a breath of fresh air. It wasn't always perfect, but they didn't play stupid regional games and wipe their butts with the contract the way schedulers do now.
LAA has some big problems in this area-and these problems are getting worse. Maybe the new model hasn't reached all bases yet-and all equipment types, but it damn sure has reached mine.
I never thought I would have to go back to silly ass reserve games like the worst regionals play-but what I am seeing now is just about as bad as anything I have ever seen.
And given CCI and ACARS abuses sure to hit in October, it will get worse.
I know I am junior. I also know reserve is not supposed to be awesome. I just wish we had scheduling like we used to. I don't think contractual and FAR 117 compliance is too much to ask.
The games of late are really starting to wear.