Originally Posted by
Cowbell
Am I understanding this correctly? The company is shortening my already short layover by another 10 minutes ("adjusting the pairings") and we all pat ourselves on the back and treat it like some kind of victory? I never had a problem with the 10 min early push because if I wasn't ready to go, we didn't go. Make it a point to ask the FO if he is feeling rushed. Never an issue. In fact more often than not we're ready to go more than 10 mins prior to scheduled block out. Remember the big brew-hah about not blocking out early because of the 8-in-24 issue? If the company had just issued an FCIF or post saying they were going to shorten all layovers by 10 mins to improve system efficiency this board would have been on fire about our already short layovers. But now they've got us celebrating the fact. Sometimes I think we're our own worst enemy. Fire away...
To me it doesn't seem like there is "celebration" going on over this. Just communication regarding a poorly handled attempt by the company to improve efficiency. 10 minutes early can't happen via FCIF and word of mouth. It belongs on the scheduled pairing so duty times and flight times can be accurately tracked. We called them on it and it's been rectified.
Whoever decided to take this course of action in management appears to be an idiot. To me it seems deceptive. It started with the use of the strange term "pull". Almost 2 decades in this business and I've never heard anyone use that term with respect to aircraft departure. Was it as ridiculous as it appears to be? Don't call it an "early push" because that might be a contract violation or be more readily questioned by the crew - we'll call it a "pull" and hope no one notices? Strange to say the least.
As far as layover lengths, it either meets the contract or it doesn't. If these pairings were built from the start with 10 minute shorter layovers, would you still be complaining (would you have even noticed)? The company builds the pairings and has the ability to modify them as they see fit - as long as they do it in accordance with the contract. They just shouldn't be doing it via FCIF as a blanket change to hundreds of pairings after the bid month has started.