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Old 12-12-2016 | 05:05 PM
  #304  
gettinbumped
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: A320 Cap
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Originally Posted by robthree
With the pilots who are sitting reserve, getting paid as Captains.
The only change would be reserves could aggressively pick up both FO and CA trips, or be assigned such by scheduling, but the window to do so would not change.




Captains can fly in the right seat. Some can even do a good job from the right seat.

I can't remember off the top of my head if its a FOM or UPA restriction, or both. Either one can be changed with the stroke of a pen. I think you also need a right seat check out periodically. I'm not sure if that has to be accomplished in recurrent or as a line check.




At a previous gig a lot our trips required double augmentation. Sometimes (not often) there would be three or four Captains operating the flight.



The biggest drawback I've thought of is for FOs who are too junior to hold holidays or weekends off as a line holder, but can as a reserve. I'm benefiting from that this month, holding Christmas off as a reserve, and I'll go back to being a line holder working weekends in January.

The other downside I forsee is that CAs will sit reserve longer. But that's really a feature, not a bug. As more total CAs will be needed, more junior pilots will have the opportunity to upgrade earlier in their careers, at the cost of sitting reserve longer if they do so as soon as they are able to hold the seat. The number of CA line holders will not change.


What other drawbacks am I missing?
Other than it will cost the company a bit more money. Which ought to inspire them to be more efficient with reserves.
Interesting concept. It would cost a LOT more money for the company. You'd have to staff twice as many Captain reserves as you have now because you'd have to cover both seats. I'm sure the company would be willing to do it.... for the correct negotiating capital. I don't think you'd like what we would have to give up for it.

The other downside is this: as an LCA going back to the right seat after 16 years in the left was a humbling experience. It felt like I had never flown a plane before. After a few IOE's it was fine, but honestly there is a real challenge there to flying from a seat that you have had minimal to no training in for 15 years or so. I'm guessing that's why we never allowed Captains to fly in the right seat at LUAL. I'm sure many pilots would be much better than it than I was, but I definitely felt like I was a threat over there for awhile.
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