Guys,
In general I am against any flying above the max pick-up (P/U). Currently we can not WS a trip in open time above the max P/U - I really like this policy.
Many of you are familiar with the whole "trip parking" fiasco and I believe that has improved somewhat, but is still possible.
I really don't like the options for guys guys to exceed max P/U via swap with friends and however else it can be done - maybe swap with the pot?
On the other hand if someone wants off and can't drop his trip because of negative reserve levels this can be another way for him to get off - swapping with a friend who otherwise would be limited by max P/U.
Here is my proposed solution - whenever a pilot swaps a trip I-crew will check the recipient of the trip. If the recipient of the trip now exceeds the max P/U the pilot who passed the trip will now get "shadow credit" for the trip. If the recipient is still below the max P/U it is just as it is now.
The way I see it this will allow us to continue to drop trips, allows another Pilot to still exceed the max P/U without increasing net pilot productivity which is currently what happens.
Here is an example;
Two Pilots both with 80 hours. Max P/U is 92. Pilot A wants to drop a 15 trip but can not. Pilot B wants to take the trip via the swap with friends. As it currently stands Pilot A would now have a 65 hour month and Pilot B would have a 95 hour month. Both are happy but under our current system Pilot A can still pick up to the limit which greatly increases Pilot productivity. If Pilot A had "shadow credit" he would be limited in picking up open time as if he never swapped his trip.
I personally would like to limit all pick ups as white slips are now limited but the above method seems to allow a Pilot the flexibility to drop a trip, knowing he will be limited on his future pick ups if he really wants off. It would probably eliminate all trip parking and minimize the ability of guys to manipulate their schedules into exceeding caps.
OK - now please tell me why/how this plan is unworkable, unfair, stupid or maybe actually has some potential.
Scoop