Originally Posted by
dera
And let me add a touch of reality to this one too:
The standby shifts are assigned in reverse seniority order. My first month on reserve, I did 5 days. This was pretty much the norm for everyone in our class. And when new pilots that started after you (likely in 2 weeks time) show up on the reserve list, then they start picking up those standby shifts. The more senior guys might, if they get unlucky, do one standby a month. This only happens on the very crappy days when they actually go through the reserve list and use everyone. Very rare. More often standby shifts are picked up by commuters wanting to make day 1 commutable. Also, you cannot be assigned a later standby shift on your last day (unless you are the last reserve available).
OSO (Off Schedule Operations) happens a couple of times a month. And again, the added standby shifts go to the most junior pilots available. Some OSO days they don't add standby shifts at all, it depends on the reserve coverage.
Day 1 is preassigned RAP1(starting at 4am). But you can still proffer for a later start. Other days are RAP2 unless you confirm something else. A lot of commuters tend to proffer for standby starting at noon making day 1 commutable. And since the standbys go junior, most of the time you will get it. When you're a bit more senior, you can just proffer RAP2 and will get it.
Our contract also has pretty good provisions for reserve guys commuting who want to keep flying as much as possible.
I've been released early from my last day of reserve every single time. If I had RAP2(RAP2 is 10AM to midnight), earliest I've been released was 3pm, and the latest was 6pm. Sometimes you get one of the less liked schedulers. If they refuse, wait 5 minutes and call again usually works.
Commuting to reserve sucks I'm sure, but there are lots of things you can do to make it slightly more tolerable.
Yes, sometimes you get served a sh*t sandwich and get called to sit airport standby for no apparent reason for 2 hours, or get called from home to taxi an airplane around for 30 minutes. But most of the time things go pretty smooth, even on reserve.
Reality..... oh if you only knew. Your description of reserve is accurate only when it is well staffed. We all know staffing levels fluctuate in unpredictable patterns.
Day 1- Pre assigned RAP1s don’t get notified of their assignments until 5pm CDT the day before. This means many commuters are forced to commute in the day prior because they don’t have two options after 5. Some even pack up drive towards the airport and then at 5 either continue to the airport or drive back home. Try getting in late the day before a RAP1 and then getting a 4 am call to fly 5 legs because someone banged out sick for a four day.
Last day - you ended up getting a RAP 2 because you finished late. Finally they call you at 6-7 pm and give you airport standby until 11 pm. Even on well staffed days this happens because guess what!!!! At 5pm RAPs are released from RAP if they have a next day reserve assignment. You went from being almost going home to on the cusp of a JM and this happens way too often.
Reserve rules are also so vague and ambiguous that you are better off bending over and doing what ever they ask so you don’t risk a MA.
Also we haven’t even got into the mid day rest on reserve. You really have no clue.