Originally Posted by
horrido27
Actually, I "try" to know the contract but sorry that I and most of us don't live up to your knowledge level with regards to our 500+ page document.
I understand the soft start concept and was bringing up the issue that since most pilots (myself included) tend to get on our company IPads on the van (at overseas locations) or on the bus (here in domicile), it brings up the problem that since we are "technically" not at the airport yet and still up to 30 mins from actual start of our duty day, logging on to CCS opens up a can of worms with regard to being soft started.
Your Profile states you are a A320 Capt. So let me ask you this-
If you are on an international trip.. and cannot check your cell phone for a message from crew scheduling... what do you do?
Do you head downstairs at scheduled van time and then log into CCS only to find out that you are now soft reset?
I guess in a perfect world, no one would even boot up their IPad until AFTER they arrived at the flight planning area, AFTER official start of their duty.
But in the real world, what is the answer about our "status" with regards to FAR117 and when we are on the van? If it's not duty, and it's not rest.. what is it?!
Seems the Soft Reset was a loophole that FAA gave the company to basically extend our duty day.
I remember at a C2012 roadshow the question was asked about Field Standby.. answer- "It's in the contract but won't be used"
I asked about the disparity in 76-3 pay.. answer- "Planes are leaving so no reason to waste negotiating capital on them"
There is a question I have with regards to being contacted for a soft rest. I understand 2 way contact is required. Does logging on to our IPAD BEFOFE official start of the duty day constitute 2 way contact?
You state -
the Pilot Mobile shows the later pickup time without having to acknowledge the trip. You just go to airport at new time and acknowledge the trip one minute after original show time.
I don't recall seeing that. If I open up Pilot Mobile, and there is a Pairing Modification.. isn't that the same as going on CCS and seeing a pairing modification? The company knows you just logged in.. how can you then say you didn't know?
Mind you, I don't think we had Ipad's or at least no Pilot Mobile before C12.. but can't remember for sure.
How does our IPad and Pilot Mobile/FFD play into our duty day and contact time? That's all I was trying to bring up~
Motch
Fly Safe, Fly Professional and Fly the Contract
Motch,
Let's go back to your original post. ALPA and everyone has harped on this for years to never ever just pick up a call from Crew Scheduling, ever!! So no excuse for that pilot. I'll just assume he was a "NEW" guy. Now you said you and another guy confirmed on CCS, your change to your pairing - the soft start. So purposely clicked on it. So in both instances you did two-way communication with Crew Sked.
When you open up Pilot Mobile, the soft start is right there in your pairing. No schedule modification is required. So if CS left you a VM and/or you happened to look go into EZCCS or crew companion directly, of course, the first thing you will see is pairing mod before you can go any further. Stick with your pilot mobile app.
I agree, this UPA has a ton of crap to know. I'm no expert and have to refer to the DYK, or ALPA PDR, or my iPhone Notes that have the same scenarios that come up all the time, which instead of memorizing, i refer to. But the one thing i do know, is to never answer a phone call from CS or click on a pairing mod, until i know what's up - Unless a premium trip is open on my day off!
