Originally Posted by
Dave Fitzgerald
To answer the original question. Aircraft costs are directly related to anytime they are turned on, IE, hobbs meter, engine running. Roughly equates to block time. So pilot and FA pay is tied to the operation of the aircraft, hence block time.
I agree, we should be paid anytime we are on duty, but alas, this is not the case.
Aircraft cost are related to cycles, not to hobbs, and definitely not to block. You fly between IAD and JFK, half of your block is flight time. You fly IAH SYD 95% of your block is flight time.
My plan:
Flight pay (on a leg by leg basis) should start 45 minutes before scheduled departure, and end 15 minutes after brakes set, doors open, engines off (whichever is last). If you keep the same aircraft for the next leg, reduce pay by 30 minutes. Any time between legs over 1 hour pays 1 minute per 3 minutes.