SkySeeker

Hello!

I have an interview soon. I really like the idea of being home every night, and although the first year pay is a ways from ideal, I've decided to make it work. I do have some questions about reserve life though:

1. From what I've heard, how long you are on reserve is really dependent on what base you're at. I've been on reserve far too long for my liking at my current company and would like to minimize it. Any way to know which base is going to grow most when I hit class so I know what to bid? I can move pretty much anywhere in Florida, and would consider Georgia or other southern areas.
2. I've heard that reserves get limo'd around Florida, often for lengthy periods. Is all of that time considered Duty time or only a portion? For example, at my current company transport, either deadhead on aircraft or limo, it's counted before a live leg but not at the end of the day. Then there's sometimes an argument over how much rest time there is before the start of the next shift.
3. Is that limo time included in pay credit at all?
4. Is there a limit to how much time you can be limo'd around? (There's nothing in the contract that is available online, and I'm wondering if there's an LOA or anything written on the subject.)
5. When on reserve, do you get to bid for the shift you want? Once you are awarded a shift does Crew Scheduling mess with it after the fact? For example, my current company will award a morning home standby starting at 0400, but then call you at 0400, release you to rest for 10 hours and ask you to come in to the airport at 1500. Is there any way to stay on the same morning or evening shift? I know that much of this can happen once a pilot has a line, but it seems that pilots on reserve can be moved around at will with no consideration of the pilot's schedule or QOL. Given reserve could be measured in years, I want to know what I'm getting into.
6. Does the union have any teeth to it? It seems that the company/union relations are not particularly harmonious. I wonder if pilots are fired for whatever reason (of course they'll come up with something not union related) if they are involved with the union in a way the company doesn't like.
7. I believe the current contract ends in 2021. Are negotiations starting soon?
8. Are Long Call Reserves used at all or is it just RAPs, two shifts one starting at 0330 and one starting at 0900, 12 hours in duration, with a 90 minute to the parking lot?
9. How is the health insurance? I've never heard of TeamCare before; is it still being used and what's your experience with it?
10. Are extensions expected with those on Reserve? How often? Any repercussions from denying them?

Thanks very much for your time and help!