Originally Posted by
Blueskies21
Forgive me because I don't know much about horizon but am I understanding you don't have block or better? So you have some sort of scheduled or historical block pay?
Also I'm not sure I understand this 4:1 TAFB, I guess you've got some sort of duty rig or does this somehow tie into per diem? If it's a duty rig I guess it serves the same purpose as a min day in a typical block or better schedule...
Just trying to sort out some of that with no previous knowledge of Horizon
We have historical block pay.
Our rigs are 4:1 TAFB, 2:1 Duty, or 1:1 block. Our scheduling managers are convinced everything should be rigged TAFB. They like to set it up so we have a bunch of soft time. Then, our chief pilot has told us he wants us to remain flexible. In other words, all the soft time is there so that line holders can be flexible and be on reserve. We have been told that if it costs the same to rig everything TAFB as does duty, or block they will keep us TAFB. Our managers actually don't want us to be home more with our families.
My preference is to change the TAFB rig as well and set a daily minimum pay that can't be 'interpreted' differently. This way, the company has the flexibility to continue with their dumb ways. But it will start costing them to do so. And it still recognizes the reality that we have many shorter legs and that sometimes trips might need to be built TAFB. But, it will force our scheduling planners to start scheduling us more efficiently.
In the Q400, the best we can hope for right now is a 15 day off line in a 35 day bid period. Many of the lines are built to the 13 days off minimum specified by our current contract.