What Would You Do Different?
12-24-2018, 07:47 AM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 7
What Would You Do Different?
For those folks who have been with the company long enough to feel comfortable sharing, what would you do differently if you were starting today, based on all the knowledge you have acquired thus far? Were there some mistakes you made in the beginning? Are there some great tricks you picked up along the way that could have helped you when you started?
12-24-2018, 07:56 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2018
Posts: 151
Originally Posted by Tanker Biff
For those folks who have been with the company long enough to feel comfortable sharing, what would you do differently if you were starting today, based on all the knowledge you have acquired thus far? Were there some mistakes you made in the beginning? Are there some great tricks you picked up along the way that could have helped you when you started?
In all seriousness...this industry is impossible to predict. It’s all about timing, a lot of luck, right place / right time with a pinch or skill and personality.
12-24-2018, 08:19 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 2,297
Are you joining us? My advice is, after IOE is complete, and you’re comfortable on the line, your main job is to learn the contract & PBS. Read everything you can about PBS, read the PBS reports and learn about coverage days, how they work, where you fall. I’m amazed at the number of pilots that don’t know how to bid or understand the system. Many could do better than they do.
If you’re military, you need to learn the industry, in terms of contracts, work rules etc. Understand where we sit.
If you’re military, you need to learn the industry, in terms of contracts, work rules etc. Understand where we sit.
12-24-2018, 08:23 AM
#4
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by PRS Guitars
Are you joining us? My advice is, after IOE is complete, and you’re comfortable on the line, your main job is to learn the contract & PBS. Read everything you can about PBS, read the PBS reports and learn about coverage days, how they work, where you fall. I’m amazed at the number of pilots that don’t know how to bid or understand the system. Many could do better than they do.
If you’re military, you need to learn the industry, in terms of contracts, work rules etc. Understand where we sit.
If you’re military, you need to learn the industry, in terms of contracts, work rules etc. Understand where we sit.
Yes, I’ll be starting in February and very excited about the shift from mil to civ flying. Thanks for the advice. Are you saying when you started you were unaware of the resources available to get up to speed on PBS and/or contract specifics?
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12-24-2018, 09:12 AM
#5
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2008
Position: C208 BE58
Posts: 51
Originally Posted by PRS Guitars
Are you joining us? My advice is, after IOE is complete, and you’re comfortable on the line, your main job is to learn the contract & PBS. Read everything you can about PBS, read the PBS reports and learn about coverage days, how they work, where you fall. I’m amazed at the number of pilots that don’t know how to bid or understand the system. Many could do better than they do.
If you’re military, you need to learn the industry, in terms of contracts, work rules etc. Understand where we sit.
If you’re military, you need to learn the industry, in terms of contracts, work rules etc. Understand where we sit.
12-24-2018, 09:49 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,205
A guy told me LiteSabre has the ability to show what trips went junior to you. If you're solving at a low Layer (1-x), and trips you thought were better are going to guys junior to you, it's time to get smarter about using PBS.
You can also look at the individual bid awards on the PBS 3XP link on APA's website. That will also show which trips went junior to you. If you see trips there that you didn't get look at your PBS constraints and try to understand why you weren't awarded those trips.
You can also look at the individual bid awards on the PBS 3XP link on APA's website. That will also show which trips went junior to you. If you see trips there that you didn't get look at your PBS constraints and try to understand why you weren't awarded those trips.
12-24-2018, 10:27 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 2,297
Originally Posted by aggie02
Can you provide a little more advice on PBS? I’m a newhire, I’ve done the core and advanced learning modules on aapilots. I’ve read what I could find on the APA site. While I now have a basic understanding of PBS, I don’t feel I know enough to “work” the system. Other than trial and error, do you have a recommendation for resources to learn more?
Understand how reserve can be great if you bid smartly. I flew 1 trip in December, I’m done until January for example.
Send me a PM and we can discuss this after Christmas.
12-24-2018, 06:04 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: MD-11 FO
Posts: 2,180
Originally Posted by aggie02
Can you provide a little more advice on PBS? I’m a newhire, I’ve done the core and advanced learning modules on aapilots. I’ve read what I could find on the APA site. While I now have a basic understanding of PBS, I don’t feel I know enough to “work” the system. Other than trial and error, do you have a recommendation for resources to learn more?
12-24-2018, 10:32 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,045
Originally Posted by PRS Guitars
I don’t have a magic formula, but the biggest thing is understanding how the system processes bids. Knowing your seniority and bidding realistically. That is the biggest thing, if you are 90%, you’re not getting Christmas off as a line holder most likely. So don’t waste 6 layers trying to do so. I don’t look to see what trips went jr to me on the pbs report. I look at where LC & LH coverage starts relative to me. That’s on the report, but 9 out 10 guys probably don’t even know about it.
Understand how reserve can be great if you bid smartly. I flew 1 trip in December, I’m done until January for example.
Send me a PM and we can discuss this after Christmas.
Understand how reserve can be great if you bid smartly. I flew 1 trip in December, I’m done until January for example.
Send me a PM and we can discuss this after Christmas.
12-25-2018, 01:32 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 209
Would have went to Compass in 08 😜 100% agree about learning PBS. been spending overnights trying to learn the language. Must have cracked the code, got layer 2. 5 overnights at “home” and 17 days off w 80 creds. Still a probi goon, but bidding 50% on the 190. Seniority is by far the most important thing to me personally. Thank you to all who answered our questions on here. Somehow my trip is red today w 39 rsv. Ho Ho Ho.
