Can we get a run down of how it works with the new TA? Lots of us outside curious to know what new hire life will be like there or in the event of a merger w/US

Language regarding driving distance to domicile
Min days off
Short/long call times
Early release
Assignment of flying (junior/time remaining etc)
Pay premiums associated?
Out of base assignments?

Thanks

 

Okay, this is me not looking anything up; feel free to chime in if you know I'm wrong:

1. driving distance to domicile has never been codified beyond "reasonably available via surface transportation." That can mean different things at different bases. In MIA, guys sit reserve clear up to Stuart and beyond. I've personally flown with guys who sit reserve successfully from their homes near Kissimmee--a solid 3hr,45min drive from MIA. Would sitting reserve just south of Orlando be smart in your probationary year? No, it would not.

2. I believe min days off is 12 days per month under the new contract.

3. short/long call times: that's pretty complicated. Short answer is that 'long call' gives you 12 hours to show, 'short call' is when 'reasonably available via surface transportation' becomes a player.

4. early release. It's become more theoretical than actual over the past few years.

5. assignment of flying. I think you're asking whether or not you can tell, based on who else is on reserve with you, whether you are reasonably safe from being called. Short answer is that unless it's the beginning of the month with half the list available, you can't predict whether you will get a call. You can count on your 'cover pilots' evaporating twice as fast as you think they will.

6. Pay premiums. This is at the discretion of scheduling, and is only offered during times of perceived shortage. Currently, most guys I know won't fly premium trips until all those furloughed are back. There are knuckleheads who will, though.

7. Out of base assignments. I'm sure this varies depending on your bid status. In mine, it's rare. I have had occasion to deadhead up to JFK to cover UK flying, though. I look at these sequences as easy and lucrative (I get full pay for deadheading, so a 16hr trip for JFK guys has just turned into a 25 hour trip for me).

Hope this helps.

 

So living 2:15 drive from base is doable you think?

 

Absolutely. But during probation, I'd be packed and a quick shower away from leaving the house if you get a call. After probation, take the time you need.

 

Perfect answers TQ!

I'm on reserve right now. They are constantly flying me into my moveables.

 

How many movables do you guys have per month?

 

And is there some sort of premium pay attached to flying into your "movables"?

 

All days off are moveable except for 3 (sometimes 4) 'golden' days off per month. There are some rules restricting how many and how often scheduling can move days. In practice, for me it's uncommon for Scheduling to move days off. I think they've done it to me twice in the past year. A pilot can in theory move a moveable with Scheduling's concurrence, but that is rarely done (I've never done it). That said, the Chief Pilots have been extremely flexible when I've needed a day off for things beyond my control and have given me days off out of my vacation bank every time I've needed them. Premium pay, again, is at the sole discretion of Scheduling, and it's only given when they are short on manning, and *only* if you would not have been on the hook to fly the sequence anyway (eg, Sched may call on your days off and beg you to fly).

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the MOU brings the total immovable days to 10.

 

2 moveable days.
4(?) Golden days. They have to get you to home base by 0000 the night before.
Regular days they can fly into as long as they get you to home base by noon of day 1.

So every day 'off' you'll be off by at least noon of day 1 and by midnight the night before if it's your 'golden' days.

End of month 'you fly the month you're in'. In other words days off next month doesn't matter. On call last day of Jan. but have the first couple days of Feb off? Plans on Feb 1? Good luck. They can send you out on a 6 day trip on Jan 30th and you'll be back on Feb 4th.