Future Contract Issues
07-30-2007 | 01:34 PM
#23
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: MD-11 Captain
07-30-2007 | 01:37 PM
#24
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: MD-11 Captain
A cadre of small, professional inflight security specialists to help us cope with the growing terror threat. They can ride the jumpseats on every flight and can be armed ala the FFDO program.
To allow max fuel savings and min w/b disruption, they need to have a maximum weight--I'm thinking around 135-140 pounds. They should be VERY fit for the rigorous job, and as such should probably be young...say 18-40 max. Additional duties during flight might include helping with the catering and providing fatigue reducing massage therapy during cruise flight. Also to prevent fatigue, some enroute entertainment--perhaps some exotic dancing--could help keep everyone awake and alert during those critical period arrivals.
To improve crew compatibility issues, crews will be able to swing by "security" offices to select a security officer for flight. These offices will be managed like Jumpseats---there will be a pool of security officers standing by to join crews. Although F/Os will have input, captains will maintain final authority for selection. Non-selected Security officers will remain as reserves for stand-by crews and ad-hoc pairings.
Due to the size, weight, and temperment requirements the logical source for the pool of new security officers will be SFS, VCP, any Scandanavian country, Singapore, and a few other well known hotspots for locating similar talent.
A small cadre of larger Security officers will be available for those captains who do not feel "safe" with a 135 pound or less Security officer. As our mantra is "no one left behind", a few larger security officers (over 200 pounds, six feet tall or better, etc) will be available for our female crewmembers. Duties remain the same, but these candidates will be recruited mostly from Australia or (again) Scandanavian countries.
Who says our flights cannot be safer, more secure, and more enjoyable? I think a unified crew force could certainly make a strong case. Remember--security is in everyone's best interests.
To allow max fuel savings and min w/b disruption, they need to have a maximum weight--I'm thinking around 135-140 pounds. They should be VERY fit for the rigorous job, and as such should probably be young...say 18-40 max. Additional duties during flight might include helping with the catering and providing fatigue reducing massage therapy during cruise flight. Also to prevent fatigue, some enroute entertainment--perhaps some exotic dancing--could help keep everyone awake and alert during those critical period arrivals.
To improve crew compatibility issues, crews will be able to swing by "security" offices to select a security officer for flight. These offices will be managed like Jumpseats---there will be a pool of security officers standing by to join crews. Although F/Os will have input, captains will maintain final authority for selection. Non-selected Security officers will remain as reserves for stand-by crews and ad-hoc pairings.
Due to the size, weight, and temperment requirements the logical source for the pool of new security officers will be SFS, VCP, any Scandanavian country, Singapore, and a few other well known hotspots for locating similar talent.
A small cadre of larger Security officers will be available for those captains who do not feel "safe" with a 135 pound or less Security officer. As our mantra is "no one left behind", a few larger security officers (over 200 pounds, six feet tall or better, etc) will be available for our female crewmembers. Duties remain the same, but these candidates will be recruited mostly from Australia or (again) Scandanavian countries.
Who says our flights cannot be safer, more secure, and more enjoyable? I think a unified crew force could certainly make a strong case. Remember--security is in everyone's best interests.
I am very concerned about security so I would like the option of two 135 pound security officers on each of my flights.
07-30-2007 | 02:07 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Likes: 1
I have always found it very interesting when security officers really get along. Perhaps a pair of them per flight might be required on the widebodies--you know--with one as a RSO. Key word is "relief".
07-30-2007 | 02:20 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: 777 CAP
On face value I'm not sure I want to see this either. Maybe someone could explain how this works without undermining the reserve system and seniority.
I flew with a senior Captain recently who expressed concern that junior guys are bidding carry-over reserve lines and then conflicting with another reserve line to allow them to pick up CIC trips which, as most realize, are awarded before Open Time is released or VTO lines are built. Current rules allow this so you can't fault anyone for doing it but the Captain was concerned that very senior trips were getting picked up by very junior guys out of seniority.
Please don't shoot the messenger! I am high enough on the F/O list that I haven't bid reserve in 10 years.
This is my two cents however. If we don't deal with this LOA now we will have to expend resources and bagaining chips during negotiations to try and fix it then. Where will it fall on the list of priorities and what would we forgo to insure it was fixed? Before or after 777 pay, lump sum, optimizer issues, etc. Where do you want to insert "Fix the LOA"? Let's deal with the LOA now as a stand alone issue.
Last edited by machz990; 07-30-2007 at 02:27 PM.
07-30-2007 | 02:27 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Likes: 1
I flew with a senior Captain recently who expressed concern that junior guys are bidding carry-over reserve lines and then conflicting with another reserve line to allow them to pick up CIC trips which, as most realize, are awarded before Open Time is released or VTO lines are built. Current rules allow this so you can't fault anyone for doing it but the Captain was concerned that very senior trips were getting picked up by very junior guys out of seniority.
.
.
Lines, secondary lines, and CIC are all processed in seniority order. A guy who puts in for a CIC trip does so because his LINE was affected by the conflict. The rules are set up to give a lineholder priority over a guy getting a secondary line or surfing open time.
07-30-2007 | 02:29 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,203
Likes: 0
From: Gear Monkey
On face value I'm not sure I want to see this either. Maybe someone could explain how this works without undermining the reserve system and seniority.
I flew with a senior Captain recently who expressed concern that junior guys are bidding carry-over reserve lines and then conflicting with another reserve line to allow them to pick up CIC trips which, as most realize, are awarded before Open Time is released or VTO lines are built. Current rules allow this so you can't fault anyone for doing it but the Captain was concerned that very senior trips were getting picked up by very junior guys out of seniority.
Please don't shoot the messenger! I am high enough on the F/O list that I haven't bid reserve in10 years.
I flew with a senior Captain recently who expressed concern that junior guys are bidding carry-over reserve lines and then conflicting with another reserve line to allow them to pick up CIC trips which, as most realize, are awarded before Open Time is released or VTO lines are built. Current rules allow this so you can't fault anyone for doing it but the Captain was concerned that very senior trips were getting picked up by very junior guys out of seniority.
Please don't shoot the messenger! I am high enough on the F/O list that I haven't bid reserve in10 years.
Once in "Open Time" senior guys don't have any advantage in picking up trips do they?
Also, if this really works, don't senior guys have first choice in applying this approach to bidding their monthly schedules --- meaning they can bid a straight line, reserve or VTO?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
