schedules
 

Hey
Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on work schedules.
I am primarily interested in schedules for ABX, Southern Air, Polar Air out of Anchorage Alaska.
Days on vs days off.

thanks

At ABX we work a 15 or 16 day month depending on if there are 30 or 31 days in the month. If on reserve you get 14 days off, Line holders get 15. These work days include any layover days on a trip. If you have a 3 days weekend in ICT then those days count as work days. You can do whatever you want on those days. Some guys jump home, some stay.

The lines of time are generally built as 2 blocks of time on with 2 blocks off. There is some variations but that is the general rule.

Our reserve schedule is a FIFO list (first in first out). When you start your block of reserve you are at the bottom of the list. As your number moves up to #1 you get used. After the trip you go back to the bottom. The schedule on reserve is not a constant. Some moths you work a lot some you do not. Some days you get caught up in the R1 loop. You will go in at 8pm and sit a "hot reserve" until 6am. You then go to the bottom of the FIFO list. There are times when you get into this loop of doing 3 or 4 R1 in a row. It all depends on how long the FIFO list is.

Our reserve system has a "sick no charge policy". If you call in sick and they do not have to junior man someone to cover the trip you were on then you do not get charged a sick day (great deal for pilots).

Depending where you live and what aircraft you end up on it can be a great schedule. My opinion is that if you live local you get a lot more days off. You do not know where or when you might go somewhere but the trade off is every day they do not call is another day off.

The KIX (Osaka Japan) domicile is not up and running yet so I cannot comment on the schedules for that. I assume they will have to conform to our line scheduling parameters (15 off). They are still telling us they are going to base crews in Japan, and as a new hire they took back the 2nd year pay, so you would have to try and make it on 1st year pay (good luck). Hope this helps........

Thanks Box
Appreciate the info

Don't worry about the ABX schedule, they're not hiring, wait, yes they are, oh, no they're not, yes but just a few for KIX at first year pay, oh now a DC-9 class in Dec., oops forgot to call those guys...class in Jan. now, nope, nobody got called yet for that one either...somebody on another post says his buddy got a Mar. class date, at least he's heard something...sorry for the rant, box-h did answer his question quite thoroughly, well done.

What a great system! Everyone take notes.

Box-Hauler,

Thanks for the great info. When you mentioned living local were you talking about Wilmington, OH? Also, how long have you worked for ABX and how does progression usually work for the various aircraft? Thanks.

Willie, seriously, ABX is not really hiring, only a trickle for 767 out of Osaka, Japan, two year commitment at first year pay and the union might not be real happy with you doing it since it's still disputed...to answer your other questions, yes, Wilmington is their HQ and progression for someone hired this year (not into the 767 Japan gig) is probably DC-9 f/o for 5-10 years then 767 f/o for another 5 then DC-9 Capt for 5 and then 767 for 5...all that because of age 65 and they probably won't have any DC-8's left when you get on property...but hey, you might interview tomorrow and get offered a 767 right out of the gate to Japan, you never know. I told them I couldn't do the 767 because of my ANG commitment and I haven't heard a peep back from them in almost 2 months...

The reserve system is a 2 hour call up. From the time they call you you have to be able to show up in ILN within 2 hours. This pretty much covers the Cincy, Dayton, Columbus area. I would agree with hjs on the progression. It will be slow. I am at 10+ years and have been bounced back and forth from the 8 to the 9 back to the 8 to only to end up in the 9.

I would not take a KIX spot unless you really want to live there, for over 2 years.

You will, if offered a job, be hired into the right seat. Downbidding is not permitted except in a furlough situation, then you can move to whichever seat your seniority permits you to hold.

If you are hired into the 767 right seat in KIX you will not be able to move from KIX to ILN or MIA unless your seniority allows you to hold a 767 right seat, DC-9 left seat, or 767 left seat in the domicle you want to move to. The exception would be if ABX closes it's KIX domicile. Then you could "bump" someone junior to you in any seat.

At present the company is stagnent or shrinking. Hiring is being done to mostly to replace retirements. Retirements are likely to slow as a result of the change in the mandatory retirement age. We do seem to be short handed though, so you can't rule out continued hiring.

The DC-8 is supposed to be officially gone as of a few days ago. This will result in the remaing DC-8 crewmembers moving into the 767 or DC-9. I doubt any furloughs will result unless DHL elects to park additional DC-9s.

WOW- Thanks for the great information guys.