I was out on a medical for 3 months this summer and it was so nice to make plans and do things whenever I wanted without having to jump through all the hoops, associated with our scheds. My family and friends couldn't get used to the fact that I would be around for all events. If UPS really wants to get rid of a few pilots, offer every over 65 F/E a paid 3 month vacation, and I bet half won't come back

Vito,
Have you watched the F/E utilization lately? It's been like that for a while.
Biff

You have a point! Any rumors about the 8 after peak?

1400 fewer credit hours in the -8 bid pack 09-02. Other fleets are increasing in credits. Source: IPNN. I am not sure if this will park aircraft or simply a lower utilization rate. Rumors?

Fish

No 8 for you! J/K, have a great holiday season and see you around soon. I am parked right now myself.

The average line credit in DC8 Bid Pack 08-06 (the last "normal" bid pack) was about 70 credit hours per pay period, or 140 hours in the bid period. There were 32 regular lines in 08-06, with a credit hour total just over 4485 hours. 1400 fewer credit hours would equate to 10 fewer lines, or 22 regular lines, in 09-02. However, last I heard, UPS was thinking about lowering the average line credit to generate more lines. We'll see what they decided upon in another week.

Also, Manpower Planning has been talking about a Realignment Bid in February or March for quite some time. That timeframe has been given because the schoolhouse for the MD11 and 757 is full until March. My bet/hope is for an early February (Monday, February 2) bid, as that will allow the necessary lead time to pick up training in the 757 and MD11 fleets in March at first opportunity. (The last scheduled MD11 class begins in February, and a March 30 757 class is only about half full, by my records from the last training bid award.)

Over 60 engineeers
 

It's allowed in the CBA. But let me ask you this. Every time a captain hit 60 and went to the engineer seat, would we have hired a pilot off the street to fill that vacancy if the captain decided NOT to go to the engineer seat? The answer is no. Like I said, there was NEVER a need in the UPS staffing model, as calculated by both UPS and the IPA, for extra engineers.

This is what I mean by "letting" the pilots remain on property. My friends at Northwest said that when a pilot turned 60, if he/she had the seniority to return to the panel on the DC-10 or 747-200, they could do so. But those seats were very, very senior. Sometimes a 'retiring' pilot could not even hold the panel. In this case, the pilot was told to retire (or be laid off). And if the pilot did have seniority to go the panel, the bottom pilot was given the mandatory retirement or be laid off decision.

This again shows the disparity in contract equity between senior and junior pilots. The only protection from furlough a junior pilot has in 3-months notice. Not even furlough pay like all of the ALPA majors. But when a captain 'retires' at UPS he/she can return to a seat with excessive over-manning 'in accordance with the CBA'

Our contract was DEFINATELY written with the best interest of senior pilots in mind.

Oh, and thanks again for raising my LTD premiums!

Rott

Could clarify what furlough pay is at ALL the ALPA majors?

I don't think I've ever heard of a guy getting furloughed from a major and getting paid, maybe getting his vacation balance paid out. I could be wrong, but thats why I'm asking.

Not exactly wrong ... AmWest isn't considered a top tier major, but when I got furloughed in 2001 I got my unused vacation paid out and 2 or 3 weeks severance pay. I don't remember exactly how much, it varied with length of service.

Its nice, but I don't even know why we are discussing it ... FWIW

Our contract has a similar provision (if no vacancy exists, the crewmember who is downbidding shall have the right to displace the most junior Second Officer), but UPS has generously declined to exercise it.