Airline Pilot Central Forums - More Fatigue for AM Standby Crews at Purple

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As I said in an earlier post, I always prioritized so that I was getting as much sleep as I needed to show up well rested. That said, it's still important for the company to do all it can to facilitate a safe work environment.

JJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDENPilot (Post 609546)

Good guess. Yeah, I'm single, so no pitter-patter of little feet to keep me awake when I'm at home. At least not yet.

Jetjok,

I'm not opposed to the union at least finding out why the company is doing the standby assignments the way they are. There might be a good, legitimate reason for it that hasn't been made public. However, if there is, are we as a group willing to accept that? Based on what I read on here, I get the impression that everyone is convinced that everything the company does is evil, and if it's inconvenient for us, (which is all this is for the reserve guys is an inconvenience,) then we should start a fight with the company over it. There's plenty of other stuff to fight the company on, and I'm a firm believer in choosing your battles whenever possible. If you're on A reserve, then plan on getting called. Go ahead and take a 4 or 5 hour nap, and time it so that if scheduling calls you right at midnight, you'll have had some sleep. If you're not a night person, don't even set the alarm. That way, if you're not called, you sleep peacefully through the night, although you might wind up waking up at 4 or 5am. Too early in the morning for my taste, but if you like being up during daylight, that might be the way to go.

There is a great reason. The company has decided we are overmanned. Among the steps taken since they have decided we are overmanned is to crank up the optimizer, eliminate many of the stby periods and fill the remaining with reserves vice open time. This helps to demonstrate we are overmanned (this is your good reason).

Apparently they have further reduced stby periods by waiting till the last minute to decide if there are any potential holes in the "system" before filling stbys. Just remember:

"Safety is the most important consideration in all FedEx operations."

MD-11 am STBYs were in open time around 1930 local last night.

back when i sat some hot stby this is the way ups did it all the time. bummer for you guys , welcome to the club.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FDXLAG (Post 609607)

Just remember:

"Safety is the most important consideration in all FedEx operations."

Unless there is money involved. If it costs 50 cents more guess which one wins? :o

The Optimizer doesn't factor in safety concerns. It is programmed, and it's objective, is to chase cost savings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunter (Post 608202)

POR on scheduling with CC to the SIG seems to be in order.

Yes, Baron, he is supposed to be rested. We HAD a great way to ensure 2-4 more hours of rest for the same trip call out but it's been flushed down the toilet. What we HAD was a good way to prevent fatigue that is realistic, not just directed.

Intentionally calling a guy in the middle of "normal" rest for a likely 3 or 4 A.M. show will be difficult to defend to anyone outside the company in the event something bad happens.

The problem is, many people are using that "2-4 more hours of rest" as their only rest. A few hours in a sleep room after you've been up all day doing "chores" at home isn't showing up rested in my book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBaron (Post 611694)

How do you know? Are you confessing past sins? Is there a part of you that understands it is better to have more notice and it is worse to have less notice?

Quote:

Originally Posted by FedExBusBoy (Post 608280)

You get the award for most unrealistic post of the day.........congrats!

Why? Is it so bizarre to expect the people you are working with to be prepared for a trip? Reserve (A or B) is a "duty" assignment. Why the heartburn about being prepared for the possibility of a trip. Some would complain if the company called them at 1930 to tell them about a later STBY assignment, when they are technically in "rest." Some of you just like to whine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FDXLAG (Post 611697)

How do you know? Are you confessing past sins? Is there a part of you that understands it is better to have more notice and it is worse to have less notice?

No. I'm saying getting notified at 1930 that you are going to have a STBY period, then coming in to get a hub room at 2100 or 2200 hoping to get 3-4 hours of sleep before you get called for a trip is not showing up prepared for duty. If you haven't flown with people that try that, we don't work for the same airline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBaron (Post 611700)

Call it whining or whatever you want it to call it. It's extremely difficult to to prepare for a 0200 callout no matter what your circumstances are. Guys try to be prepared as they can be, but it's a simple fact that most guys cannot be rested when they go to bed (like a normal human) between 10 and 11 PM then get a call at 0200 to go fly. If you're a married guy with kids, you can't sleep all day. If you have a crashpad in MEM, you still probably can't sleep all day. Fighting fatigue is part of the job as a FDX pilot. Dealing with fatigued pilots should also be part of the job if you want to be involved in the overnight shipping business.