Here is one for all of us being excessed out of the MD-11 Capt seat. Spoke to a LCA last night and he told me we have at least one FO with a 400,000+ employee number finishing his training to become a no kidding LCA complete with captain pay. ****?

 

I call bs. A flex maybe, but not an LCA?!

 

Straight from the horse's mouth. It was a practice that JL did away with years ago and it is contractual. According to the LCA I spoke with it is back he called the union and they gave him the cold shoulder about it. He is getting captain check out IOE next week...I plan on calling the union about it tomorrow if I can since I am overseas right now.

 

Wow. Let us know what you find out from the union. Unsat!

 

Check out the bid only line. Employee # 450??? It shows on his calendar 11 fo-11ca in training, what a load of bs. I will never ever feel bad about calling in ill for any reason in the future. I sure do not remember seeing this position posted anywhere. I guess it does pay to kiss a.., literally.

 

You can't make this stuff up. As soon as you think you cannot be hosed anymore they pull something like this. I guess he is a lot more qualified for the job than myself and my peers who have been flying as captains all over the world for the last 3 years and being excessed? Maybe he will bust me on a line check when I tell him what I think about it...

 

As in most things, this story is partially true. FDX has found the need to use FO's as PCA's, cheaper than a WB Captain mostly. This practice is allowed under the CBA, in fact they are required to be Captain "qualified" in order to instruct or check Captains. This pilot is most likely simply becoming "qualified" and they have always done everything including IOE. FO Flex/PCA's can only maintain left seat currency after IOE under a provision in Section 11 that allows them to fly left seat with an LCA/SCA in the right seat.

I can also be fairly sure that this and all FO Flex's only are paid the seat they hold via seniority. That is part of the allure to the CO to avoid paying a higher pay rate.

These guys CAN NOT be LCA's or ever fly the line with a regular crew. Check out CBA Section 11, it is spelled out pretty clear. It is interesting to note that this practice, particularly in the MD11 was used frequently about 5-7 years ago and it was ended by the Cheever/Lewis era for many reasons. Looks like someone thinks it is a good idea to have junior guys who can't really fly the line checking seniority holding MD11 CA's...not a good plan in my book but they did not ask me.

How is your personal exit plan from 4.A.2.B. progressing????

 

The pay issue is an aside. However, the jury is out on that one too. FO's checking out captains was nixed by JL/Cheever because they had some clue about senority and actually flying as a captain compared to some FO's captain checkout IOE experience. What a bunch of bafoonery! ALPA is just going to rollover on this one too. Why don't we save all kinds of money and make all the check airmen FO's?

 

I agree that the use of this plan is not a good idea, but that being said how exactly is ALPA supposed to fight this?

It is 100% within the bounds of the CBA and has been used many time in the past. If you want to fight it on a personal level, some communication to your ACP may be in order to let them know you think this practice is not in good taste? Other than that I do not have any idea how we are to fight a legal maneuver by FDX.

 

The necessity for hiring FOs as Flex/LCAs is because the company can't get enough captains to apply for/stay on the job. Instructors got hosed on the current contract and many are quitting. You get what you pay for.