Just wondering if guys are still getting a lot of draft calls as we move deeper into peak. I flew with a Capt on the 727 and he said there were a couple of trips he flew where the F/O was a instructor or check airman drafted into the right seat. I guess that's what you have to do when you are "overmannded".

 

Doesn't look like they are having to draft as much as we might think. They are are up over 220 extra pairings already this month in the 72. That includes the standbys at Mem. It seems each week the company is dropping about 120-150 credit hours (for each seat) into the system as airport standbys in SMF, ATL and CVG. Guys are scarfing them up within hours.

That flying should be built into the lines so that everybody can share the wealth (including reserves) instead of just the guys who have hours and hours of makeup to use. The company is getting plenty of extra flying now from us at straight time just by dumping these X pairings into the system.

Eventually we'll run out of makeup hours, they will have to draft more folks to cover the flying, and then maybe the company will start to build the lines to reflect the actual level of flying that is required. That would take years. Meanwhile, however, the company will have made it through peak while screwing the crew force and we will have let them.

Genius on their part, not so much on ours. I don't begrudge guys using their makeup, it is in the contract. I just hope that we clean up the language in 4A2b during the upcoming negotiations, just to protect us from ourselves.

 

It is a mess. You are right that you can't begrudge guys for burning makeup especially when they are being forced to lower paying positions. Once again we have been duped by our own stupidity (this contract that was supposedly so great, I voted for it...).

 

Is Advance Volunteer available for any 727 seats? We're supposed to be able to put in for AVA between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If we're going to work, it might as well be for time and a half.

 

727 guys are getting more draft than almost all of us think. The guys on draft are hiding it because they know it's a sensitive subject.

These draft calls are not related to the numerous extra pairings getting picked up as regular makeup.

 

Not doubting what you are stating here, but I am curious how you know this. Is there some output the company has to provide the union on the level of draft flying?

Other than the extra pairings around the Boeing system (the real Boeing, not those other things), I personally have not met anyone on a pairing that was not scheduled to be there from the start or traded into the pairing.

 

Went to work with a 27 CA the other day and he said quite the contrary. He's in MD school till after the first of the year tired of not being able to pay both his ex-wives.

 

I have not made a scientific study into it, but it looks like there are a lot more big trips in ANC capt open time than there are ANC capt's. It will be interesting to hear the overmanning arguement after airplanes don't move in the next couple weeks.

 

Twice this week for the F/O...one on ARPT STBY, who was on VLT nonetheles' his reasoning was his seniority, all the other fleets were making way more than the 72, and the Union had not said not to accept DRT/VLT. He was gonna buy dinner but we didnt get launched.

Out and back, guy accepted draft.

With Union brothers like these, who needs management.

 

Why not take the VLT/DRF? Seems better than offering to do MU at straight pay during our 4a2b.