CloudSailor

IMO, a great solution to all this would be FedEx implementing the use of FLICA (Flight Line Internet Crew Access, developed by Flightline Data Services) for all scheduling needs. It is amazing software. The company that developed the software has the sole focus of making it a great system for pilots to use. Real-time trip trading, dropping/adding, easy to use monthly/vacation/VTO scheduling tools, real time automated trade-board, cell phone Open Time alerts, great phone apps for any phone, among many other things. Additionally, there is no need for a keyboard. Everything can be done with a mouse and pointer, or a touchscreen. They also have the necessary software to know when bots are pinging the system (I know of a few guys at my previous carrier who actually got in a bit of trouble for using automated 'bots'). As far as the system being programmed to know if you're logged-in while flying, that is pretty easy to do.

I believe Delta/Northwest, USAirways (America West also used it pre-merger), Frontier and Air Wisconsin are some of the airlines using the system; and some airlines also use it for their flight attendants.

I know this is not the solution that appDude would want, as it would hurt his side business (sorry appDude ), but the programming truly brings the best of all the great things that appDude, MagicWeb, Fastbid, BidX have provided, and it does it all in one neat, incredibly easy to use, well-presented package.

It is probably unlikely we would ever see FLICA, since FedEx would rather use its own self-developed software instead of a third-party vendor, but who knows, it could end up being a win/win for the company and the pilots if a cost/benefit analysis is run.

dogbone

Seen it as well. He was upstairs at scheduling when it was at the old AOC building. In uniform, cell phone on one hip, pager on the other. Letting the scheduler behind the window know that he was still available and ready to go. This all at 1 AM.

pilot141

Not a bot guy, but I have gotten a good deal while checking open time with the FXCal app during a break from recurrent training.

That's pretty much what I expect for the system - you check it, something good is there, and you get lucky.

The frustration is looking at the same people who have nothing on their schedules but 2xxx trips month after month. NO ONE gets that lucky.

Magenta Line

Just wanted to chime in that I also got additional time off last year and in no way possible could spend the excess bank money that came with the 2xxx trips for those months (but I tried!). No BOT either whatsoever but know of dudes that always get these trips. It's pretty easy to watch and I always write down the pairing nums & dates. Do a trip recap & you've got the names. After a couple or three months, it's VERY obvious who consistently gets the trips and, let's just say... I am watching...and so are others...

BTW, I'm with appDude.

2dogs

Magenta, that's good hear that you and others are watching, but . . . who cares (not meant to sound disrespectful)? Management has to fix it -- or even care. For example: 2233 on 6MAR, 2231/7MAR and 2217/19MAR (If it's not cool to post these trips, I'll delete them). How does someone get that many XTRA/CHRTR trips? The best I can do is pick up AM Departures to ONT (if I don't get locked out @ 300)

BTW, I think being locked out of open time goes against 25.A.6.b.i. of the CBA which says that: A pilot shall be provided access to the Company's computer systems and data in order to view:

all bid awards and trips.
information related to open time as follows:
in crew positions where the Company is using automated systems for trip assignment and trading (currently DReAM and the automated trip trade system), and such systems are functioning, all open time in the current bid period (and in the next bid period after open time is released) shall be visible in “real time,” except during periods when:

(a) the daily assignment process is taking place.
(b) the system(s) is paused to allow manual processing functions; or
(c) the system(s) affecting open time administration is not running due to system maintenance, upgrades, etc.


Being locked out at 300 obviously means we no longer have access to "Company's computer system and data."

trashhauler

Hey 2dogs, have you contacted the union about this? Don't know if it will make a difference, but you have a very good point! Trust me, I know it's frustrating as hell. I spend a lot of time cruising open time to improve my lot in life. Most of the time I get the dreaded " Earlier Time Stamp". I'm thinking about legally changing my first name to Earlier Time Stamp))) Just sayin......

trashhauler

Hey Cloud, that program sounds awesome! If it does everything you say it would be exactly what I would want us to have. Have you run it up the flagpole at the union(negotiating committee)? It definitely wouldn't hurt to check into it. The major problem the company has is giving up control. But it sounds like this program would make life easier for everybody! Let us know what they say!

CloudSailor

Yes, FLiCA does everything I said, as long as the airline "allows" all those modes of the programming to operate.

You know trashhauler, I'm pretty new here and didn't want to be proposing changes to the existing system so that my intentions would not be misunderstood, know what I mean? I don't want to be the new guy saying "well, I've been here a whole 6 months, and by the way at XY carrier, we did things like this...". Although I guess I am doing that to a certain extent . Truly though, I feel amazingly fortunate to be here, as the vast majority of us do.

As far as how FLiCA relates to this thread, I forgot to mention one point... When trips go into open time the system is totally transparent, and trips that are in Daily Open Time are awarded on a first come-first serve basis (after VTO lines are built and Monthly Open Time is awarded in seniority order). The Daily Open Time swap/add/drop process also takes only about 45 seconds per request at the most, since it is all automated. The only time a scheduler has to manually intervene is when certain "waive-able" CBA parameters are met (i.e., for XY carrier, 1 in 7 out of domicile, etc...).

In any event, thanks for the encouragement, I will see if I can speak with someone on the NC when I'm back in the planet. I will report back on what I hear.

Gunter

Do we even have a NC anymore? Heard it was disbanded.

FlybyKnite

Then you didn't get the union text message today! Interim talks are taking place this week.