tcaphou

per our manual

"Exceptions may be made to holdover days for unusual circumstances when approved in advance by the Director of Operationsor or the Chief Pilot".

One Captain was held out 7 days last month. He had no say in the matter.

HercDriver130

CRAP like that wont change until you get a contract.

NightIP

Not for a lack of trying.

DeadStick

How often do you find yourself at home sitting reserve during those 18 days on?

Omnipilot

We rarely ever sit at home on RSV. There are always a few rare occasions where I've sat home 3 or 4 RSV days and also had 3 to 4 callout days the same month. But not usually. Typically, you can just expect to be gone your entire 18 days plus an extra day or two on the end, especially if you volunteer.

I've never been held out involuntarily more than my 4 days, except once. In that occasion, they knew I could just say "no" and it wouldn't happen. They begged and pleaded a bit, and offered to even move some RSV days later in the month to make up for it. So, I essentially had the option of taking all 6 days as callout, or taking four of them as callout and getting the other two as work days, in exchange for replacing two RSV days later in the month with OFF days. Not as much money that way, but more off days later. I chose that option. That way I still got 4 paid callout days plus some extra days off later in the month where I wanted them.

Basically, if they want you more than 4 callout days, they will have to wheel and deal and you might walk away with something halfway decent later in the month if you want it. Otherwise you can tell them to pack sand.

Never in 6 years have I ever seen them violate their own policy manual. They've changed it a couple times, and parts of it really suck, but they've always adheared to it. Certainly we need a contract to improve our pay and schedule and crappy insurance, but they do follow the current policy manual. This is not a place where they just follow it when it benefits them, they actually do seem to follow it in every case I've ever seen, as crappy as a lot of it may be. I can't complain about that.

dc10pilot

omnipilot -- "wheel and deal" that will go away with a contract for better or worse - those days will be long gone - you lost in your deal, omni will not cut you a deal if it will cost them more

labbats

Any news on the contract? I had heard summer 2011 was the plan.

Omnipilot

DC10pilot,

I cannot fathom how you can say I lost on that deal. In the event I described above, I scored four callout days on four days I didn't care about working, and converted two reserve days later in the month into off days on days I really wanted to be home. That was a win all the way around.

Yes we need a contract and that will provide many benefits, but losing the ability to work out something like that is not one of them.

stuart716

if a trip trading option was in the contract then we wouldnt have to worry about it.