Da40Pilot

That's just management language. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Here's my one and only problem and it's not that they're asking Captains to get right seat qualified....my issue is the nerve to not only request we do this on our DAYS OFF but also offer NO INCENTIVE to do this.

If the company is going to ask me to volunteer my days off for regular pay, I'd be doing myself a disservice. There is no way anyone should volunteer for this unless the company offers AT LEAST 150% for working on a day off (right seat qualified is irrelevant!).

I have a hard time believing any Captain with a sound mind would volunteer for this.

ThePlaneSaidSo

We're still missing the point here though. I'm not trying to be negative by saying Captains should absolutely not do this, it has nothing to do with sticking it to the company, it has to do with hurting yourselves and your fellow pilots. If you are a Captain and you start flying right seat you are extending the stagnation. Junior FO's won't ever get off RSV nor will Junior Captains because they won't be able to upgrade. The ONLY way to fix our stagnation is to hire PERIOD!! So putting captains right seat ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT help that issue at all. In the long run here's what will happen. Captains start flying right seat, that provides *temporary* FO relief, but we still haven't hired enough after several months of this and more Captains move on so we end up doing the ONLY thing possible which is throw more money at new hires, serious money, $50-$55/hr. Captain pay raises, etc. This will happen, it has to, what you need to decide as a Captain is whether you would like it to happen sooner than later or stab all your fellow pilots in the back and prolong it. Nothing to do with sticking it to CP, everything to do with actually fixing the problem.


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veewan

If you have reserve FOs flying 40 hours a month, getting their 75 hours of guarantee, it would seem to me that until all FOs are breaking guarantee there's not really a desperate need to get captains flying in the right seat. I'm not sure what the average is, but just this guy alone could fly 35 more hours before they pay him a cent over guarantee.

What I'm having difficulty understanding is why try using captains to solve this problem, especially since it's still cheaper to pay 1.5 times FO pay than it is to pay 100% captain pay. It just seems like a Hail Mary to expect captains to use their time off flying right seat for no additional pay (100%). If they do offer 1.5 for a captain to sit right seat I think you'll see half the captain seniority list signing up to fly as FO for over $100/ hour.

BobbyLeeSwagger

I totally agree with the stagnation argument. This will prolong the problem. When someone told BG at the last call that it was hard to recruit when the morale is low because they are not following the CBA, the response was "k, next question," I'm sorry but they don't get to have it both ways. It's insulting that they don't deal with grievances, pay pilots outside the contract, dont provide our reserve info, and ask for vacation back all in like the same few months and then want us to have their back now.

Everything is "just business" and they clearly find it cheaper to ask captains to fly as FOs on days off (at regular pay) than to pay the whole pilot group fairly and legally. Im not doin it, and not because i want to "burn the place down" but because I dont think this is "the best they can do". I think they need to step up and pay us ALL more and through the contract. That will bring the morale back and we will all become amateur recruiters again.

I think we will all see us get used to the max in the meantime. If FOs are still doing 35hr/mo, I think the concern was for Dec-Jan+- not for today. But the writing is on the wall. I have been used all but 2 days this month, and I expect to us to see mass waves of criticals in both seats going forward. That should spell serious movement for new hires, maybe even comparable to 2015. We have a great pilot group and guys should come here, but for us on property, let's not be exploited by flying in the right seat so they can save a buck. It's not good for any of us or the new hires, and it's clearly not "the last ditch effort" that it's being advertised to be.

ThePlaneSaidSo

I don't care if they offer 500%, as far as I'm concerned any capt. who picks up right seat is one step above a scab....


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ThePlaneSaidSo

Fine, admitted thats probably a little harsh, but the point being you are hurting fellow pilots!


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Poser765

No one's brought it up but does our contract address captains in the right seat?

WingedCelt

No doubt it’s a hurt on our fellow pilots, and I think the consensus is pretty solid here that most will not volunteer. Another aspect, what about the 117 hits? Doing this I’m fairly certain we’re going to be running our Captains down to the bone. Bright side, more off time for you!

In regards to the scab comment, agree it was a little harsh. I see your point and I get it, but leave the scab title for those who have degenerately earned it, not utilize it as a laissez faire term.

I’d prefer the term Blue Falcon

veewan

It might not be last ditch, but I can't think of too many other regionals that right seat qualify their non-LCA captains to cover FO flying. The ones that come to mind are Great Lakes and TSA with the CQFO program.

Poser765

I'm not certain but I remember captains at republic had to right seat qualify in the sim.