RonRicco

Or kinda like when Sham said he would not vote yes on any TA that didn't go to "Memoryrat?" I can look around the table and pull out inconsistencies in the statements of just about any rep.

Either way, I haven't seen Sam or Scott roll calling to stop the majority, which is a strong majority, so why you like to go after reps that aren't even in your council all while you support ALPA lifers, no matter what their behavior, is beyond me.

Dustycrophopper

How do we actually kill it? This is the worst thing that could ever happen to us. I mean no disrespect to Anyone who lives in a base that has potential.

BobZ

Didnt read it so much as a request for relief.

Just an interesting explaination. With a side order of holee crud this is some serious calculations with too many moving parts.

PilotJ3

They already have a FA bases in most of the “prospectives VBs”, why not opening a full base? After reading their explanation, seems that BOS would be a great start for a full base.

BobZ

And it appears on the 320 fleet....with 400 airframes i guess so!

Dustycrophopper

I see this being very bad for the two northern bases dtw and msp think about the reduction of flying in base if they open up florida virtual bases. It would have a huge impact on those bases which do not have all the flying Atlanta has.
Again I ask, how do we eliminate this thing do we get to vote?

Surd

VB can be a good thing if the pilots that choose to leave a category are senior to the trips that are taken out. If that is the case, pilots that remain in the category see a relative seniority bump. VB has the potential of being a win-win, but it depends on how senior the pilots that bid out of category are.

Denny Crane

Just a thought.......but if Dalpa kills virtual basing without testing it, couldn't the Company then come back with a charge of not negotiating in good faith? We agreed to it but kill it without even trying it?

Denny

iaflyer

It's been in the contract for a while, it's not DALPA's fault the company hasn't been implementing it.

I think the description in the Crew Resource newsletter explained a lot - it's not as valuable as it sounds. The much higher credit combined with the cost of hotel rooms will probably kill the VB idea, as the VB part of the contract is written right now.

I think the value in the VB for the company is in international VB base, in cities like BOS or MSP that have more international departures in the summer but no wide body crews based there. But that's a real job killer that I hope DALPA doesn't agree to - I know I'd be writing my reps and hollering about it.

flyallnite

Virtual basing would give the company the ability to whipsaw the crap out of the pilot group. Think about it: How do your base reps represent such a diversely based pilot group? Think VB pilots would like stand up overnights? You bet they would! Spend every night in your own bed. And if that's the case, who cares about hotels? Crew meals? Per Diem? Company's got an issue they need resolved? Throw flying at the VB's and cut it in the hubs! Move airplanes around the system without having to displace pilots, pay for moves, give time off! Waiting for that Captain seat in your base? Get comfy, because it's going to be flown by the VB pilots... Premium flying will dry up. They will be able to close one or more current pilot bases. The savings from that alone is enormous. The amount of credit time that would vaporize is huge. The newsletter already telegraphed that they have 'asks' to make it work. What are you willing to give up for that???

I'm not buying the line that it's complicated and expensive to implement. On the contrary, I think it's a huge windfall. It's the future. EFB's, Virtual Sign In, CPSC, all make a physical base a thing of the past. We are being actively managed to think this is something we want, and need to pay for. It's obvious...the company is making Deadheading a huge PITA so that we'll drop the ocean crossing restriction on VB's.

If we go there, we need some major quid and some major new sections of the PWA to ensure that our pay and QOL don't deteriorate, but I'm not sure that's even possible. Our best strategy is to delay it's implementation as long as possible and when the company finally comes around and says 'how much?' ... we present the bill.

Oh, I just loved the HNL concept. Pilots would sell their souls to have a VB there.