agreed.

the fact that the extension is assumed to be accepted by the pilot unless they call to say otherwise is not at all how it should work. In fact, my previous airline (regional) got into trouble with the FAA for basically doing this and the policy was quickly changed. CS had to receive a confirmation from the pilot that he/she was willing to extend. This seems to be the common practice everywhere else now except here.

 

I agree the FRB is BS in this situation. But, in regards to getting a pilot's approval, just take back the darn release and send a quick ACARS to tracking. Or call them on the way to the shuttle. If you can't handle the perceived pressure of that, I fear what happens when something serious happens (not intended for anyone in particular, just rhetorical).

 

The extension was never supposed to be a part of the regulation. The study recommended duty be limited to a time based on their research. The airline lobby said we can't run the business that way because we have to many variables. What if ...weather ...mechanical etc. The industry stuck on an extension and sold it as an option, we will ask the pilots if they're ok. Your workday extended is a higher risk environment which researchers identified as dangerous. The findings were that the human performance diminishes without any identifiable self awareness. So limits were set to prevent continued operation into the riskier time periods where performance dramatically declines.

This extension was never intended to be automatic or even possible. Then ALPA lobby whiffed on this and sided with the industry after it was outgunned and needed to be on the winning side.

 

It’s not automatic and you never have to extend. I don’t understand my disconnect. Take the release back and go home. No FRB will deny your claim as long as you fill it out in the allotted time (I hate that we even have to do this in all fairness).

 

So I want to follow up. Has anyone seen any change to how reserve is being assigned with the new 9hr SC?

It appears to me, more pilots in my category/position are being assigned SC each day. They are being evenly spread out from 0300 to 1700 start times. Where before it was normal for 3-4 SCs in the 4/3 day groups, the last few days there have been 6-7 respectively. Now just 8 days into the month, there have only been 5 trip assignments, but ~50 SCs. I'm on my 4th consecutive day in a row, my prior max this year was 2.

I believe this 9hr thing was a horse trade. We'll give away the 5% chance to use you in the last 3 hrs. But we'll make up the 5% and more by assigning more SCs a day with more diverse SC windows. More usability of RSVs, less risk for FAR117 conflicts. Its all within the PWA as before. But perhaps it was a CS research project apart of the "One Delta" cost savings initiative.

 

My point is the work day was supposed to end without any action from the pilot. The intent was a never exceed time which would force shorter days because the time could not be extended. To keep schedule integrity a day would be within the limits and proportional shorter in case there is a need to go to the full length for IROPS. Walking away from the airplane on a delayed flight coming home from an international destination isn’t as easy as you think. Especially an unaugmented flight near the limit. As a rule I don’t extend because I know from years of experience my focus wains but I have been told by union people that not extending as a rule is unacceptable. This whole issue has come about because the airlines forced the old “fly now” mentality and it has really changed nothing.

 

Yep. That is exactly what I am seeing as well. Last month (and prior) 2, maybe 3 shortcalls per day assigned. This month, 5-6 per day.


It is starting to look like some of the predictions in this thread may be coming true: less time on a short call period, but more assignments to sit short call.

 

Check out the November 6 Crew Resources monthly update. It discusses the change to short call duration and has a chart that shows we are doing a lot less short calls.



Most of this was before the 12-9 hour change but I doubt they would be discussing the reduction in short calls so prominently if they had some plan to increase the number. From the update it genuinely seems like they are trying to work us smarter not harder.



With that said we have all seen Crew Resources miss the mark on occasion so lets just wait and see what actually happens before claiming a few anecdotal incidents are the leading edge of a system wide increase in SCs.


Scoop

 

I understand that they have been reduced this year up until OCT. My point was, since implementing the 9hr change, it looks like we are back to ”historical averages”. I know it’s still a small sample size. I’d feel better after viewing a month or two of comparative data analysis. I hope ALPA is doing that. Maybe I need to email a rep? Anyway, let’s keep our eyes open and make sure this “win” for the pilots truly is one.