Broncos

I'm currently on Temp Disability, and will convert to LTD on 12 August. I am in the process of getting re-cleared to fly. I'm just curious, given the current COVID events, will the company get me into training rapidly, or will I sit like everyone else waiting for recency training? Anyone have any recent experience?

FangsF15

Not that recent, but about 4 years ago I returned from LTD to the 767-400. The Training planner told me I had “hit the lottery”, because it took them 7 weeks to get me into training, so I got ALV to sit at home (there was a time when that was a big deal, lol). Historically, I think it’s been a couple of weeks at most.

Having said that, with the massive training churn from all the displacements, I would not be surprised if it took them longer than that to get you into training, depending on equipment.

I’m sure you know, but you can return to any seat you can hold (technically one where a junior pilot has an award from an AE while you were out). Good luck, and welcome back.

Sputnik

In general it was very fleet dependant, ranging from a couple days to a few weeks. Sim schedulars were tracked on how fast they could get guys into training, but with the mess going on now.... Not to mention that half of the schedulars are retiring today.

Be mentally ready go in a few days, but I doubt it'll happen.

Welcome back

zippinbye

I was in your approximate position and got my medical back 22 months ago, although I was deep into LTD before pursuing a reclearance to fly. Mid- October back on payroll, long course IQ slot began in early December. Just about the right amount of paid home time to study at a leisurely pace. Just one guy’s experience without the COVID factor or monster bid to churn through. Once you are on LTD along with DPMA, the take home is nice for 12 months. Then DPMA 25% tax free goes away.

Best of luck with your reinstatement!

FangsF15

I hope you aren't on LTD this long, but a couple things if you exhaust DPMA. If you have the ALPA insurances that kick in at that point, realize the $50k lump sum has to be paid back pro-rata if you return before 36 months after getting the check (48 months-ish after getting sick). So I recommend putting that $50k in a savings account, and only paying yourself 1/36th ($1388.88) per month. Also, if you qualify for the "critical illness" insurance, there is a relatively short timeframe to apply for it. It's only a couple thousand bucks, but still, don't miss out if you qualify.

Also for after DPMA runs out, the "Pilot Enhanced Disability Benefit", which shows in the lower right corner of your "Self Service" page, is a pain to get paid. It was new in C15, and only a handful of folks have gotten it. I had to ask around for months, and no-one seemed to know anything about it. Finally, the ALPA R&I committee guys hooked me up. The 40 hours I had only paid out at about half my hourly rate though. Haven't gotten a good answer as to why.

notEnuf

Good to know, that benefit was touted as a sick bank saver. It was half of half (1/4 paid in diability bennefits) of your unused sick time up to 40 hours. Did it work as advertised?


From NN 15-04:

Disability Account
Beginning with our current sick leave year (2015/2016), a pilot who uses less than 80 hours of sick leave in the sick leave year will have 50% of his unused sick hours below 80 hours (up to 40 hours in any single, completed sick leave year) credited to a new disability account. This new account will allow a pilot who goes on disability to extend his period of full pay before dropping to 50% on disability pay only. A pilot would be eligible to use hours in his disability account to provide “enhanced disability benefits”. For example, if a pilot has 80 hours in his account, he would be eligible to receive 40 hours of pay at his current rate on top of his LTD benefit upon exhaustion of the DPMA benefit.