look at january 73a for lax. Crazy how you have the story above, and then some categories at 2req/35 available all month

 

That's tough and RSV can wear on you. As hokey as this might sound, try changing your outlook on RSV from "hoping I don't fly" to "I'm going to fly on my next block." It honestly helped me a lot to think of it that way. In that vein, YS trips heavily in the beginning of the month to get into RSV bucket #2 or #3, that should shield you somewhat, or just YS and try and get Full. Done with some luck you can guarantee yourself a few extra days off at the end of the month.That's not always possible and I personally haven't had good luck with YSs as a junior pilot (usually if it's a decent trip someone senior will YS it) but it's worth trying.

Here's a few more ideas, each a little crazier:

Pursue some type of Project Pilot style position. Many of those will knock out a few days of RSV a month, if not more.

Have you considered 717A? How about commuting to NYC if you can hold a line and just can't stomach RSV?

There's always the nuclear option...bid back to B.

 

717A is not an option I’ve been used every day on reserve except for one this month. Comes with taking a very junior position unfortunately, I’m worn out as well BUT I tell myself nobody put you into this position but you.

 

So this hasn't happen yet, but may in the near future. I will require 30 prospective rest in the next few days after CQ. I don't know if the computer sees this conflict as there is a 9hr rest period assigned after the last training event (day 7), but no 30hr. If a SC were assigned day 8, would you say no to the short call, or wait through the short call period and just refuse if assigned a rotation for 30/168? Basically, how pro-actively should I engage to solve rest required as long as I'm not violating FARs by beginning a FDP?

 

Scenario 1: you aren't notified of the rest but you are notified via CNO of the SC period at a time that you are contactable (on LC or SC). Since you are properly notified of the SC, per FAR 117 you cannot start a RAP (SC period) or FDP without having the required lookback rest. In this case you must call scheduling at some point before the SC starts otherwise you'd be knowingly starting an RAP without legal rest.

Scenario 2: you aren't notifed of rest AND you aren't notifed of the SC period. This most likely happens when, after not being notified of rest, scheduling uses what they view as a non-fly day to add an assignment (rotation or SC) that does not require them to call you. But since you never knew of the rest you never knew of the non-fly day thus you never knew you needed to ascertain if scheduling placed an assignment on your schedule. In this case since you are not aware of any assignment your job is simply to wait for scheduling to call you. This will occur when they try to assign you a rotation if they've given you SC or if you don't report for a rotation assignment.

 

Ahh, I see it now in 117. A pilot cannot even be on short call without the prerequisite rest. Good call. The notification scenarios are still interesting. Thanks!

 

Just got hit for the first time with the CNO combo call for conversion to short call (legal) AND 30 hours rest prior (that part not legal AFAIK, unless something has changed).

 

The thought process is you'll be more senior on the 717A. For example:

90% 320A ATL is ~112xx
95% 320A ATL is ~127xx

Which equals as 717A in ATL:
~72%
~86%

In addition, presumably being a junior fleet you'll accrue seniority faster (I know, that is an assumption that may not happen).

 

That is legal notification for SC and not legal for rest. You’re in the same situation as scenario 1 in my post above assuming you need 30 hours rest to be legal to start the SC

 

That is exactly how I approach it, too. I fully understood that I was bidding in to reserve for a while, so I will stop short of simply *****ing about it. LIke you said, I did this to me. I don't mind going to work. It just stings when I come off a redeye at the end of a 5-day trip and they assign me SC at 0100 that night for my last day and then an out/back that shows at 0600.

In that same 6 month look-back I was talking about before I have had only 1 (one) LC day that I wasn't used on because I was either full or it was assigned rest. There is just no respite from it. And not enough coverage to use PDs or move XX days. To this point I just haven't had a frame of reference for what the "new" reserve life here is like for anyone else, so I'm trying to see if it is everyone in my cateogry or what. This ain't my first rodeo, but I have not seen reserve utilzation like this even 20 years ago at the regionals in the truly bad-old-days. So, with that in mind I wanted to expand the old team and see what the scoop was. All I can tell so far is that they're not moving anyone in to the 320 in ATL at all for the foreseeable future so I guess the beatings will continue all summer.