Reserve for Dummies
09-16-2025 | 11:22 AM
#3911
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 169
I have finally, for the first time in my career as an airline pilot, experienced a month on reserve where I didn't get absolutely abused. This was actually really nice and I take back everything bad I've said about reserve.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER
09-16-2025 | 11:45 AM
#3912
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,490
Likes: 481
I have finally, for the first time in my career as an airline pilot, experienced a month on reserve where I didn't get absolutely abused. This was actually really nice and I take back everything bad I've said about reserve.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER
Oh man, now you've gotten the taste of how good it can be. Some months are obviously better than others, but I've never once been used every day of reserve and I've never been full. I'm pretty shocked at the number of local pilots who won't even bid it because they don't take the time to learn it.
09-16-2025 | 12:26 PM
#3913
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 851
Oh man, now you've gotten the taste of how good it can be. Some months are obviously better than others, but I've never once been used every day of reserve and I've never been full. I'm pretty shocked at the number of local pilots who won't even bid it because they don't take the time to learn it.
They are afraid to use the provisions available to them (i.e. non-contactable), don't understand how to stack days on CQ/Vacation months, force 30/168s, etc.
I suppose it would be a bit more of a nugget-ache if you lived outside of a ~2 hour drive.
09-16-2025 | 12:50 PM
#3914
Roll’n Thunder
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,149
Likes: 562
From: Pilot
The people I see complain about reserve are the ones who just don't know how to bid or play the game. They're either too junior to hold weekends off, or they don't put enough time into their bid (or moving X days) to get what they want. Then they end up getting used, with a surprising number filling up. Reserve full is a strategy to get days off at the end of the month, I guess.
They are afraid to use the provisions available to them (i.e. non-contactable), don't understand how to stack days on CQ/Vacation months, force 30/168s, etc.
I suppose it would be a bit more of a nugget-ache if you lived outside of a ~2 hour drive.
They are afraid to use the provisions available to them (i.e. non-contactable), don't understand how to stack days on CQ/Vacation months, force 30/168s, etc.
I suppose it would be a bit more of a nugget-ache if you lived outside of a ~2 hour drive.
09-16-2025 | 12:58 PM
#3915
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 322
If I were to understand it, I’d certainly bid reserve more. But absent a WELL-known and vetted one-stop-shop (*in writing*) for these strategies (similar to the summer survival guide type of document), I’m not going to absorb this stuff through osmosis by flying with reserve pilots.
I imagine I’m not alone feeling the way I do, and this is why so many avoid reserve, even in base. While it may come easy to a few just by reading the SRH and 23 S, for most people it understandably needs to be spelled out more. I’d love to bid reserve and minimize being used. I just don’t know how.
09-16-2025 | 01:23 PM
#3916
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 244
Likes: 81
I can hold a commutable line and that is way to control my schedule as much as possible. Commuting to short call reserve makes me hate the job- so until interest rates and home prices drop I am not moving to base.
09-16-2025 | 01:27 PM
#3917
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 851
Too junior is the problem. I am pretty new in the low 16xxx numbers. There is no point in me trying to play the reserve game. The current system favors the senior numbers way too much. Personally I think its the bucket calculation, it takes way more for a junior pilot to get out of the first bucket. The dropping of days completely or moving X days falls apart for me after the first PCS run by the time it gets to me
I can hold a commutable line and that is way to control my schedule as much as possible. Commuting to short call reserve makes me hate the job- so until interest rates and home prices drop I am not moving to base.
I can hold a commutable line and that is way to control my schedule as much as possible. Commuting to short call reserve makes me hate the job- so until interest rates and home prices drop I am not moving to base.
Last edited by GutterGuard; 09-16-2025 at 02:06 PM.
09-16-2025 | 01:33 PM
#3918
Leaves Biscoff crumbs
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,265
Likes: 941
From: Blue Juice Taste Tester
The people I see complain about reserve are the ones who just don't know how to bid or play the game. They're either too junior to hold weekends off, or they don't put enough time into their bid (or moving X days) to get what they want. Then they end up getting used, with a surprising number filling up. Reserve full is a strategy to get days off at the end of the month, I guess.
They are afraid to use the provisions available to them (i.e. non-contactable), don't understand how to stack days on CQ/Vacation months, force 30/168s, etc.
I suppose it would be a bit more of a nugget-ache if you lived outside of a ~2 hour drive.
They are afraid to use the provisions available to them (i.e. non-contactable), don't understand how to stack days on CQ/Vacation months, force 30/168s, etc.
I suppose it would be a bit more of a nugget-ache if you lived outside of a ~2 hour drive.
09-16-2025 | 01:57 PM
#3919
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 375
See, I don’t bid reserve because I don’t even understand what you’re getting at here. As a permanent line bidder, I don’t even know where to begin to figure it out.
If I were to understand it, I’d certainly bid reserve more. But absent a WELL-known and vetted one-stop-shop (*in writing*) for these strategies (similar to the summer survival guide type of document), I’m not going to absorb this stuff through osmosis by flying with reserve pilots.
I imagine I’m not alone feeling the way I do, and this is why so many avoid reserve, even in base. While it may come easy to a few just by reading the SRH and 23 S, for most people it understandably needs to be spelled out more. I’d love to bid reserve and minimize being used. I just don’t know how.
If I were to understand it, I’d certainly bid reserve more. But absent a WELL-known and vetted one-stop-shop (*in writing*) for these strategies (similar to the summer survival guide type of document), I’m not going to absorb this stuff through osmosis by flying with reserve pilots.
I imagine I’m not alone feeling the way I do, and this is why so many avoid reserve, even in base. While it may come easy to a few just by reading the SRH and 23 S, for most people it understandably needs to be spelled out more. I’d love to bid reserve and minimize being used. I just don’t know how.
Still looking for the "How to maximize 23m7 payouts" guide.
09-16-2025 | 02:06 PM
#3920
Roll’n Thunder
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,149
Likes: 562
From: Pilot
While not a comprehensive guide to reserve, the "Navigating summer" guide does allude to what Tennis was talking about re: placing LC days around CQ. Under the "Reserve Schedule Management" section. But it doesn't go nearly as deep as some of the discussions had on this very board, particularly for some of the caveats with the new contract. But how many guides do we need?
Still looking for the "How to maximize 23m7 payouts" guide.
Still looking for the "How to maximize 23m7 payouts" guide.
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