Reserve for Dummies
#4011
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 207
Likes: 102
My post was poorly worded; I'm at 586 block hours in the previous 365 days. But by the time Dec 31st gets here I will be very close to 500 for this calendar year if I don't top that. I haven't had a YS awarded in a year, nor a GS, and there is insufficient coverage for PDs every single time I've tried. No black days so no X-day swaps, either.
#4012
Roll’n Thunder
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,150
Likes: 562
From: Pilot
My post was poorly worded; I'm at 586 block hours in the previous 365 days. But by the time Dec 31st gets here I will be very close to 500 for this calendar year if I don't top that. I haven't had a YS awarded in a year, nor a GS, and there is insufficient coverage for PDs every single time I've tried. No black days so no X-day swaps, either.
#4013
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 375
One move I sometimes try to make is sliding an extra day of reserve following a rotation assignment. Say you’ve got a 3 day LC block and get tagged with a 3 day rotation. Try sliding a single LC day onto that first X day following the rotation. This is better the later the rotation releases since the 18 hour call out requirement can push you into unusable status. This gets you a “free” LC day most times and with an added benefit of shortening a future block by a day.
#4014
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,490
Likes: 482
To your edit. DTW717B, 9 of the bottom 10 have lines and only one has a pre-posted event (CQ and not the plug). DTW717A, the bottom 22 have lines and most of them do not have anything but trips on their line. DTW73NA, the bottom 24 pilots are line holders, though LOTS of coverage. Look at SEA320A, the bottom 48 are all line holders, though a fair amount of them have vacation. I'd guess there are plenty more if we look around and went back through the months.
It should be noted that many times a very junior pilot can sneak into a REG line when more senior pilots can’t. This can happen when the junior pilot has some sort of additional credit (training, vacation, carry-in, mil leave, etc) that allows PBS to complete a line with the scraps that are left when a more senior pilot with a “clean” schedule can’t get a full schedule built.
That's true, but not really the case in these situations.
#4015
Lol, perfect response!
To your edit. DTW717B, 9 of the bottom 10 have lines and only one has a pre-posted event (CQ and not the plug). DTW717A, the bottom 22 have lines and most of them do not have anything but trips on their line. DTW73NA, the bottom 24 pilots are line holders, though LOTS of coverage. Look at SEA320A, the bottom 48 are all line holders, though a fair amount of them have vacation. I'd guess there are plenty more if we look around and went back through the months.
That's true, but not really the case in these situations.
To your edit. DTW717B, 9 of the bottom 10 have lines and only one has a pre-posted event (CQ and not the plug). DTW717A, the bottom 22 have lines and most of them do not have anything but trips on their line. DTW73NA, the bottom 24 pilots are line holders, though LOTS of coverage. Look at SEA320A, the bottom 48 are all line holders, though a fair amount of them have vacation. I'd guess there are plenty more if we look around and went back through the months.
That's true, but not really the case in these situations.
YOU'RE ALL WELCOME FOR MY SERVICE 🫡
#4016
If needed YS is not an effective tool because they (scheduling) control the need. When needed the first up YSs have already had their choice of the SCs. What's usually left if/when needed is the SC people didn't bid for.
#4017
.
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 682
Curently at 308 hour in rolling 365
NYC 7ERA 75%ish, live in base, bid RES unless I can't hold a day I need off as RES then go to line. (Me and Extenda are on the same page on the wide report most months, or 1 page apart_
This year, I might be sub 300 again. Currently at 229, am going to be out for surgery the rest of this month and all of next month, and have vacation in NOV, so I'd have to get used a lot in Nov/Dec to go over 300.
So far I've been paid 851:15 in pay for 2025 and have flown 229:02
RES sucks. Fo sho
NYC 7ERA 75%ish, live in base, bid RES unless I can't hold a day I need off as RES then go to line. (Me and Extenda are on the same page on the wide report most months, or 1 page apart_
This year, I might be sub 300 again. Currently at 229, am going to be out for surgery the rest of this month and all of next month, and have vacation in NOV, so I'd have to get used a lot in Nov/Dec to go over 300.
So far I've been paid 851:15 in pay for 2025 and have flown 229:02
RES sucks. Fo sho
#4018
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 510
Likes: 94
I have no idea how senior you are, but I am a post-COVID hire based in ATL. When I got hired, I was able to hold a line right off OE (not ATL based at the time) and it was fine, but I quickly figured out that once I could hold weekends off on reserve, my QOL and time at home went way up compared to my junior lineholder peers. I do often drop a day in the middle of a block, but its easy to make that pay up with GS, and hard to beat being at <20 nights in hotels for the year so far. Bidding the latest SC possible (excluding 2359) helps, otherwise it is mostly luck and holding the company to the contract when it comes to how they assign stuff, contactability, rest, etc. I may go back to a line once I can hold Barbados layovers, but that might be quite some time, ha.
#4019
Roll’n Thunder
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,150
Likes: 562
From: Pilot
Curently at 308 hour in rolling 365
NYC 7ERA 75%ish, live in base, bid RES unless I can't hold a day I need off as RES then go to line. (Me and Extenda are on the same page on the wide report most months, or 1 page apart_
This year, I might be sub 300 again. Currently at 229, am going to be out for surgery the rest of this month and all of next month, and have vacation in NOV, so I'd have to get used a lot in Nov/Dec to go over 300.
So far I've been paid 851:15 in pay for 2025 and have flown 229:02
RES sucks. Fo sho
NYC 7ERA 75%ish, live in base, bid RES unless I can't hold a day I need off as RES then go to line. (Me and Extenda are on the same page on the wide report most months, or 1 page apart_
This year, I might be sub 300 again. Currently at 229, am going to be out for surgery the rest of this month and all of next month, and have vacation in NOV, so I'd have to get used a lot in Nov/Dec to go over 300.
So far I've been paid 851:15 in pay for 2025 and have flown 229:02
RES sucks. Fo sho
#4020
.
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 682
Tore three tendons in my hand in the lamest way possible at a dirtbike race. Folding the dog bed to put in the truck to take dog to the track. She's the team mascot.
Mallet finger x3, one is completely detached and of course our insurance has been playing games with getting an MRI approved.

Side note. The Alpinestars medical rig at Pro Motocross and Supercross is pretty awesome.
Although I did get the "lamest injury in the 2025 SMX finals" award from Doc McGinley.
I thouggt Haiden Deegan was going to top me with his "breaking own collarbone trying to take another rider out" move against Jo Shimoda, but that was dumbest injury not lamest injury.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post





