Thank you, makes sense. For junior types such as myself who very rarely can ever touch a high time one day, is there a smarter way to burn PB days other than applying it to any day(s) above vacation value (or buying vacation days if you want the guaranteed time off)?

 

You don't have to be able to hold the trip in order to be able to use it. If someone senior in the category has a trip you'd like to use you can reach out to them to see if you can borrow the trip and have them help you wash your PB days. This may not work as wel if it's a really desireable 1 day trip since somoneone even more senior may have a blanket WS in. It is easier if you are using the first day of a 3 day or longer trip since almost no one (at least not senior people) would have a blind WS in for a trip like that so far out.

 

I believe you know, but just adding more info for those that will read along....

There is only ONE time you have a mandatory schedule check, and that's for a RES pilot finishing a rotation MUST check their schedule via either Icrew or VRU (no MiCrew) within 30 minutes of block in.

The 23.S.5.d.2.b states "A pilot is responsible for ascertaining whether they have been assigned a rotation or converted to short call..." but it doesn't state the *when* or the *how*

Could a pilot check their Icrew right at 12 hours prior in order to take a screen shot as proof incase they have to defend themselves in the CPO? Yes. they can.

But a pilot could also wait until the stroke of midnight and check then as they just went back on LC.

Or maybe a local pilot waits to check his schedule at 0630 during morning coffee because even if he has a 1000 SC or Rotation report, still has plenty of time to shower/sh!t/shave and make it to airport by 10.

And for anyone else reading, this applies to coming off *ANY* Non fly day (except vacation)....XX day, Golden * Day, rest > 24 hours, PB Day, PR Day.

It does NOT apply when coming off things like CQ, or Propel, or Velvet....those are work days...they are not "non fly" days, so you have ZERO "responsible for ascertaining"....so sit back and wait for scheduler or CNO to contact you (during LC) to let you know of any assignment.

 

I've found in the past the best bet is to get lucky on the swap board with a high time 1 day. Reach out to a senior guy/girl, ask if they can help you wash your PB days, and offer to let them keep the trip when you are done. That's way more likely to succeed than asking them to use a trip that's already on their line.

If that doesn't work you can usually find 3-4 day trips that have 8-8.5 hours of block on day 1. Although not quite as lucrative, it still pays more than letting the PB day convert to a SUPP day.

 

Sent you a PM

 

Alternative methods include looking at trip coverage or rotation history under Open Time Menu > Open Time > Pilot History. No need to "risk" peeking 12 hours prior just for the sake of holding the company accountable.

 

Diabolical.

 

My understanding is that this works for trip coverage but not SC assignment. You have to call and see what time they assigned you SC.
I’d love to be wrong, having to call and ask them if they did it right seems like Lucy with the football.

 

I’ll be honest as a regular reserve bidder (is that an oxymoron?) I haven’t once seen scheduling assign a SC outside the automated run that occurs between 1100 and 1200 Mecca time each day. Once that programming was implemented it really seems like schedulers have almost no control over the assigning of the slots (and they don’t understand how the automation works either). I’m not saying it never happens but 99% of the time if you have a SC on your schedule it was placed between 1100 and 1200 eastern. Now if you have a PR that ends at 23xx then the exact time does matter, so there are still certainly instances where you would want to find out the specific time stamp of the SC assignment.

 

Sanity check:

"Reduce raw bucket" (y/n) in the YS screen,

Reducing raw bucket makes you MORE likely to get called, correct?