Reserve for Dummies
07-13-2022 | 09:14 AM
#561
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 16
From: Hoping for any position
Relevant, but not really important: in 8 years most of which I have spent on reserve in NYC, I have NEVER been told what airport I’m supposed to report to. I’ve always had to ask and they never know without saying hold on and doing a bunch of typing.
Just a pet peeve, I guess. Seems like I would want to have that info ready before I called a crewmember if I was the scheduler.
Just a pet peeve, I guess. Seems like I would want to have that info ready before I called a crewmember if I was the scheduler.
07-13-2022 | 09:28 AM
#563
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 35
Just for NH’s, the answer to this is always, “I’ll be there as quickly as I safely can”. Just because the report is in 30 minutes doesn’t mean you will face discipline if you take slightly over 2-ish hours. Be diligent, but don’t rush, don’t speed, don’t run.
BL: I’m simply saying it’s not like it happens all the time. My extensive experience has been that more commonly, it’s a 7-8 hour callout.
But again, always be in position. Always.
BL: I’m simply saying it’s not like it happens all the time. My extensive experience has been that more commonly, it’s a 7-8 hour callout.
But again, always be in position. Always.
It’s not rocket science. We have NO time to report. There is a zone of reasonableness based on that specific callout if weather is bad, time of day and a million other things. That’s why we don’t have a specific time. They can give you a 15 min report. It’s irrelevant.
For that matter, I’ve seen people on this forum say that long call notifications are almost always 18 hours in advance, and I’ve not found that to be the case either. It’s been like 50/50 between 12-13 hours and 16-18 hours.
Bottom line, as Fangs said, ALWAYS be in position and ready for worst case scenario.
07-13-2022 | 09:47 AM
#564
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208
Likes: 12
If you live in base, reserve isn't bad. I usually bid reserve and average about 300 block hours a year. Smart use of IVD, APD, PB, PD days can get you long stretches of time off. GS for banked PB days at the end of the month is the end goal.
07-13-2022 | 10:15 AM
#565
Moderator
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,343
Likes: 1,348
Okay, poor wording on my part. I wasn’t saying that you have to report in less than 2 hours, what I meant was that I have gotten assignments while on short call where the listed departure time was well under 2 hours from when I was notified. The closest was about 1:15 from departure, but for that particular case I was already sitting in the crew room, so I had no reason not to be on time.
For that matter, I’ve seen people on this forum say that long call notifications are almost always 18 hours in advance, and I’ve not found that to be the case either. It’s been like 50/50 between 12-13 hours and 16-18 hours.
Bottom line, as Fangs said, ALWAYS be in position and ready for worst case scenario.
For that matter, I’ve seen people on this forum say that long call notifications are almost always 18 hours in advance, and I’ve not found that to be the case either. It’s been like 50/50 between 12-13 hours and 16-18 hours.
Bottom line, as Fangs said, ALWAYS be in position and ready for worst case scenario.
, I just was trying to clarify for the New Hires or prospective New Hires. Many of whom haven't been around long enough to see some of this get discussed a couple times a year//break, break//
FWIW, I think things will return to the historical norms over the next year or two. Certainly by the Fall of '24 and going forward (barring another black swan). Where WB SC really do rarely get used (I think historical is <10%) , NB SC gets used a little more, still not as common. I think it's valuable for the aforementioned neophytes to have some perspective on both the **** show going on now, and what is a more 'normal' existence - assuming we get there.
07-13-2022 | 10:31 AM
#566
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
But the word is that right now is “100 percent utility” if that’s the case, how can you only block 300 hours. Something is off from what people are insinuating about reserve on here…. I am a new hire, so I am just trying to learn and get to understand the battlegrounds. Thanks!
07-13-2022 | 11:01 AM
#567
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20,880
Likes: 194
But the word is that right now is “100 percent utility” if that’s the case, how can you only block 300 hours. Something is off from what people are insinuating about reserve on here…. I am a new hire, so I am just trying to learn and get to understand the battlegrounds. Thanks!
07-13-2022 | 11:07 AM
#568
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208
Likes: 12
But the word is that right now is “100 percent utility” if that’s the case, how can you only block 300 hours. Something is off from what people are insinuating about reserve on here…. I am a new hire, so I am just trying to learn and get to understand the battlegrounds. Thanks!
07-13-2022 | 11:16 AM
#569
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 128
But the word is that right now is “100 percent utility” if that’s the case, how can you only block 300 hours. Something is off from what people are insinuating about reserve on here…. I am a new hire, so I am just trying to learn and get to understand the battlegrounds. Thanks!
Totally base dependant. For example, I'm in a (finally) well staffed category and this month was able to drop two reserve days, used one PB day, and one APD, each in the middle of a stretch of days. All of the trips in open time are 4-5 days trips so as of now, I have not flown one reserve day yet. Granted I lost about 12 hours of pay but its worth it during a summer month to me.
Unless trips get broken apart, it may remain that way. If you understand the system and have good coverage you can gain a lot of flexibility. For what it is worth, I'm reserve in base and have been most of the past 6 years. Now I do reserve by choice.
The problem with a line, is that you have to fly it. I fly way less on reserve than I do when I hold a line. In fact, I have NEVER filled up in a month. Not once.
07-13-2022 | 11:20 AM
#570
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 128
I'll take a banked PB day and throw it in the middle of a stretch of 5 days on call. It really limits what they can and can't use you for. 3 times a year you can do the same with IVD/APD. You can do the same with a PD if there is coverage but you take a 4.2 hour pay hit for that. The busy summer months I'm flying to closer to 50 hours a month but once things slow down I have a few dozen banked PB days which will result in very little flying Oct-March. Every block of reserve come Oct-March will get a PB day thrown in the middle, assuming there is coverage to do so.
This is the key to surviving narrow body reserve if you live in base. I do a lot of drops in the same manner. I'm willing to lose a few hours to not have to fly nothing but 4-5 day trips. My biggest fear is this getting tossed in a future contract. Widebody categories can't do this.
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