aviator1998

Super happy to hear how the new reserve rules have been received. What I'm curious about is utilization...I've heard some DAL guys (rightfully) brag they can bid reserve and never get called. What is the best fleet to do this on, system wide but also SLC/LAX since I will be commuting from DEN. Any talk of bringing wide body bases to SLC?

PotatoChip

Bid reserve on w/b’s.
SLC, yes. Then no, then yes, then no, then yes, then no.

capncrunch

SLC 220 is getting the least hammered. The 320 and 73 have it worse on reserve. There is talk of the 330 in SLC.

The days of 220 FOs sitting around on reserve are coming to an end. The utilization on all SLC fleets is up but the 220 has it the best currently.

Scoop

All base, equipment, and seats are different and they are always changing as categories grow, shrink etc. With that said you can generally do a lot better in the WB categories, but if they are short Pilots its hard to not normally get assigned trips on your reserve stretch of days. There are numerous ways to minimize your chances of flying on all fleets but it is much easier on a true international fleet since 1 and 2 day trips are much less prevalent and sometimes nonexistent.

Plenty of International Pilots will bid 4 day stretches of reserve availability which means they are not eligible for 6 day trips - which are very common in international categories. They can give you a three day trip or a four day trip, which is basically a three day with a DH day on one end. This does not work domestically or even on the 767 and 757 categories (7ER in Delta-speak).

If you live in base. reserve on any equipment can be great. As a commuter WB is currently pretty reserve friendly. When the new PWA is fully implemented reserve in all categories will be more commuter friendly but it remains to be seen exactly how commuter friendly NB reserve will be.

As always every base, equipment, and seat is different and even in the same position categories vary greatly throughout the year as flying expands and contracts.

Scoop

Extenda

Reserve utilization varies month to month. Have a friend NYC220B who flew once or twice this last year. Had to keep going to the sims for bounces. But a year from now that might be the most short staffed category. It will fluctuate. Junior base narrowbody B categories tend to be more short staffed, with the exception of last years NYC 220B. WB FO reserve is historically the least used, but it goes senior especially in the winter because of that reason.

I’m junior NYC ER A. I will fly on 11 days this month (a couple of deviated deadhead days, a couple unused short calls days). But I personally count any day at home sitting short call as an off day because I don’t change my lifestyle at all and sitting SC at home just counts as another day with my kids. Others have different opinions on what constitutes a true work day.

RAH RAH REE

Reserve in the new contract is not going to be better. The longer LC call-out will force them to have more short calls and at stranger hours. Imagine having to commute in for 1am to 10am short call 6 times a month.

Unless they just keep relying on greenslips to solve all their problems.

waldo135

And 9-hour SC will be horrible. 6 SC every month, incredible suckiness…oh wait, none of that happened. 9-hour SC was actually good. Who knew…

crewdawg

LOL, the outrage of them shortening our SC is a great example of the "any change" is bad mentality. Too lazy to go look back, but there were some pretty good doomsday predictions when they made that change. I think in 9 months of reserve last year, I maybe sat 4 or 5 SC total and I was only used once.

freezingflyboy

For most its no different than having to commute in for a 7am shortcall. Except in your scenario you'll be able to head home before noon.

What I'm curious about is how many pilots are going to go for the airport standby and how much use the company makes of it.

PilotJ3

Lol!!! You’re not making any sense at all. 1am???? Why???? I think the earliest show times are around 5am, sooooo…3 or 4 am SC makes more sense. We already have those

4am SC means they need to let me know at 10am the day prior. Plenty of time to commute and be in position.

Also remember, if they don’t use you, you’ll get 1hr above guarantee. It will cost the company a lot of money if they start over utilizing SC just to get pilots in position. The 18hr call out will help to get pilots in position, since there won’t be witching hours.