Originally Posted by ilinipilot

While we are talking SC improvements how about we make the long call call out 14 hours between 4pm and 8pm. That way if they call you out last minute you have a better chance of making it there and you are well rested. This would help the in-base guys by giving them more green slip chances and the commuters on reserve would get a little more breathing room. I have talked to a lot of guys that have a two hour window or so where its really dicey to get there for a 12 hour call out.
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Originally Posted by Jesse

What we have now is very similar to what you described. I like that we can put our preference in for what SCs we would like if we have to have SC; and that if we want SC we can ask for it. As has been mentioned, what really takes away from these improvements is that the schedulers have taken a new tactic of using almost all available pilots for SC once they've assigned open time trips out for the next day. So even when you've done 3 SCs (in bucket 2 for the SC buckets), and have done enough flying to be in the higher RAW bucket than anyone else, and are senior to everyone else you can still expect to get assigned SC because you have a pulse. Just having one day of availability remaining doesn't necessarily mean you're going to escape the long line of SC pilots. What sucks even more, IMHO, is when you've maxed your SCs, and you're in the highest bucket, just finished 4 days of flying and because you can't be assigned SC they give you a trip with 13 hrs notice while a pilot with the same availability is assigned to sit his second SC, and has done less than half the flying you have and is considered untouchable because he's a SC asset for the following day. Crazy system. The schedulers, at least in ATL M88 B, have in effect, negated the benefits of the new reserve system by maxing out SCs. And going to 7 SCs will further undermine it.

Originally Posted by shiznit

Anyone know how to tell if a 744 has been through the mod line and has the lie-flat seats yet?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Jesse

What we have now is very similar to what you described. I like that we can put our preference in for what SCs we would like if we have to have SC; and that if we want SC we can ask for it. As has been mentioned, what really takes away from these improvements is that the schedulers have taken a new tactic of using almost all available pilots for SC once they've assigned open time trips out for the next day. So even when you've done 3 SCs (in bucket 2 for the SC buckets), and have done enough flying to be in the higher RAW bucket than anyone else, and are senior to everyone else you can still expect to get assigned SC because you have a pulse. Just having one day of availability remaining doesn't necessarily mean you're going to escape the long line of SC pilots. What sucks even more, IMHO, is when you've maxed your SCs, and you're in the highest bucket, just finished 4 days of flying and because you can't be assigned SC they give you a trip with 13 hrs notice while a pilot with the same availability is assigned to sit his second SC, and has done less than half the flying you have and is considered untouchable because he's a SC asset for the following day. Crazy system. The schedulers, at least in ATL M88 B, have in effect, negated the benefits of the new reserve system by maxing out SCs. And going to 7 SCs will further undermine it.

Originally Posted by Delta1067

Just remember that next time Crew Sked asks for a favor in that you go over 15 hours to get a flight out. I was suckered into it a few trips ago and will think really hard before I do it again.......especially in light of all of the SC BS going on now.

Originally Posted by gloopy

Yeah when they need something, its all about teamwork. When you are forced to fly the contract though, hey, a contract is a contract.

We keep falling for it though.

I agree that we need either a longer long call (especially between certain later evening hours) or at least a 1 flight commuter clause during that time. Heck even one of our largest regionals has that.