Rumots:

AE next week.

321's are close to being finalized.

744's are similar.

True, but when it came to trip assignments they were assigned in inverse seniority with (in my category) senior pilots not flying until week 3 or 4 unless nabbed by a SC earlier then they might not fly at all. I didn't mind a whoever worked the most goes last system.

The problem pre all of the LOA 31 et. al. changes was Short Call. It was worth nothing, assigned at random, the number of pilots on assignment was unpredictable, you could only say AM or PM if you had a preference and there were no "if you need me" options. All of that has been corrected and that's fantastic. Unfortunately the bucket system and a stubborn demand to keep the thresholds high came with that and that's not good. Have the buckets but make the thresholds a calculated number that flexes.

By the way, whenever I hear "you're junior" it reminds me that all 11,### number of pilots on the seniority list are junior to 1 guy. Everyone is junior. So what is senior? I mean there are 64 categories with 64 pilots sitting #1 in their category, of those, 63 of 64 are junior to somebody.

I've heard they are debating whether or not to hire this fall or wait till next spring.

It wouldn't be artificial, the culprit seems to be the Swap with the Pot or Moving X Day rules. Change it for weekends just like it is for holidays. Because you're right, or I'm certain you're right, prior to the month beginning you had available greater than or equal to the required number.

But note that we actually require more pilots on the weekend than the weekday per the reserves required formula. Weekdays generally require 20-30 pilots and 30-40 and sometimes 50 are available, weekends are 30 or more and usually only 20 available and then by the start of the week is available it's 0 and here come GSs.

Again, my point is to stop covering trips with GSs and start expanding the size of the pilot group since it doesn't look like with the current levels of reserve we are running (fewer than it used to be) provide enough pilots. You could do it by increasing the ALV but in doing so you start to push against needing to add pilots in categories and towards the bottom force hiring. That's a good thing to me.

Let me make this clear this would screw me over making this change. Actually it wouldn't per se since I hold what I want off a vast majority of the time via PBS, but still giving we seem to moving backwards more than forwards it will screw me if I try to move an X day. But I'm fine with that. I'd rather need more pilots.

writing in rush, sorry can't review this post as well as i want.

Bring on the whale!!!

You can always make excuses why the company is "unable" but the Alaska system would still work and the company wouldn't go broke. The Alaska reserve system gives pilots a lot more flexibility while honoring seniority and paying more on average than the C2012 Delta pilot system. With the company making record profits I don't see any reason why Delta pilots shouldn't achieve higher pay with more flexibility and quality of life.

J29;

You are somewhat incorrect, which means you are also somewhat correct. There are banks of launches now that offset this already.

Just a perfect example is DTW 777. All the flights are scheduled for departure within 1 hour of each other. So why would you need a 24 hour SC window.

Additionally, There is a company memo which questions the viability of 24 hr SC anyway...concluding that after about 6 hours a pilot is not really useable.

So, now a reserve pilot is on the hook for an extra shortcall. That means 14% less manning for reserves...Therefore, fewer pilots.

I don't know how many int'l categories are moving to the banks of departures at the same time, but you have to admit, it is a pretty good workaround.

PS: I think grouping departures together is a good idea operationally and for QOL for reserves.

PPS: The memo may have been for ultra long haul, I dont remember.

Heck, I'd be willing to give Carl an extra year fence if the 744 rumoT ends up true.:D

No need. They're going to Virgin Atlantic. :eek:

Saw this today while trying to find my way around the red brick maze for CQ

http://www.picvalley.net/u/2827/1638...ljJQufbb_m.JPG