You musta been one of the Airforce Herk drivers. Cause in the Navy, us Herk FE's did do Engine changes..on the road and at home. And before u ask, yes I am a Delta Pilot...worked my way up through the trenches.....the hard way.
(Not the smartest way I'll give you...)

 

Reserve question.....Next week I have CQ with Monday travel day,Tuesday sim, Wednesday LOE (I'll be able to get home Wednesday evening) Thursday travel day and Friday first day of reserve (5 days). Is Thursday a day off or a work day and when am I required to check my schedule?

 

Historically, as long as the issue has been raised within the 120 days and the two sides are engaged on the issue, the 120 day clock is tolled until discussions break off. I have no idea if there is a deadline that has been set in this specific case.

This is correct and it happens when the two sides are engaged in resolving an issue. As an example, if someone got bypassed for a GS and they brought it to the attention of the Scheduling Committee within the 120 days, the Scheduling Committee would confirm that the pilot is the one who should have received the GS and they would then add them to the list to engage the company for resolution. The 120 day limit for filing a grievance would be tolled until the Scheduling Committee had received a "no, we're not paying it" from the company, at which point it would be handed off to the Contract Administration Committee for action.

 

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Scoop,

FWIW, Flight Engineers were not originally "pilots" by any definition. Some had A&P's with IA, but no commercial or ATP ratings. They were mechanics who rode along managing the incredibly complex engines, as well as repairing and fixing them at outstations. Three engine ferry flights were more common than engine swaps on the ramp, but sometimes there was no choice.

My father was one of these A&P, IA's who's first job was to manage these complex turbo-supercharged radial engines, then later taking DC-8's into Asia and Africa to land on steel matting and stuff like that. There was no support infrastructure where many of these cargo operators went.

http://www.seaboardairlines.org/spar.../as_efs415.jpg

(image not posted due to size)

http://www.seaboardairlines.org/spar.../as_efs412.jpg

(second picture note, SO not my father, in his underwear or bathing trunks, on left, changing an engine ... do not report to style police ... apparently socks matching underwear must have been a thing in the 1960's)

I think even Delta had a very small handful as late as the 1990's. ASA negotiated a "Bid Restricted Second Officer SLOA" to offer assistance to Delta "pilot" PFE's who needed training and flight time to meet Delta's minimums for a control seat.

FWIW, my father is a very good pilot. He's an absolutely mind blowing mechanic.

 

Love the pictures you post of his flying - I bet his pictures and stories would make a decent book someday!

Flying from ATL to Orlando just isn't the same as doing that kind of stuff.

At my previous cargo airline, the FEs didn't do much maintenance, as we carried a ride-on mechanic (who did get greasy and didn't get to hotels much - I writeup I once saw was "Mechanic Needs a shower") but the FEs did inspect the repairs on occasion whenn a second pair of eyes was required.

 

I've witnessed a Navy FE doing an engine change in Sacramento, CA (Mather? McClellan?). It's amazing what a Navy AD can do with limited resources.

VQ3 or 4, by chance?

 

Ah, you youngsters. Back in the day, National Airlines required all flight engineers to hold an A&P. They performed all maintenance at all outlying stations. They thought they were saving money.

 

I was an AF Herk guy. And yes, our FEs could get in the trenches, but they never did an engine change on their own. That is how I read the original post.

Hey, as a Herk guy, I can't tell you the number of times I've helped push pallets, tie down vehicles, etc. It all was part of the job, and I wouldn't have done it any other way. When you are on some dirt strip in Somalia trying to get out of there, you don't exactly have the same level of support as at Rhein-Main!

 

"See the world"

Every gawdawful $h1th0le I every went to in the AF, I was either on a herc or a helo. Thanks herc drivers everywhere for helping me see the world.

Happy Easter!
He is risen