Rocky, I'm sitting reserve this month for the first time in years. I have the highest raw right now of the guys that are eligible to fly. Theoretically, I should be the last one they call, right? Or is the raw thing fairly loose?

You should be the last one they call, but there are lots of caveats. Probably the biggest thing is that not everyone on the list with lower raw scores are legal for a trip. I don't understand it, but I think the list will show people who are finishing a trip that day, but aren't legal yet. But if there is someone in your same day group (3 days of availablity, 4 days, etc) with a lower raw score who is legal, there should be no reason why they would get called for a trip before you. Now, I'm sure you know that people can sick out or have a problem when scheduling calls, which would give the trip to you.

As I understand it, who the scheduler picks for a trip is not at their discretion - when they need a trip covered, they generate a trip coverage report or something, and it lists pilots by employee number in coverage order to call. The computer figures out legalities, contractual issues and the like.

Buzz,

What you say above is generally true - for guys with the same number of days available.

Scoop

I don't know why people keep preaching this. Here's MY prediction: this AE will generate very few additional commuters. Atlanta has plenty already. Those who commute, may commute to somewhere else chasing either a particular airplane or quality of life; but those who aren't commuters will do what they generally do; downbid if they have to. I've done it myself when displaced. It sucks, but it sure beats commuting, imho.

If a base is closing, or shrinking by 25%+, that's one thing. But this bid is less than 10%. I just don't see any rush of locals who have never commuted starting now.

I hope you're right. We'll see.

I don't endorse some of your earlier statements about commuting, but I think it's only logical that, as you offer more new domiciles, you reduce the number of commuters.

You can't be a unified pilot group that ignores the interests of commuters, so a better commuting policy is an important objective. But, as I said earlier, the root cause of a lot of commuting is a Reserve system that make s it bite to be near the bottom of a category. So much so that the North guys would find comfort in being boxed into Block and Reserve. make Reserve more palatable, and guys may not chase equipment all over the country as much. As it stands now, many commuters are getting on aircraft from a senior base, to a junior base.

In the end of the day, someone has to sit around and be on standby in case something goes wrong - there is no other way to run an airline. Other than raising the pay for reserve really high or giving them lots of days off (neither of which I see the other 80% that doesn't do reserve wanting to back) I can't see how you make reserve more desirable.

I really like the long call/short call system - it is heads above the other reserve systems I've been under which was only SC. Give it a few months for all these changes to be absorbed and we'll see how the North guys like the LC/SC. I know they had LC, but it sounded like it wasn't used much.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluto http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/im...s/viewpost.gif
..... I think we'll see commuting increase dramatically.

I think a better commuter policy needs to be a priority, for the short-term at least.

"And I think you are right, so here is the big question; what can we do to make this happen ASAP?

Feel free to share ideas here everybody.."

Basically at former NWA, before the call in honest policy was put into effect , many Pilots did not care if they made the trip or not. I myself would call crew scheds and tell them you can get me there or else I'm going home. This was after paycuts, basecuts and scale backs creating a lot of additional commuters. A large % of guys just said we really don't care if we make it to work. The company, chief pilots etc. knew they had a problem. So call in honest was established because they were already having to get guys to work or have trips cancel. Believe me, this was not to benefit the pilot as they wuld make you believe, it was to benefit the company. IMAGINE THE COST OF CANCELLING 1 747-400 BECAUSE OF LACK OF CREW. One positive space pass is nothing in comparison. So big win for the company because those who used sick leave to handle commuting problems went away, as well as pilots not making their trips beacuse of cutting the commute to close. In the life of the program, I only used it twice and one of those times I ended up getting on anyway so in reality I bumped one paying passenger over the life of the program and that was on a double commute.

We did not give up anything to get this that I know of (Just for you Pineapple Guy) It was a company policy!!!!

This airline is going to have more and more commuters. This is only round one in the big reshuffle. 777 going to DTW, 320 to SLC, 88 to MSP, 765 to JFK, 765 out of ATL, 747 out of ANC(previous), and all the guys who will possibly get MDed out of a base and ac.

In the past it was the squeaking wheel that got the grease. Bend the ears of the Chief Pilots (Most of the NWA chief pilots had pilot interest at heart) and bend the ears of your union reps. When I have made an honest attemp to get to work and the stars align against me(WEATHER ,CANCELLATIONS, MX, LATE FLTS ETC) I have no problem letting the sch know either I get a seat or I am headed to the house.(Have only done that a couple of times as well.)

Bottom line: A good call in honest commuting policy gives the pilot peace of mine and saves the company a ton of money in the long run. NWA would give the pilots nothing- we were cobra airlines (strike at any thing) and had a very COMBATIVE relationship with management meaning that the policy benefitted them as well OR WE WOULD HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT. They had the power to cancel it at any time which was a good check and balance so that guys would not abuse it. So start hammering the union reps and the chief pilots, it will benefit us all. Also wheather you are a commuter now or fine yourself being a new commuter hammer your crew scheduler with your commuting problem. They will want the problem to go away as well. It is a combine effort that we all need to be on the same page on as well as all the issues that we will face in the future. Hey Pine Apple--you just might need a few commuter votes to get a pay raise or something in the future. My 2 cents worth. GOOD LUCK TO US ALL!

the maximum number of SC days is going to be a huge improvement for the n
NWA side. The LC was used on our side but you had to be senior enough to get it thus making only a few people able to enjoy being on LC from home. The really junior guys had to sit SC all month meaning sitting in a crashpad potentially half the month = nightmare for a commuter. The new rules are going to make being on reserve much more manageable. imho.