Bidding for max days off
 

Hi everyone,

just curious if anyone bids for max days off and how many days does that translate to. If it is base dependent, my first choice would be ATL then any of the NY bases.

Thank you!

Depends on your seniority. I was around #13 in DTW for a while on the FO side and max days off was usually 18 days off. We’re also using a new jepp program so the lines have been crap lately, in addition to flying picking up.

Browsing through the latest PBS awards, for ATL on the 900 FO side (which it might take 9 months to get), 12 days off as a reserve pilot, 13-15 as junior lineholder, 16 as mid seniority, and 18 as senior lineholder. Using a week of vacation might get you an extra 3-4 days off. Not sure if you would commute but keep in mind PBS is give and take. Maximizing days off might sacrifice commutability.

For ATL on the 200 FO right now they’re more short staffed so they did a “credit push” on the junior lineholder. Expect 12 off on reserve, 11 off as junior lineholder, 15 for mid seniority, up to 17 for senior.

Really though, it’s a moving target. Depends on how well your base and equipment are staffed. I’ll say this, the average Endeavor pilot credits about 5-5.5 hours a duty period which should get you 15-16 days off on average.

Solver lining
 

The Jepp solver actually increased efficiency and awarded extra days off (although it added additional DHDs)
The changes made as part of the Fire Breaks reduced days off. The Jepp solver is not the problem...

I'm in the 40s on the NYC 900 FO side and get 17-18 days off doing max days off.

That’s not what the PBS folks say, and the reduced days off occurred prior to the fire breaks starting.

If your question was how to bid it in PBS....

max days off
Avoid pairings

Then score them however you wish. Ideally max days off would be the highest scoring. Not 1000 though, it'll crush your other preferences. Avoid pairings will give you the fewest pairings possible. So ideally you'll end up with higher credit longer trips and more days off between.

Keep in mind that it'll change month to month because they set a "minimum credit threshold". This is the minimum amount of credit you can be awarded. In January it was really low, I held 21 days off. February 18....

List so of the things you want and email PBS they'll help you come up with a good scoring solution. If that's too much work, pm me and I'll give you my opinion. But the PBS guys generally know their stuff.

[email protected]

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Yeah, for NYC900, it may have increased efficiency. But it also created a ton of 3+ hour outstation sits on the 200... I'm not convinced the new pairing solver is the reason that the issues in scheduling and IROPS have occured in NYC, leading us to this firebreak stuff.

I had more success bidding with avoid days worked. Compared to using desired days off, while being able to keep more of my other desired bid criteria awarded.