Boats and Hos

Doesn’t the membership have to agree to any changes outside the contract language? We were sold a poor deal if some side agreement was done OR the company just decided to have a secret grid. Again, I am having a hard time swallowing that pill or anything the aformentioned person says. Oh, so we have a grid but, it’s not the real one. I wonder what they are telling new hires?

I also do not believe we would would have to, nor should we, give up much of anything to get the grid back or have some control over it. They, not us, have to attract, recruit and try to retain, for the expansion. Not to keep beating the horse but, the bidding system is a tool for crews and part of the foundations of flight and core principles. I wish more people would read those. So, why again is there a SECRET grid? If they need to have secrets then we should seriously be getting on them and Alpa.

Again, just my opinion but I am willing to bet a large part of the survey was about scheduling and we aren’t seeing any improvements. With the growth it will certainly only become more difficult.

13pro

That’d be fine. If only reserves could actually drop trips. I try every month to drop as many RSV days as possible. On average, I would say 4 actually drop. But that number has been decreasing. Earlier this year I was able to drop 6-8. Last month none got approved. We’ll see what October brings.

flydiamond

Well staffing has been decreasing as only 6 or so pilots a a month hit the line (the ones hired before recent ramp up) as we lose far more. No longer are there 50 reserves a day. It is more like 30-40 or so in the larger bases. And in some of the epic irops they used every single reserve available. I’m honestly not sure what people are expecting... the point of reserves is to be there as a reserve. We’ll never be like skywest that operates with 10 reserves for all of Chicago because they’re so short staffed.

ninerdriver

Did we finally get rid of that dump of a hotel in MSN?

flydiamond

I tolerated that dump due to the location. Same with the CHO hotel, looks like that has now changed to the middle of nowhere too.

KSCessnaDriver

So you're ok with being in a dump of a hotel chain as long as there's something around it? The old dump in CHO was exactly that, a dump. There's nothing wrong with the new one in CHO, especially considering the van will take you places.

flydiamond

The problem is API moves us from one dump to another. Example: recurrent sim hotel.

We need to get out of all hotels that end with “inn” or “plaza.” That would solve a lot of issues.

IAFDOF

The “new” hotel in CHO is the best thing that’s happened to us hotel-wise in a long time; that and EVV. I get that the location isn’t as good, but that GD Holiday Inn was the worst hotel in the system. I could hear my neighbors ****ing in their toilet in stereo thru those paper-thin walls. If you can’t get a good rest, a hotel is worthless, in my opinion, regardless of how many trashy fast food restaurants are in the vicinity.

13pro

Not true. We lost 13 pilots in August. We had classes of 10ish starting every week. My “RSV line” went backwards 7 spots for October. Guys that have been here a year are barely getting used. I pick up anything I can, and I feel lucky to have 250 hours. Guys in my class that only work their scheduled days are still about 150 hours.

Now, that’s not all to complain, as I get that it’s the way the life is. But the statement was made that the intended use of the grid was to allow RSVs to drop, and pick up flying. That simply doesn’t happen.

And probably 80% of reserve stretch’s I don’t get used. 15% maybe used for a turn. 5% more than a turn. That tells me there are still too many pilots sitting reserve.

JulesWinfield

You can look in the crew resource report in FLICA. Today, we have 6 LCR and 28 SCR, with 9 out on assignment. NYC 900 FO

My biggest gripe about reserve is the bucketing system. Leaving you to rot in the crashpad for a week, then using you for a turn on your last day to screw over your commute because you have a day left is ridiculous.