SLG Question
 

In the new SLG tool, does anybody know the difference between selecting "any" versus "all" when avoiding or desiring a certain parameter? For example, how is the system interpreting the difference between "avoid ANY deadhead" versus "avoid ALL deadhead"? (Yes, I know there are three different deadhead options...I'm paraphrasing). Thanks!

Well, I never got an answer on here, but I think I figured it out. For anyone with the same question, I think it pertains to the ability to have multiple attributes on the same line.

For example:

"Avoid pairings with ANY attributes in BACK_DH, FRONT_DH" would avoid those trips that had either front or back end deadheads, where as "Avoid pairings with ALL attributes in BACK_DH, FRONT_DH" would only avoid those trips that contained both front and backend deadheads.

Can anybody give me some advice on how to go about requesting week on week off and West coast flying? I put in the following:
Avoid reserve
At least 7 days off concurrently (not the exact verbiage)
Desire west coast

Thanks

For anyone who is thinking, “this new SLG program is great”...

While I slightly agree it’s better for VTO lines, please, everyone, NO PBS. It’s NOT better. We will have a new contract someday. NO PBS.

They talked about this in the Webinar today. You are going to want to use the Quality of Life preference and use work periods and departures. There was a document she used to explain how to go about it and what the result would be but the document is not on PFC. Maybe they would email it to you.

I didn't pay much attention but I think you would want to select 2 or 3 work periods.

I don't remember how departures worked. One example had two work periods but one of the weeks had out and backs in them. Not something you would want as a commuter.

I think she said a work period was satisfied with multiple departures as long as there was less than 36 hours in base between trips. That could make for a few dead dead in MEM.

I think you would want the work period preference right after the avoid reserve preference.

Thank you for that reply!! That’s helpful. I wish had seen the webinar!

The removal of “Pairing on a date” selection is crippling. I don’t necessarily want the same paring EVERY week of a bid. Not sure who would want that. But I may want it on weeks 1 & 3 of a bid month.

I was told the option was removed from the SLG input choices because there was a local v Zulu issue with the programming. I responded that we’d like that option back ASAP, as it basically makes my entire VTO bidding process too generic to target work days and days off.

Anyone else sent up a complaint on that issue?

And suddenly "pairing on a date" option reappears.

Sounds kinda nice that Mgt is actually responsive to Pilot's programming desires.

Implementation phase of SLG is under way for another 10 months or so, keep the feedback\desired improvements coming.

IF it has the same shelf life the previous VTO software had, this will be with you for 20+ years

Anyone know if you can view a webinar now (after it was held)? It would be great to see what was said if we weren’t able to catch it live.


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How does one submit a programming request? I would like to see minimum days off between work blocks. Right now the preview showed me with 1 day off between a 3 day trip and a long international single departure trip.

InSite that request. I’ve had many prompts responses.

Is there a way to view a recording of the webinars?

How about they publish a manual with all the details as well as a clear explanation of how the inputs are processed.
Is this just an updated input method with the same "black box" process once it gets our inputs? Or is this actually an improved process/software that's building the lines?

It’s been active for several months now.
Have you heard of anyone complaining that someone Junior to them was awarded trip 123 that they had asked for?

Have heard the current software takes a trip availability snapshot prior to the window opening and doesn’t update for any trips that subsequently become available.
In this day and age there’s no reason the system can’t refresh other than a program limitation. If you really need to program a last update time, should be say 24 hours prior to the SWW window closing

That is correct. (Per the futures scheduler) A screenshot of all available open time trips is taken after the conflict window trips are awarded. Any trips that populate into open time after the point they take the screenshot are not available to be awarded via VTO. So even though you can see the trips, request the trips, they will not make it onto your schedule.

Now my sarcastic comment on that: That is written in the contract where?

And to talk programming in this day and age. How about updating the available trips the second before awarding the trips? How they are doing it now, which is five to six days before VTOs are awarded, is just plain ridiculous.

I haven’t but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. If that’s fixed, great. I’ve heard plenty of folks asking how to make inputs for a particular outcome. The written guide is lacking in this area, IMO. There shouldn’t be an air of mystery surrounding this process. That happened with the old system and we never fixed it. There was so much incorrect information about it that became like folklore and was perpetuated. I had knowledge that resulted from actively seeking it directly from the planners. That shouldn’t be necessary. They should publish the nuts and bolts of this new process so everyone clearly understand how it looks at and uses the inputs.

The old system did this too. Anything that changed from the morning the inputs closed to the night the secondaries were final was unaccounted for. Essentially, they built the lines that first day after the close and there was no flexibility to go back and globally adjust for BLAs performed, new open trips, etc. after that.

So, apparently this is still happening. I agree that is kind of ridiculous considering all the work that supposedly went into improving this process. But, however it’s happening right now, these kinds of details need to be published for everyone to read. Not circulated like stories around a campfire or a game of phone tag where details get blurred and changed with each iteration of... “Well, I heard.......”

Another thing I think we should reconsider is whether we truly want trips available to prime the pump for OT release.

I'm thinking this day and age rather than a handful of trips, assign 100% of the available trips to a VTO line holder.

I still maintain that in 2018 you should be able to pick from available trips at your VTO number in near real time. IDK how you would do it but I would think it could be done w/i days of the conflict window closing.

I think that's a slippery slope. One of the main complaints from friends who work under a true PBS system is that very issue. The efficiency of the PBS system assigns all OT and as a result flexibility for trip trading is drastically reduced.
While our fleets usually don't have an abundance of OT when trip trading opens, I think some is far, far better than none at all. It gives some the option to trade which (in addition to any drops), starts a bit of a cascade that offers even more the option to tweak their schedule. I think completely emptying the OT for secondaries would effectively block much of that flexibility and would be a big mistake.

Here's an interesting thing. There are large numbers of R day blocks left in open time, AFTER secondary lines have been released, on the Bus. Both Capt and FO. I am confused, I would have thought those would have been filled by VTO holders. I realize the FO position is short, but the Captains are still kind of fat (double entendre here:rolleyes:).

Never seen this before. So what's going on? Error? These reserve blocks don't actually exist? Extra blocks?

Just haven’t been removed yet - I own one of them

So trip trading for Sep is open now. I see pilots proffering trips for makeup. Is this because they tried to just drop them and were denied?
Or, is there some advantage to doing the proffer for makeup that I'm unaware of?

Im going to go with the drop was denied so this is the last hope effort. Lots of AVA seats this month and seats with no AVA still have a very skinny reserve level.

Bus has a bunch and reserve manning shows most my rdays short but no AVA..

The advantage is CRS doesn’t determine if everyone sees the trip (until they pull it inside 72hrs from show). If someone chooses to pick up a MU Proffer, the hours are processed just like an old school drop/pickup.

During the first hours of open time release, if I just want to get rid of a trip, I just proffer. Waiting for the drop denial waste hours. I can proffer, go to bed, and it’ll be gone by morning.

:confused: "Old school drops"?? Can you explain? Other than adding the contingency drop option, from what I can see, CBA 2015 did not change how drops are requested or processed.

How would CRS determine if "everyone sees a trip" a pilot is asking to drop that isn't in OT because it's still on his calendar awaiting drop approval?

This, I can understand. The first part, not so much.

In other words....

While drop processing didn’t change, proffer eliminates some CRS oversight and, by default, eliminates the BS reasoning and “math” behind drop denials. When a pilot picks up a MU proffer it is essentially processed just like an approved drop/pickup but without reference to open time/reserve coverage.

Drop - No one sees the trip until the drop is approved. Pilots that may want the trip don’t even get to know you want to drop unless CRS says they can see it by approving the drop.

Proffer - Everyone sees the trip immediately. If you are legal for the trip, you can pick it up. MU you need hours in your bank. TPU is a straight give away.

You probably know everything I just said and old school is a poor choice of words on my part. I use proffer often as I am the low flyer Kronan loves to hate. I view it as a new way of dropping a trip. It’s like setting an item on the curb with a sign that says free and it’s gone in the morning. One pilot’s trash is another’s treasure.

Why would you think I hate you?

Totally up to you how you manage your life. If you’re financially independent, doesn’t matter to me in the slightest.

Don’t think it’s prudent for most pilots.

You are one car crash away from never being a pilot again, and if 50% pay based on your take home is more than sufficient for your needs, well, doesn’t matter either way to me. If you wind up being one of the GoFund people, well I’ll still be chipping in.

Disability is based on the highest consecutive 12 months of earnings, not what you could’ve been making. But take home.

So if you’re single, or dinks, 50% of even NB FO pay is a pretty good life.
Less so if you’re looking at 3 kids going to college and you hope to help them out.

Only people I hate are those that suddenly start blocking their calendar a year or so into negotiations to hide the extra 18 CHs they fly every month

got it. get the 18 hours but don’t block your calendar. make out like a bandit or stand the line, and either way get sold out.

This is what you took out of it.

Is there any other CBA allowed activity you think shouldn't be accomplished right now?

I mean, we all know that Carryover makes the company more efficient.
Should people be allowed to hold carryover right now?

What about training on days off?

How about selling back Vacation?

In 2014 I was at least able to convince this chap that PiBS was indeed a bad idea.
Wasn't able to convince him to stop working an extra 3 days every month...his rough words were the Union hasn't said quit flying extra yet. My explanation that the Union Saying something like that, or that even saying work to Contract, are illegal job actions and FedEx would take us to court at the drop of a hat, and unfortunately win.

What I know: guys that did all of that plus draft and AVA (group one) made a lot of money. Guys that flew their line and didn’t do any of that (group two) made less money. Both groups got the same contract. Group one won, and then lost with the contract. Group two lost twice. For the next contract I’m gonna be a card-carrying member of group one. #YesToPBS

If this VB Plan becomes reality, pretty much the entire crew force will be members of group one!

True. and as the contract defenders said, it’s all about the time value of money.

Actually it was about others flying the draft and selling the vacation I was turning down. And the money certainly has been timely. We have no leverage with 2000 independent operators, might as well take what you can get like you did.

If only I could retire at 55 w no penalty and just go surfing.... #PBSovermydeadbody

always nice to see who’s at least willing to apply soft pressure to the man...thank goodness mgt never surfs the internet.

Why dont they just give us the optimizer program let us put in what we want and we will see if that works for us

Are we allowed to proffer a carry-over trip?

Did you ask and get denied?
If I recall correctly, we can’t drop a c/o trip until trip trading opens for the month the trip carries into. Trip trades are equally restrcted unless the new trip carries further into the month than the one you have (I think) - It’s been a while.
My guess would be c/o proffer is also restricted until the trip trading window for the new month.