purple speed

The bottom VTOs have historically consisted of reserve days. I have been told a couple of times that w the TA, even the number 1 VTO holder could wind up w reserve days.

I can't find a change that says that. If you know where in the TA it talks about that, please post it.

Thanks!

Raptor

I'm away from the TA, but it's writing in red (meaning it's deleted) that said something like secondary lines will be made up of trips, unless not possible.

I'll find it when I'm back, if no one posts it first. Removing that language was meant to allow the #1 VTO holder to preference days off or reserve, according to the NC--fair enough. But, I think permitting that, opens the door to the PBS global solution to put reserve undesired on the #1 VTO holder too if that's the best fit.

We permit choices about waiving 1 in 10, 48 hour buffers, etc. I think it would have been easy to add one other line to the TA that said, a pilot who is awarded a VTO may preference trips to the exclusion of reserve unless no more trips exist. It's not looking at the ramifications of changes or fixing loose language like this that could really hurt us over the next 6 to 10 years until we have a chance to fix loopholes like this.

busdriver12

Raptor nailed it. I did notice that they answered that question in the TA Q and A section, and said that it remains the same as now, trips until they run out of them, so respecting seniority. But I'm still suspicious, though I feel better than I did about the issue before I read their answer.

FDXLAG

Secondary lines may be constructed using trips, base simulator support events (as provided in Section 25.L.15.), reserve blocks, or combinations of the three; however:...





Elsewhere it says they will be constructed in seniority order and removes the company waffle language. I like the new VTO. Need some days off next month and don't have scheduled vacation, add some if you have hours in your bank.

The Walrus

I have not been able to find this in the TA. Do you have a reference?

FDXLAG

25.E.4.b.i.(b).

Page 360

b. Additionally, during the View/Add Window, a secondary line awardee may:

i. Submit the number of vacation days (i.e., whole 6 CH increments) he desires to apply toward his secondary line, as follows:

(b) For a pilot who has no awarded vacation period in the upcoming bid period, this number is limited only by his remaining unused vacation credit hours, in 6 CH increments;

kronan

Recent history has VTOs being mostly flying, custom R day lines only about the bottom 10-15sh percent in October.

Surprisingly different from what I experienced first 13 years here, only saw flying go that deep over Christmas in the past

busdriver12

So to answer the initial question, this is what it says on the FDX MEC TA Q and A about it:

A: A pilot may preference trips, base simulator support or R-day blocks in his Secondary line construction worksheet request. If not specifically preferenced, the pilot cannot be assigned a base simulator support event (Section 25.D.2.d.iv. on p. 355). If during the processing of the secondary lines, a pilot who has not preferenced R-day blocks, but due to his seniority there are no longer enough trips to build a line, he may be assigned R-days. This is the same as the current CBA (see current Section 25.D.2.d.) That current language also provides that if a pilot's line can be built with all trips, then that line will contain all trips. That language has been deleted to allow a pilot to preference what he actually wants and increase his chance of getting requested days off. The pilot can now preference a mixed line, all trips, or all reserve days, unlike today.

busdriver12

This is another thing I found on the Q and A section, however, I noticed it says, "when programming is implemented", so that seems to say that this doesn't happen until they have the program in place that they have agreed upon, and who knows how long that could take.

Q: If awarded a Secondary line and I have 3 weeks vacation will I still be able to take all of my awarded vacation in that period
A: You will still have the ability to take all of your vacation in the month it was bid. Also, when programming is implemented a pilot awarded a secondary line will have the option to be able to request to use more or less vacation hours and reduce or shrink their vacation footprint based on crew staffing.

Raptor

Pages 606-609 present the implementation timelines.

But, you are correct...who knows how long...TBD in the Secondary Lines Project section:

123 25 25.E.4.b.i.1-4 Sec Line Holder designate number of vac days TBD Secondary Lines