RI830

There are many holes in your argument here. Your husband is busy, no lie about that!
-1-2 Nights a month home? He is guaranteed 6 hard days that are his to do with as he pleases and are not going to moved without his permission except for training events. So if he is only home 1-2 nights a month, he is choosing to be gone on his hard days for the bonus.
-EAS pilots do drive between bases where airline service is unavailable and/or less reliable than driving.
-When is your man requesting VAC? If he requests last minute, then most likely it can't be accommodated. He knows that he can request it 6 months in advance.
-As for the union, there will never be a union at EAS to "protect" the pilots. Ask FLOPS pilots how they like their union. They aren't all they're cracked up to be.

EAS pilots are the busiest in the business. I can't deny that. But when people post here with blatant lies and mis-infomation, it really annoys me.
If people are unhappy, they have the right to leave. When you just stay and whine then what productive purpose are you serving?

RI830

Can't blame it on something that didn't cause it!

Kritchlow

Fair enough.. That certainly answers that question!

EASPilot

Not at all over stated. Ask the CP. He's the one that published the 70 number for fractional pilots.

Pilots that are leaving are making educated decisions. And those decisions are unanimously not in favor of remaining at EAS. You always try to paint such a rosey picture, but the reality is that EAS pilots are not happy and you won't find a captain that isn't applying for a job. There's no shame in being a "pit stop" for careers, just don't pretend EAS is a career place.

EASPilot

I'm going to bet she meant he's home 1 or 2 nights on top of his scheduled days off. Maybe if you guys wouldn't keep promising we will be home at some point during our rotation, pilots and their families wouldn't be disappointed when they aren't home. And we drive even when there is reliable airline service. It is all about cost cost cost.

Gjn290

It is a 12 on 3 off schedule. For those 12 days you shouldn't be making plans. Seems like everyone knows how the schedule works before they take a job. Don't see what the big deal is. Maybe that's just my backwards way of thinking.

dirtybird

I don't know if I agree with the unbiased part.

I've been at EAS for a little under a year. I can't speak about anyone's schedule but my own. I worked 18 days in October. I'm on pace for about the same this month. I've never had a hard day moved. I have been asked to work 3 times on hard days. I accepted once and was paid the bonus. Twice, I declined and that was that. Over the past couple of months I've averaged 3-4 nights away from home over the 12 day rotation. I've also worked plenty of day trips. I actually think its a good mix. I'm married with kids and have found the time to be there for most of my kids events. If it's so bad here, leave. I think you'll find the grass isn't always greener.

runsky42

I have been with EAS since May and I went into it knowing the schedule. In Sept I worked 22 days Oct 23 days and this month right at 20. I have been asked to work on hard days and have, I also turned it down cause I had plans. In Spet and Oct I think I was home in my bed only on my hard days off, in Nov I have been mostly on day trips. I put in for a couple days off in May of 2014 and was granted the time off even though I was scheduled to be in recurrent indoc. Please understand if you come to work here you will work your ass off! There are a lot of upsides to this job as well. Please do your research before you apply. If it's for you then go for it if not don't waste your time. I enjoy the job 90% of the time and always seem to fly with great people. Also understand that you will be seat locked for a year, I don't agree with this but I don't make policy either.

Kritchlow

First, you use the words "you", and "you'll". I will assume you are using those words in a generic reference to the folks reading your post, and not me specifically. For the record, I do not work for EAS, never applied to EAS, not planning to apply at EAS, and have never met anyone who works at EAS. -- I truly have no axe to grind.

When I said "unbiased", I mean she has no reason to make anything up, good or bad. She is just relaying her experiences (which may differ from yours).

On a side note, when working without enforceable work rules, I would be very careful about saying no to management too many times. Extra days worked (among other things) are looked upon very favorably when management is deciding on upgrades or who flies the better equipment.

dirtybird

I appreciate your concern about my relationship with management, but your advice was not asked for. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including you, but since you admittedly don't work at EAS, and have never met anyone, management or not, that do work at EAS, maybe your advice might not be worth a whole lot and might not be very welcome. After reading some of your posts in other threads, I'm pretty clear of your motivation and your views on unions.

Have a great day and good luck to you.