And why are we doing it? Along the lines of the "what are you guys doing thread" - What are you guys doing? - maybe we need to have a little educational discussion amongst ourselves here at Frontier. No talk of illegal work actions or anything of the sort, but just some common sense discussion as we float here in the NMB inspired doldrums.

Let's start with the fact that Frontier Airlines has a cell phone stipend or re-imbursement policy we should all be aware of. In part, it says that:

"Frontier Airlines recognizes that the performance of certain job responsibilities may be enhanced by or require the use of a cellular (cell) phone or a Smartphone. Employees who hold positions that include the need for a cell phone (see eligibility criteria below) may receive a cell phone stipend for business-related costs incurred when using their individually-owned cell phones."

and

"Frontier will provide a stipend of $55 per month for voice/data and $35 for voice only business related usage to qualified employees."

Interestingly, Frontier does not offer this stipend to Pilots, front line employees who often have a need for such devices in order to contact Dispatch, Maintenance Control, Crew Scheduling, SOC, etc.

Even if only our approximately 620 Captains were provided such a stipend, Frontier would be incurring over $400K per year in stipend costs for pilots. Instead, we (Frontier Pilots) freely use our personal cell phones to help keep the operation rolling on a daily basis.

What does our CBA say about personal cell phone use at work?

5.A.4.a says "A Pilot shall provide at least 1 but no more than 3 contact phone numbers to the Company and Crew Scheduling shall use all provided contact numbers when attempting Positive Telephone Contact for schedule changes, Voluntary Junior Assignment, Junior Assignment, etc." That's pretty much it.

I know that our FOM II specifically states that the following will occur before pushback or start:

1. Approved EFB's will be placed in "Airplane Mode"
2. Cell phones will be turned off.

Besides the (1) Company cell phone policy, (2) the CBA and (3) FOM II, there is not much more mentioned about phones.

So I recently asked myself why it is that I am personally paying for a cell phone that I use to ensure "performance of certain job responsibilities may be enhanced" while I am at work? I kind of quickly came to the conclusion that NO STIPEND = NO PERSONAL CELL PHONE USE FOR COMPANY PURPOSES.

 

FOM VOL. I, 25.10 Page 2

When available, ACARS is the preferred method for communicating routine information to station and maintenance personnel.


FOM VOL. I, 25.20 Page 3

When crews have a question regarding a discrepancy or entering a discrepancy in the logbook, flight crews must make initial contact with dispatch and notify the dispatcher of the discrepancy or question and then ask to be transferred to Maintenance Control through the responsible dispatcher. The dispatcher will then forward the call to maintenance control, and will stay on the conference call at his or her discretion based upon the discrepancy being reported. The purpose of this communications flow is to enhance flight status awareness between the PIC and dispatcher who share operational control over a flight.

FOM VOL. I, 30.10 Page 3

Whenever mechanical irregularities have been entered in the aircraft logbook, the flight crew must contact MCC through the responsible Dispatcher and report the discrepancies.

 

I've wondered about this lately, since hold times to speak with someone in maintenance control seem to routinely exceed 30 minutes. That's a LOT of minutes for guys with limited plans, especially with all the logbook issues lately.

 

I comply with the CBA by providing a Google Voice number to the Company that I check on occasion. I'll likely add 2 more numbers since the CBA states "a Pilot shall provide at least 1 but no more than 3 contact phone numbers to the Company." 3 is better than 1 right?

I am in compliance with the FOM when I use ACARS ("the preferred method for communicating routine information to station and maintenance personnel") to advise DISPATCH of a discrepancy so that they can coordinate with Maintenance Control. If requested to call via phone, I can attempt to use the gate phone. I say "attempt" because I have found that most Frontier gates do not have outside line access. Fumble around long enough and a gate agent usually hands you a cell phone which I will assume is a company paid station cell phone.

When off the gate, the Company provides access via radio/AIRINC for a patch to dispatch, mx. control, etc. No where in the FOM or CBA can I find a reference requiring me to use a personal cell phone to conduct company business.

So Frontier Pilots, why are we absorbing such a cost (~ $400K or more annually) for a Company that absorbs dollars out of our pockets every single day?

 

FOM Vol.I

There must be a battery shortage at Frontier since I rarely see lighted wands used on the ramp anymore. I see this much more frequently than a lighted wand:

https://ibb.co/mJ56pp

With the operation Frontier is currently running, it is all about personal risk and I make every effort I can to minimize them. I nearly mulched a ramper in CVG a few months ago who was apparently wing walking in the dark without any wands whatsoever.

Be careful out there brothers and sisters.

More to follow.....

 

Nice Gipple. That pic says it all.

Why anyone would do anything above what is required is beyond me. But there's always a bunch of self absorbed Faultpushers out there...so what can you do?

 

It's sickening and demoralizing to watch. I've honestly lost all hope that our pilot group can muster the energy to do anything collectively that will bring value. When they are not *****ing about how underpaid they are, how they are getting f#@k'd by management, the unions not giving them any guidance, their vacation has been cancelled, etc. etc., we can find too many of them thinking only of themselves grabbing VJA's and JA's, totally oblivious to what it is going to take to get a deal done.

$167 for life! FM

 

BTW El Gipple, I truly enjoyed your Pilidiot definition posted a number of months ago. Rings true with me every day here at Frontier. Worth a read folks.

Just dropping by to say hi

 

FYI at my regional carrier I refused to use my cell phone. If there was an mtc issue I returned to the gate. Walked inside the terminal and wrote up the plane there with the logbook. Sometimes had to find a pay phone to make that 800 call (free). I refused to subsidize a company while making such low wages.

 

I like your style!!!