Scheduling Shenanigans
05-12-2005, 02:01 PM
#1
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Posts: n/a
Scheduling Shenanigans
Does anybody know if other airlines have begun working around the Whitlow Ruling with regard to reserves?
Reserves at jetBLue are routinely called in the morning (sometimes as late as 0900) to be released (presumably to sleep) so they can be given a redeye that night.
It seems to me that the spirit (if not the letter) of the ruling was that the FAA did not want pilots to be subject to 24 hour availability. If you can call and release and call and release, you can strategically place a reserve on AM duty and if the board looks clear - release him for PM duty.
The way we're playing it now is no different than when reserves were on call 24 hours a day. The enticement of 4 hours does nothing for someone who never breaks 75 and 4 hours does not keep someone from falling asleep on a transcon redeye.
In addition, reserves are regularly flown into their days off with no assurance what-so-ever that they will actually be home when their bid says they will.
At the end of the day:
JetBlue has enough latitude to conceivably utilize a reserve 24 hours a day 365 days a year - and with permanently tight staffing levels - career reserves in LGB had better not make any plans that can't be changed.
Pay for "performance" - it's not for slackers!
Reserves at jetBLue are routinely called in the morning (sometimes as late as 0900) to be released (presumably to sleep) so they can be given a redeye that night.
It seems to me that the spirit (if not the letter) of the ruling was that the FAA did not want pilots to be subject to 24 hour availability. If you can call and release and call and release, you can strategically place a reserve on AM duty and if the board looks clear - release him for PM duty.
The way we're playing it now is no different than when reserves were on call 24 hours a day. The enticement of 4 hours does nothing for someone who never breaks 75 and 4 hours does not keep someone from falling asleep on a transcon redeye.
In addition, reserves are regularly flown into their days off with no assurance what-so-ever that they will actually be home when their bid says they will.
At the end of the day:
JetBlue has enough latitude to conceivably utilize a reserve 24 hours a day 365 days a year - and with permanently tight staffing levels - career reserves in LGB had better not make any plans that can't be changed.
Pay for "performance" - it's not for slackers!
Last edited by Realistic; 05-12-2005 at 03:14 PM.
05-12-2005, 06:09 PM
#2
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Posts: n/a
Management told us the QSO would look at this issue. There are a few more reserves out in LGB coupled with JFK crews backing up the reserve table in LGB. Hopefully, this will alleviate further creative scheduling.
You are correct the spirit of the Whitlow rule is safety related. Safety is one of our core values.
R, I agree with you 100%.
You are correct the spirit of the Whitlow rule is safety related. Safety is one of our core values.
R, I agree with you 100%.
05-13-2005, 07:48 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 157
Wasn't the rule to prevent 24hr availabity, thus the situation where you sleep, wake up at 8am then get called to fly a flight with a 12 hour duty day at 8pm the same day. Thus forcing you to do 24 hours straight without rest.
By Crew Services calling you and releasing you for rest, they then meet the intent of giving you rest for the PM trip. Problem with that, is who can sleep when they just 8/10/12 hours of sleep? If you are lucky you will be able to take a nap that afternoon, but most likely not.
So the results is you are up 24 hours and thus Crew Services has done the same thing as 24 hour call out. The net result is they have broken the intent of the new rule, but by following the letter of the law, they are legal and they get the same result. Not quite right.
Think of it as being on short call for a long callout. If you had lived close to JFK and they had told you the night before, you could have gone home and then commuted back for the trip.
I do hope the QSO looks at this. However, the only solution to most of our problems with reserves is the lack of reserves. And right now, I can't see the company spending the $$$ to get the reserve manning up to where it should be to cover PTO/UTO/IROPS/etc. They promise a lot, but I don't think anything will change. Again, has anyone seen anything from the QSO? There were so many things to fix. Fixing/writing changes to the scheduling guide shouldn't take that long to do. (I could do them in a day or two). Oh, I forgot, if any change means the crew services has to work harder, or it cost $$$ it won't happen.
Just my opinion.
FNG
By Crew Services calling you and releasing you for rest, they then meet the intent of giving you rest for the PM trip. Problem with that, is who can sleep when they just 8/10/12 hours of sleep? If you are lucky you will be able to take a nap that afternoon, but most likely not.
So the results is you are up 24 hours and thus Crew Services has done the same thing as 24 hour call out. The net result is they have broken the intent of the new rule, but by following the letter of the law, they are legal and they get the same result. Not quite right.
Think of it as being on short call for a long callout. If you had lived close to JFK and they had told you the night before, you could have gone home and then commuted back for the trip.
I do hope the QSO looks at this. However, the only solution to most of our problems with reserves is the lack of reserves. And right now, I can't see the company spending the $$$ to get the reserve manning up to where it should be to cover PTO/UTO/IROPS/etc. They promise a lot, but I don't think anything will change. Again, has anyone seen anything from the QSO? There were so many things to fix. Fixing/writing changes to the scheduling guide shouldn't take that long to do. (I could do them in a day or two). Oh, I forgot, if any change means the crew services has to work harder, or it cost $$$ it won't happen.
Just my opinion.
FNG
05-15-2005, 06:52 PM
#4
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The bottom line is that the values don't apply to Crew "Services" and they never have been since reserve really became...RESERVE.
If we are a "people friendly" company as as we claim to be...we might want to start proving it by treating our reserve folks like the valuable employees that they are.
Just my opinion.
If we are a "people friendly" company as as we claim to be...we might want to start proving it by treating our reserve folks like the valuable employees that they are.
Just my opinion.
05-16-2005, 02:31 AM
#5
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I think that everyone who's been on reserve during the past year has gone through the old am call to rest for a pm trip. Until JB hires more pilots (for reserve) it will never change. I don't think that there will be anyone on reserve this summer but if there is, god help them!!!
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