Softpayman

I don’t remember VDA being much of a thing 4-5 years ago. Not like it is now.

Climbto450

We also aren’t in a contract dispute. However lots more Captains were picking up open time then were on VDA during the last labor dispute/CBA drive. Those same Captains would turn around and ridicule Captains on VDA.

Bgood

See that sounds like a more respectful approach. Did you tell the Captains they were weakest you have ever seen? like you did yesterday on this forum

SaintNick

actually I did. I said that we have way to many people like them and made us the weakest pilot group I have ever seen. I have no problem saying things in person. If I see something that bothers me I say something. Not just a keyboard warrior.

Bgood

Next time try "you are the weakest pilot I have ever seen"
you know, make sure it's personally delivered to your Captain or FO w/o a cup of coffee.

And if you could record it somehow and play it here for us, that would be great.

SaintNick

3%- all that’s needed to be said. Weakest pilot group ever. Way too many former us airways guys who are scared to do anything and hate alpa…

usmc-sgt

Its still very fleet/seniority/seat dependent.

Look at the Boston 320 CA list any given day. 15+ folks on it and the top 10 on it are top 20% (17+ years) in the company. If you’ve been here less than 12-15 years in that position you really aren’t ever getting called. Ever. For those folks though, weekly call sometimes twice.

Right seat or 190 in a large base. Plenty of work.

Climbto450

This is why we need an overhaul of the VDA system. The same 5-10 pilots in every base/seat shouldn’t get all the VDA all the time. I haven’t confirmed it but I’ve heard some carriers do it differently and more evenly spread around. It was described to me as a bucket system once you’ve had a VDA you move to the 1 VDA for the month bucket, once a 2nd VDA call the 2 VDA bucket and do on. Hence it spreads the VDA’s across more of the seniority. Correct me if I’m wrong but it’s kind of BS that 5 pilots in every base/seat credit 150hrs plus per month, while the rest of us get a call every 3 months or so.

Bluedriver

Agree, I'd like to see something like that where it's more evenly distributed.

usmc-sgt

JetBlue is an odd creature (but you knew that.) The top X percent have been there essentially since new hires. They are fiercely protective over what’s theirs (two sandwich club) and are reluctant to give it up. As you’ve said, it’s the same folks who bid what they want and get it. They they drop it all as desired via trade board, followed by VDA. Or VDA over a trip and then double dip. Every month, every year. With exception of the outliers (FO and recently the 190 fleet) it doesn’t change. I’d imagine If you could look up who credits 150+ a month, you’d see 75% of them are the same
month over month. Look deeper and it’s the same for years.

At present, I don’t fault them. It’s seniority which isn’t a new concept. It’s also a union who negotiated for it and the pilot group who ratified it. Doesn’t mean it can’t be a survey item which becomes a contract ask in the future. Right off the bat though, you’ve got 1000 pilots who will vote no on it.