Albief15

One quick point...and I've had a conversation with a Southwest ACP on this very issue...

When a guy appears to "massage" his schedule by dropping trips, you may miss a few points in what is going on behind the scenes...like:

1. Night flying. You have to get certain squares. Often this is dictated by range times and happens every 4-8 weeks. If you are short on night squares--you might need off during a particular day or week.

2. Special currencies....LASDT, DACT, etc. If you only get to the TDY location a few times a year for your particular training, you'll need those days off. If its summer....or a Christmas/Thanksgiving month...sometimes it happens. Alaska was notorious for sending us TDY Nov-Feb to avoid the weather, and popping back in a week here or there to see family. When Alaska gets its reserve associate units they'll be doing the same thing. So--those AK reservists based out of ANC who aren't flying peak will take some grief...but it will be legit.

3. Fighter currency. BFM and other skills are very perishable. Without getting into a "who's wanker in bigger..." BS, the fact is some skills transfer between airline flying and ANG flying, and some don't. Guys who fly fighters NEED to fly 6-10 times a month, and are generally best served flying those sorties over SEVERAL weeks. Could I JAM 8 sorties into a 4-5 day period and be "legal"? Maybe. Am I as solid if I do that as if I fly 1-2 each week? Not even close... We had 2 Fedex pilots killed last year in fighters. It is OUR individual responsibility to make sure we are flying enough to stay as sharp and current as we can. For me--that means week on/week off flying is the exception for me at my airline. It means I commute more, but if I am going to fly fighters I generally try to fly at least once a week. It doesn't always work out, but it is a reasonable goal. So--that is why even though I may have had ALL of last week available, I still wanted a day off this week. Its a hard sell to someone who hasn't had been there/done that, but again--you roll with the punches. As Tony alluded to....I find it easier just to flat out drop a trip and then not have to "explain" it to anyone. It also allows me to get back on the airline schedule should the squadron change its plans...a rare event but not without precedent.

av8r4aa

I thought this thread was over with?

Albief15

AA--years from now some guy will do a thread search, read this thing, and add a new post. Its here forever....or until you delete it.

av8r4aa

I can't delete this thread.
I deleted what I wrote but the overall
contents isn't mine to delete.

TonyC

Albie,

Your post got me to thinkin' about this thing. You know, unless he tells someone else, there's only one person who really knows if the military member is abusing the system: him. Nobody else has the big picture to which you refer. The airline only sees one side, and the military unit sees the other side, but only the military member sees both sides. Only he knows if he's playing one against the other to gain unfair advantage.

So where do these stories come from? I can only think of one source -- the military member himself. A betcha a dollar to a donut that 99% of the problems start when one part-timer brags to another about the great deal he was able to work, and a non-military guy who overhears the conversation and doesn't understand all the facts gets the wrong idea and starts spreading the word.

Perhaps that's something that could be addressed in the interest of harmony. Loose lips sink... no, wait, that's something different...


Anyway... just some thoughts...





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hoya saxa

Tony,
You had me at "hello." Victory through volume.

Uncle.