AA Pilot Reserve Scheduling
 

Wondering of there are any American Airlines pilots out there that can describe how your reserve system works under your green book? Is there a long call and short call system? Can you bid long or short? How about under future PBS? When/what time does scheduling assign trips to reserves from open time? Can you pass? Thanks!

Short call and long call. Entirely up to crew schedule on who gets what. Short call = reasonably available by ground transport.
Long call = 12hr callout.
Open time gets proffered the day before starting at 12CST but no later than 5pm CST.
Yes you can pass if you are not the junior pilot in your variance group.
Groups are assigned by time variance: lowest time pilot is on the lowest group, and would get called first.
For short calls, variance is 3hr difference. So pilots with 0-3hrs for the month are in Group 1, 3-6 are in Group 2, etc.
Long call is by 10hr variance. So pilots with 0-10hrs are in Group 1 for long call, 10-20 in Group 2, etc.
No clue as to how PBS will change all this. We are supposed to get an entirely new reserve system. I don't know in what year.
Clear as mud? ;)

Currently we work 18 days a month. Long call exists but it is assigned and rare. You can proffer for open trips. They are generally assigned based on seniority and number of days available. I.e. 3 days available get the 3 day trips. If there are more reserves than trips senior can pass but very rare these days for fo's. Often trips are transferred to other bases with available reserves. Proffer closes at noon for the following day. Scheds usually calls about 2 pm to give you your assignment. They will often fly you into your day off when they run out of pilots with sufficient days available. Short version: fo reserve sucks! Only saving grace is we still have an 85 hour monthly max which I typically hit before the end of the month allowing for an extra day or two off.

How many hours are AA reserves typically flying each month?

It depends. Whole year was 50 per month last year. Some months or bid statuses will be less, some will be more. Any given month could be 20-30 hrs or 80+.

Thanks for your reply! Is the system you are describing the new Green Book system or from another agreement? Any changes expected in the future?