flapshalfspeed

Yeah--for example, they could set buffers algorithmically--i.e., based on historical absences & reserve utilization for specific days/weeks/months--rather than arbitrarily raising them to "slightly above whatever we think we'll have available."

In this day and age of open-source/free/easy-to-use predictive modelling software/APIs (Google Predict comes to mind), I find it absolutely insane (from both a company and pilot QOL perspective) that Crew Line is still arbitrarily picking ONE buffer number for every day of the entire month. We all know that holidays, weekends, Super Bowl Sunday, etc. etc. generate more sick calls & absences. We all know that certain months will generate more hub IROPs than others--these are historical facts that an algorithm can account for much more accurately and quickly than a human--and FOR FREE given the current ecosystem of free APIs/software packages.

Also, as an example of how insane our arbitrary buffers are--if an IROP does hit your base, commuters are going to miss segments of their 3/4-day trips. Those segments are going to drop into open time and reduce net reserves, and some reserves are going to miss their reserve periods. An automated reserve-buffer setting system would automatically account for the IROP, sync with Flica, and raise reserve buffers for the next 3-4 days in realtime. THAT would make infinite sense. The way we do it now is a lazy, barbaric "welp looks like we got 14 people on average on reserve next month--set the buffer to 17 for every single day all month long and we'll hope it works out."

Lastly (re: work rules/Crew Line & Tracking practices) I'm just a line pilot, but based on some previous experience in tech/Computer Science in the past few years, I find it absolutely insane that human beings are still manually processing trip trade/drop requests based on easily-programmable 117 paramaters and what (should) be an easily-programmable buffer-setting function. It literally makes me laugh out loud...it's like if a company started a call-center where employees had to call in/submit a request to a human being to calculate things like 2+4 or 5+7. It is literally that absurd.

buddies8

Welcome to we want to control your qol.

alphasierra01

Indeed, it does appear 'the shortage' has caught up to them. Also looks like the upgrade gravy train has come to a screeching halt. Haven't seen a standing bid for upgrades in a couple of months. No upgrades. Bottom of the industry pay. Now whats the selling point again? JO and company are gonna have to pi$$ or get of the pot and do something to recruit/retain or all those pretty new Ejets will be sitting idle…But I will agree the pilot group is pretty cool.

USMCmech

The info that came out of the DFW LEC meeting is that the company wants a contract ASAP, but it's our guys who are taking their time.

The MEC only has the negotiating committee meeting 3 days per month.

Navmode

Except what they won't do is come up with a realistic proposal to drop in the lap of the MEC. They want to nickel and dime us on Mickey Mouse garbage like paying for KCM. Not even to mention the $10,000+/year pay disparity between us and what our competitors offer, often for flying smaller airplanes. The only thing JO offers is deflection and fantasy.

USMCmech

Take the last TA, drop in Skywest's pay scale. Done.

I know, I know, there's no money, that pay scale will bankrupt the company, etc. I don't care.


Seriously, when I started here, about 2 years ago, Mesa's FO payscale was only 2/hr less than the industry standard. This was more than compensated by the opportunity to be based where I was already living. Now, there is a 15,000 difference from Mesa to other regionals serving the same hubs.

Today, 35-40K/yr is the market rate for new FOs, Mesa either must meet that or shrink as attrition kicks into high gear. I know plenty of guys who would love to come here, but they can't take a 50% paycut from flying a Kingair and still feed their families.

deltajuliet

While eliminating the 50-seat pay, of course. Elimination of CMF/CML alone made the new TA worse.

Then again, hotel language would be nice...

JohnDoe

Compass has several 16-21hr 3 days, 24-28hr 4 days, and 25-36hr 5 days. Oh and there's a large number of those that are commutable on both ends, the rest are on one end. It's very possible to build quality pairings. There were junior captains that had 75-80hrs with 16-18 days off.

Sennant

Different bases. Different flying. Different credit rules.

flapshalfspeed

What Sennant meant to say (but is unable to, because he is an ALPA = management lurker) is: "better bases, better flying, better credit rules."

Oh, and he forgot to say: insanely better pay, hotels, and comparable upgrade times to our EJet fleet going forward.