It sounds like perhaps you weren’t selected to interview at this time, but they are keeping your resume on file.

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

Hello everybody. I’m an ATCer thinking about switching sides of the frequency and I have a couple questions. I tried to start a new thread but I don't have high enough permission.

First off, I am originally from Ohio but currently working in DC. We have young kids and, if possible, would like to make it back home to be close to family. I’ve been working six-day work weeks and even though the overtime pay is nice, working that much gets old quick. I’m very interested in quality of life for my family. Therefore, we’d love to go to DAY (if it remains a domicile) but will live in base wherever I’m assigned.

With that being said, I’m wondering about how schedules work if based in DAY. I’ve seen discussion with Republic outstations that the work schedules start early morning on the first day of the trip and end with the last flight on the final day of the trip. I prefer working evening shifts when possible. Are the PSA schedules similar to Republic outstations or are they better? I’m referring to junior schedules before SAP becomes a benefit.

Second, as controllers, our schedules are set for a year at a time. Those of us who work weekends, work EVERY weekend. The only guaranteed leave is what we pick in the fall during the previous year. At low staffed facilities, it can be very difficult to get random days off after that. So, do junior pilots get assigned to fly every weekend or do they normally get one or two weekends off a month (both while on reserve and when bidding a line)?

Thank you in advance for your time and answers!

 

DAY’s life is uncertain. Strongly suggest CLT if you’re going to move. You can put your or your spouses parents on your benefits

schedules are set month by month and have nothing to do with each other. Reserve and SAP are really alternative universes, but nobody works every weekend all year unless you’re aiming for that

 

I will do my best to answer some of your questions.

Schedules are based on what your seniority will hold and varies based on what you bid and guys senior to you bid month to month. You will bid for a line of flying or reserve, sometimes lines will have all weekends or multiple weekends off, you just have to have seniority to hold them. You have Long Call Reserve lines which isn’t shift base but will always be first to be assigned trips then you will have 12 hours to get to base for your report time. Short Call Reserve have shifts and report time for the first day of that trip will fall within that shift start time, doesn’t mean you won’t have early morning show times during that trip. Short Call Reserve are usually next to be assigned trips after Long Call Reserve and gives you 2 hours to get to base for your report time.

The beautiful thing about PSA is that they currently have SAP still. Lol, how long will it last I can’t answer that. But if you have seniority to hold a Round 1 line, then a Schedule Adjustment Period window opens up where you can go in and trade and drop trips for other trips to get days off that you desire.

Typically outstation base schedules will always start with a early start and late finish. That is because on Day 1 you are taking a clean plane out of maintenance 9 times out of 10 and flying it in revenue service to a hub where it will enter into the system and the last day you are bring a airplane that is going to enter into maintenance for the night.

You can’t hold DAY due to tour seniority, then you will have to commute to one of the hub based which then you bid commutable schedules with late show times and early finish times. You typically will not see that type of schedule in in a outstation base.

 

Thank you for your answers. It helps a lot!

 

Is PSA scheduling software windows or ios based. If it is windows based, can you access it with your apple product? Thanks!!!

 

lol more like DOS

any web browser is fine

 

Hey what’s reserve time now in PHL and DCA?

 

idk but whatever it is really has no bearing on what it will be three months from now. The situation is far from steady state.

plan for a year, you are likely to be pleased with the actual outcome