PBS
 

Did PBS start at PSA? If so, does the SAP still happen? If no, what’s going on with it?

This is the latest PSA has heard about PBS -

Pilots,
We would like to provide you with an update on the status of PBS. The PBS Working Group (PWG) consists of three representatives from PSA management and three representatives from ALPA. Together, the PWG’s role is to work together to implement the PBS system, make decisions jointly regarding PBS, and create solutions when problems arise. Furthermore, the PWG is responsible for communicating, testing, and training the crew members on this new system. The PWG convened with our PBS Vendor “IBS” (formerly AdOpt) in Dayton from May 15th until May 18th. We took delivery of the first revision of the software during that meeting, and we got the first round of training completed on it.
Preferential Bidding System (PBS) is the software that builds your line based upon selected parameters set in by the user while honoring seniority, considering contractual language, and operational coverage requirements. PBS does NOT build trips. There is a common misunderstanding that PBS would build your trips based on your preferences. For example, recently a pilot reached out to us and asked if PBS would be able to build him Triple TYS overnights. PBS will NOT build the pairings. PBS can look for pairings that match your preference, but if there are no pairings with triple TYS overnights, you won’t get one. PBS cannot modify those trips that have been created for the bid period.
Once pilots put their bid options into the PBS Crew Interface, several line builders from the company and the union will run their bids in the PBS software. The results will not be the same. There will be a difference in the line the pilot receives based on the parameters that are input by the line builders. We will create the criteria that help us determine which line builder’s solution is chosen. The completed lines will then be published to the pilot group. Once your line is provided, there will be a period in which you can call and ask questions regarding the awarded line and the reason it was received. Additional information will be provided soon. The pilot will have a seniority-based trading window, followed by a “First Come First Serve” window. Both trading windows will be tied to a reserve grid, and both trading windows will feature a drop button. You will be allowed to drop a trip using the drop button assuming the reserve grid allows for it.
The ALPA side of the PWG has been flying the line and asking many of you what questions pilots may have regarding PBS. Here are some of your questions:
Q: When is PBS Coming?
A: We expect to begin training the pilots in September 2023, with parallel bidding beginning in October 2023. PBS should be completed in Q1 2024. During the parallel bidding period, pilots will be allowed to bid through PBS and FLICA, but pilots FLICA schedule will be their official schedule.
Q: How is PBS different from our current Line bidding?
A: Our current system, line bidding, has monthly schedules that are already filled with a set of pairings. Pilots then select from those lines which are awarded in seniority order. With PBS, pilots don’t bid for lines, they bid for trips which are then placed on their line.
Q: Will line holders and reservists bid at different times like they do in rounds 1 and2?
A: No. With PBS, it is a single bid window. This will allow pilots to know their schedule earlier in the month.

Q: Will there be any training on the system?
A: Yes, pilots will receive training. Part of the testing process will be doing parallel bidding from the November through January bid periods. This is to help pilots get a good grasp of PBS prior to the full transition. The PWG will be hosting a “Train the Trainer” soon, which will in turn train pilots on how to utilize the software. Expect videos to come out, which will also help.
Q: What are some of the selections that we will see when bidding on PBS?
A: There are a plethora of choices when it comes to selections in PBS. Here are a few examples: ● Specific Day Off
● Legs Per Duty Period
● Pairing Length in Days
● Line Credit Value ● Reserve Line Type
Q: As a result of this transition to PBS, what will pilots be using in place of FLICA?
A: For PBS purposes, pilots will utilize a new website for setting your parameters. However, any subsequent pilot trades, trading windows and schedule lookups will still be done on FLICA.
Q: Will there be an Aggressive Pick-Up system? Will it be like our current system of seniority based/” first come- first serve”?
A: There will be an aggressive pick-up system which will be effective upon implementation of PBS as outlined in the Quality-of-Life Improvements LOA (§25.E.6.a). We encourage everyone to read through the LOA’s to obtain a better understanding of what is upcoming.
Q: Is there going to be a decent mix of trips besides a majority 4-day trips with PBS?
A: ALPA recently put out a poll to get a general feel for the pilot group and their desires for various trip lengths. The majority have said 3-day trips would be the most ideal. This was followed by 1-, 4- and 2-days trips. The PWG has been experimenting with the pairing build software to build previous months schedules in a healthy variation of trip lengths. The research and testing of these set parameters is still ongoing, but we are working hard to make the variety a reality for the pilots.
Q: When it comes to vacations and training, will PBS try to build around your vacation and/or training unlike the current system?
A: During the process of building pilot schedules in PBS, vacations, training, and other items are imported into the software. The software will then work with a pilot’s parameters and around those items that are already on a pilot’s schedule.
Q: Will PBS help in bringing down the required number of reserves in the reserve grid?
A: There are two portions that we are working on to reduce the number of reserves required for each day. One is the reserve grid itself. The second involves how PBS operates in eliminating open time. The splitting of trips from preassigned activities, such as vacation and training, will be eliminated with how the PBS software works around those during the building of lines process. Which will in turn help get those trips assigned to potential lienholders.
Q: If we have any Issues regarding PBS during the bid parallel and beyond, who do we contact?
A: We will have a dedicated group that will be responsible for answering questions and training pilots on how to do the bidding. Those dedicated individuals are called “Super Helpers” which will include Base Managers, Members of the PWG, and a select few volunteers. They will be receiving formal training from IBS Software on the intricacies of the Crewmember Interface and how the PBS software ties to the interface soon.
Q: What is in the works regarding SAP? Would it still be a PBS/SAP hybrid or pure PBS system?
A: The Quality-of-Life Improvements LOA dictates that trades must be tied to the reserve grid. SAP is not tied to any grid, so this will be the biggest change for pilots.

Q: If I would like the maximum amount of days off, can I get a 65-hour credit line and am I likely to be at the minimum amount of days off and whatever credit it populates for me?
A: Here is a list that shows the minimum amount of days off required for credit hour categories
● 65:00 - 68:59 Credit Hours = Minimum 15 Days Off
● 69:00 - 74:59 Credit Hours = Minimum 13 Days Off
● ≥ 75:00 Credit Hours = Minimum 12 Days Off
Please note that this is the minimum required days off. You can absolutely try to bid for more days off. However, without knowing what everyone’s bids senior to you are, it is hard to speculate. Historically, the most junior line- holders get whatever is left over. As always, bid for what you want.
Q: What happens if every pilot bids for 65 hours of credit and there are a bunch of trips left over?
A: Normally, PBS won’t let there be open time left over. At some point it will start assigning more than 65 hours and start assigning trips to ensure it does not leave any open time left over. Where this threshold sits for left over open time is currently being negotiated for the purposes of pilot trading.
We want to thank everyone for their patience, understanding, and curiosity over the whole PBS process. We look forward to giving you more updates soon about important next steps that need to be taken by the pilot group.
Sincerely,
The PBS Working Group (PWG)

The practical answer to your question is no. The really unique aspects of SAP (eg every lineholder can trade off Christmas) is going away. The real details of how the new system affects mid-seniority pilots is TBD. Senior guys will come off fine … probably better. Junior guys always get screwed regardless.

SAP as the system described in all the LOAs that came with the pay raises during 2022, is just simply FCFS. Seniority won't matter much outside of PBS awards.