This is true. Anything but reserve is better than reserve.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Heck yeah it does! My entire time at XJT was on reserve. It's one of the reasons I choose this place over Envoy.

Looking forward to 6 months or less on reserve!!!! Barring something from left field happening.

 

Keep in mind too that training takes 3 months so really youre only sitting 3-4 months until round 1. Of that maybe 1 or 2 months of short call. Probably less. Things looking good for now :-)

 

Can someone explain what a build-up line is? Sounds like you have a schedule, but you're getting the leftovers, so it's a pretty inefficient schedule. Is it similar to a typical schedule you might get at any other regional where you don't have choice to swap/drop (maybe like Envoy with their famously inefficient lines)?

 

How it was explained to me at interview was it's a quasi line of open time left overs, reserve days, and other flying all depending on coverage. A friend told me there similar to super junior lines at traditional airlines.

Myself, I'd take that over reserve. At least you know what your doing for the next month. Unless your at CLT or TYS, it's only a month or two on built ups.

Someone who's flow the line should be around to give you more info.

 

After the SAP Schedules takes the remains and constructs what they can into a flying line or combo flying/reserve line commonly referred to as a build-up or round 2 line. Because these lines are built out of the SAP "scraps" they generally aren't the most productive or the most desirable for whatever reason. They typically go senior in round 2 unless someone senior in round 2 is looking for specific days off (like a weekend) or they want to sit at home on reserve. In the past, because the reserve grid hasn't afforded much trade flexibility (which is why SAP is so important), there isn't much flexibility with moving days around with a round two line... but it is scheduled and you aren't on reserve.

Hope that helps.

 

What does a typical reserve schedule look like? How many days on/off? How long is a typical reserve availability period? And for commuters-how many nights per month in domicile on your own nickel?

 

How lines are built and awarded:

Step 1: AAG gives PSA a large pile of flying that we need to cover. Our scheduling department takes the flying and creates as many lines of flying that they can, meeting contractural obligations (min/max credit, min days off). Union reviews it before it is sent out to bid. Any leftover trips are put in a pool.

Step 2: Pilots bid on the lines that are built. You pick what you want, starting at your #1 choice going to however high you want to go. There are sort features so you can find what you are looking for. If you have the seniority to hold one of these "round 1" lines, then you get one.

Step 3: The company goes through the lines and removes flying from your schedule for any vacation, training, leave time (FMLA, Military), and from those that are scheduled to upgrade/flow/resign in the upcoming month. All of these trips get added to the leftover "pool" of flying.

Step 4: SAP. Schedule Adjustment Period. Anyone that has a R1 line can go in and swap with anything that is in the pool. You can trade 2 of your trips for 1 of the pool trips. You can swap a 4 day trip for a 1 day. Or, you can fly as much as you want, adding trips. The only rules are that you can't violate part 117 duty, and you can't drop below 65 hours. (There are a few rules around medicals due, or training due, but there are ways around all of these). There are absolutely no reserve buffers. ie. Every line holder can drop Christmas if they want to.

Step 5: All of the flying that is in this pool after the SAP closes are used to build as many Round 2 trips as are available. These R2 lines can be strictly flying, or flying with a few reserve days mixed in. These are published for bid.

Step 6: Everyone that does not have a R1 line is able to bid on their schedule. This will contain R2 lines, long call reserve, and short call reserve. You are able to get whatever your seniority holds.

Step 7: After everyone has a schedule, then "Seniority based" trading opens. Everyone can choose to try to swap trips with anything left in the pool, but unlike during the SAP, minimum reserve numbers are now a buffer.

Step 8: Pilot "first come, first served" opens. You can swap for whatever is in open time pool, but again it is subject to reserve grid minimums.

Step 9: Trades between pilots. You and another pilot can mutually agree to a swap of a trip between your schedules.

 

Great info! Thanks for the post!!!