Pinnacle reserve callout question
 

I thought there was a thread here that somebody posted that says when you're on reserve, and you get a call, then you get 15 minutes to return that call. Once you return that call, then from *that point onwards* you have 90 minutes to check in.

But checking the Pinnacle pilot CBA, it says:

[Reserves]

10. A pilot on reserve may use a "pager" system or answering machine at his
expense. The pilot is responsible to ensure that the pager or answering
machine is maintained and operating properly and that he remains within
the pager's calling area. A pilot is expected to reply to a telephone
message/page from Crew Scheduling within fifteen (15) minutes, and such
time will be included in the call-out time. A pilot who does not call Crew
Scheduling within the fifteen (15) minutes will be considered unavailable.



That makes it sound like the 15 minutes of you calling crew sked back is already included in the 90 minute callout.

For example.


Crew sked calls you at 9 am. You are busy showering at the time.


9:15am you return the call to crew sked, they give you a flight assignment and tell you to head to the airport.

Now according to that contract statement above, the 15 minute callout is included in the 90 minute report time window.

So does this mean you only have 75 more minutes to check in?

As in, check in latest by 10:30am ?


OR

do you get 90 minutes from the time you return the call? So if you call back crew sked at 915 am, then you have until 10:45am to check in (full 90 minutes).


Just looking for clarification from Pinnacle folks!


Thanks guys!

Whatever the contract says is what is correct. Don't go by what someone else told you. If you show up late and tell your base manager that Bob told you that you had 90 minutes from the time you called scheduling but the contract says 90 minutes from the time scheduling called you, than that would not be a valid excuse. If you go by the contract, you cannot get in trouble. My personal advice, if and when you get called, just be at the airport as soon as you can. I personally know some pilots who will take every bit of 90 minutes to get to the airport because they hold some grudge against the company. My opinion, if you are that junior and already hold a grudge against PNCL, leave the company. I actually enjoy my job, and love flying. It is what they are paying you to do(but not much). Chances are that if they are calling you with only 90 minutes of notice, the flight has been delayed until you get there. Being delayed sucks as a passenger, so I don't want them to be delayed anymore than the already are. Reserve sucked, so just put up with it for a little bit more and life will be better once you get a line.

Hi,

Not a Pinnacle guy but Ex mesa so I think that qualifies me for recognizing a screw job.

It looks to me that the 15 minutes reduces your call out time to 75. Another words to pressure you to answer it when it rings they are taking the 15minutes. From a scheduling stand point I see why they want this but I think its a play for the JO handbook.

I'd tell crew stalking when you talk to them that you'll hustle but it will be about 90 minutes. Be nice about it and when they say "Ok, thanks" its on the tape.

Of course you know the rule, you could be standing at the departure gate and its "90 minutes" :D

Better to have a Pinnacle pilot chime in though.

Edit: Go with CDT on this. Its not a grudge, point is that if you can make it consitantly in 60 minutes guess what happens next time Section 6 negotiations come around. You bet, 60 minute call outs. I am not saying don't hustle just don't give them the impression that 60 minutes is good enough.

in answer to your question- at PNCL the clock starts when you either answer the phone OR they leave a voicemail. So if you are in the shower- and they call as soon as you get in, call them back 15 min later when you get out- you now have 75 min left. But watch how you work it, I had a couple instances where scheduling would call before my rsv period started and try and give me a flight that was not for my rsv time. If you are not on rsv or on duty DO NOT answer the phone- listen to the voicemail, but only call back if it benefits you. Your earliest show time for example of a 8-8rsv period is 9:30. Example of what they will try... There is a rsv period of 5am-5pm and 8am-8pm. They may have run out of the 5-5 guys and its 6:30am at the moment, so they will call the first guy on the 8am time. If you answer they will try and tell you to be there in 90min (8am). You will have a long argument to get them to not assign it once you have answered because technically you are notified. DO NOT call them back til 8am! From 8am-8pm you are their "puppet" 6:30am is still YOUR time. You can go online and see what they put on there, sometimes you see an 815 show and you will be done and released by 1pm if you take it- then it may benefit you to call and check in to take it caus e you can get released to go home on the 2:30 flight instead of waiting till 9:30 at night. The system can be worked IF you know the contract. NEVER answer though unless you know you must- your rsv time or on duty. Otherwise see what they are trying to do. Remember, they are just trying to do their job covering trips- sometimes "bending" the rules hoping you will go with it. Sometimes "going for it" can help you out. WHATEVER YOU DO do not answer your phone on your day off- 98% chance its a junior man assignment. I was on rsv for 4 months so I learned how to make it work, chances are you will still be on probation so you don't want to end up in shouting matches with schedulers, but if you don't answer the phone when you don't have to there will be no arguments to be had.

higney, thanks for that post, very informative and very true. I haven't been hired at Pinnacle yet, but hope to be soon.

You're right though, when the time comes, my cellphone will be kept off until 5am or 8am, whichever reserve window I have.

Another question for you: When crew sked calls, is it obvious that it is crew sked from Memphis?

As in, does it list their phone number (with a Memphis area code)? Or, is crew sked smart, and block their ID/number from being displayed?


ctd, it's not that I would delay passengers on purpose.

I'm an Ann Arbor guy, and if I get hired at Pinnacle, I'm staying in Ann Arbor and just drive over to DTW airport.

If crew sked calls, it will take me 20 mints to dress up, do the whole shave,brush teeth, hair routine, then another 45 mints to drive to Metro airport, then 5-10 mints for parking, up to another 15 mints waiting for the employee shuttle, and then another 5 mints from being able to check in at the ops computers in Concourse C.

Doing the math, that will take up almost all 90 minutes. Not like I'm at fault, that's just the realistic time it will take coming from home.

Wait a minute, there's some confusion here:

H. RESERVES

1. A reserve pilot will be on-call for a period beginning one (1) hour prior to
the first scheduled departure from his domicile, and ending upon the last
scheduled departure from his domicile. Notwithstanding the above, a
reserve pilot may be contacted by the Company no later than 2300 local
time on the day prior to reserve duty, and assigned to begin flight duty
prior to the beginning of the on-call period. A reserve pilot will not be oncall
in excess of seventeen (17) hours per day.



Assume the DTW base, and assume the earliest flight leaves at 5am and the last flight leaves at 11:00pm.

It says a reserve pilot will be on call for one hour prior to the first scheduled departure and ending upon scheduled departure of the last flight from the domicile.

As the example above, assume the first flight leaves at 5am, so one hour before means start reserve at 4 am, and goes alllll the way until 11:00pm (last scheduled departure out of DTW)?!?

Have I interpreted the contract correctly?

That is why you would be on call starting at 5am. If I am not mistaken, the first flight leaves around 0630 and the last flight around 2230. You would never be on reserve for 17 hours. It is either 5-17 or 10-22, and you might have to do ready reserve at the airport. It all depends on what reserve line you get. Scheduling was always good with me when I was on reserve. If I can remember right, the shortest call out they gave me was 2 hours. You also have to remember, you have to take scheduling with a grain of salt. I was always professional with them and curtious. Some people give them a real bad attitude, and in return, scheduling doesn't respect them. I have never been called for a junior man on a day off, and they have always hooked me up with good flying when I was on reserve. And to answer your question about there phone number, yes it does come up on caller id. I have it saved in my phone so I know it is them when they call.