PM was sent

 

first of all you accumulate sick hours at a rate of something like 2.5 hours per month. when you call in sick you use those accumulated hours. These are toward you getting paid the trip garuntee for that trip. If you call sick on a trip and use it all up and call sick on another trip.....you arent getting paid jack for that next trip. It comes right out of your garuntee for the month. And we cant just call in sick anytime for just any reason and i say that loosely. If you call sick the morning before a trip especially after st. pattys day or something they are going to want you to answer a few questions. Also they can request a report from a doctor on you condition from you calling in sick i do believe the contract states. However if you are in the middle of a trip and call sick to stop the trip...hey people get sick. Just read the part of the contract a few times thoroughly. It really is very literal.

 

If you call in sick you are not required to tell them why, just say you are sick and that should be it. If they want a doctors note, per contract they are required to pay for it up to 150 dollars which should cover any expenses incurred for the visit. I have never been questioned for a sick call, and they shouldnt question you unless you have an attendence issue. As per the FOM you are forbidden from showing up for a trip in a degraded state, just say you are sick and hang up, and if they want to make a deal out of it, still hang up. Calling in sick is not a big deal, just do it and forget about it. And if they want you to answer any questions, you are not required to, so dont do it. If it is an issue, the chief pilot will contact you, and the only answer to any questions will be that you were sick. Clear enough?

 

When I call in sick I call crew scheduling and say employee number #### calling in sick. Nothing else, that way I don't say anything that could be used against me later. If you have a string of highspeeds make sure you tell them how long you will be sick for. You can always pick the trips back up later, if you feel better.

 

This thread has gotten weak!

 

I's say "things are running smoooooth." No controversy, no "big" problems, no trauma.

 

The FOM and almost all of the other flight ops manuals are available on MyMesaba as well in searchable .pdf formats.

 

Things are running...sure, but for some of us new guys, things aren't peachy. Since the beginning of APR, there have only been 6 new hires in training, and those were 200 guys. All the new 900 folks came from the SAAB, thus displacing (keeping junior) those in the Apr class. Even some if not all the FTI guys (900) hired in Late 07 are being placed back on FO status.

Its not that I am trying to moan and cry about the crappy life of a regional pilot, I still have no regrets of being here, but the lack of new hires in the past 3 months, with no indication of it starting back up, means I and the other new guys will be sitting reserve a bit longer than expected. No new hires for AUG as well, which means we WILL be sitting reserve until NOV-DEC time frame at the soonest (could go way later), and thats just going to be painful, not to mention more costly (crash padding).

Also, I can only imagine the Saab guys are going thru the same thing, no movement=crappy life for the bottom.

Anyway, the original point of this post was responding to the "running smooth" comment. I would have choosen the word STAGNANT, but thats just me.

 

Feel fortunate you have a job, there are many guys out on the streets who I'm sure would trade places with you in a heartbeat..........

 

This is MUCH more normal for this company than the massive movement in 2007. Get used to where you are or else start sending resumes out. I understand reserve really hurts the wallet. I'm looking at years on reserve. Thankfully at least it's at the captain pay rate but that doesn't make QOL any better.