Two questions:
Are there ways via some sort of trip swapping to string together many days off, for example 7-10 days in a row?

And,

Are there situations where a relative new hire with ATP and plenty of 121 time be upgraded prior to someone who has as yet not collected that time? Any guesses to time to upgrade for a person with qualifications with the current number of pilots in house?

Thanks for the input...

 

technically yes, realistically probably not

no, upgrades are in seniority order, when your seniority can hold it you can bid it, if you had plenty of 121 time you'd know that

 

One can have plenty of 121 time and not flown in a system where seniority plays much of a role. And while you were a tad snarky, your answer did answer the question. Yes, you can upgrade ahead of someone who can not yet hold the position. Thanks for the info :-)

 

i based my response on your implication that you had plenty of 121 time, i'm unaware of any 121 carrier that doesn't use a seniority system for bidding.

you can upgrade when your seniority can hold it, you have the mins, and there's openings, not sooner

 

I think he is suggesting that bc we are hiring a lot of low time guys his seniority will be able to hold it due to 1000hrs of 121 time prior to someone hired before him that doesn't meet the minimum.

 

We are not at that point yet. Maybe when we start filling the E145 slots early next year we could get to that point. Right now upgrade is hovering around 2-2.5 years so they all have the time.

 

eh, maybe, thats not how i was reading it, sounded like trying to upgrade out of seniority (like a "merit" based system)

 

It was great. I was impressed with the personnel I interacted with prior to and at the interview. Everyone was helpful, courteous and informative.

The interview itself was very straight forward. A 25 question written test (all questions straight off the ATP written exam). The oral was one on one and was all instrument knowledge and weather based. If you know your instrument procedures, charts, approaches and weather, you'll be fine. If you're not instrument current, make sure you brush up before interviewing at any airline.

I interviewed at 1440 hours. I have an August 17th class date scheduled.... But I am sweating the hub base announcement. I need to see where they are putting the jets before I commit. Really hoping DCA.

 

Hi all,

What I was asking was if given two pilots, one with less than 121 time but higher seniority vs one with plenty of 121 time but a lower seniority number. From a business point of view the airline is going to need to have a captain.

To answer another point, I worked at Mountain Air Cargo for years. 121 flying and upgrades were not necessarily by seniority.

Frankly, I'm far more interested in how one can maximize time off. Maximize in the sense of stringing days off. Maybe the old hands on the board can explain how to try to do that.

I'm giving thought to coming to PDT but not for the reasons a guy in his 20's and early 30's would.

Thanks.

 

As someone said earlier, technically it is possible, but practically it is very difficult.

As a line holder, you can use the "48hr period" swap window to trade trips on your line with open time. The issue here is that there are typically not a lot of open trips to swap with, and the ones that are available often have Part 117 limitations. Also, per the contract, you are limited to trading 6 days per bid period in the 48hr window.

Your other option, as a reserve or (especially) a build up holder, is to try to put your 4 "golden" days (consecutive, unassignable, un-junior-mannable days awarded to build up/reserves) together in a row. For example, you could place your June golden days on the last 4 days of the month, and July golden days on the first 4 days of July, thereby getting 8 days off in a row. This would only be possible every two months, obviously. Also, build up requests are just that - requests- and don't necessarily have to be honored.

They have been better lately about trying to honor golden day requests, but obviously not every reserve is going to get Christmas Day off, for example...