I will VOTE NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you kidding, not a chance will I vote yes to pbs

From what I've found, there are far more positives than negatives with PBS, for both sides. But don't shoot it down just because Mgmnt is pushing hard for it. Use that for your advantage and negotiate PBS rules such as if PBS builds an average domicile line of 85 hours or more then every minute scheduled above 85 is paid at 150% pay. This way Mgmnt can't force you to fly open time at straight pay when you’re short staffed.

Yes, PBS is an extremely effective tool when it comes to utilization both crew member and A/C. This can work in your favor once you learn the system, but only you know your Mgmnt team and if they're a bunch of shysters then vote NO. Without a good working relationship the system will end up working more in their favor than yours.

Ill be honest.....if the company was willing to pay 150% after 80 hours...id vote yes.....being that that is extremely unlikely.....i dont think it will get voted in.

They would have to sweeten the deal like you wouldnt believe in order for this pilot group to vote it in. Trip touching is worth its weight in gold.

Could PBS screw with trip and duty rigs as well???? I mean if we lost those....I'd burn the place down

No, PBS doesn't build the pairings/trips, it builds your line.

I have used both, and far prefer PBS. However...

1. The PBS parameters must be tightly controlled contractually. In order for this to happen your MEC, or their minions, must understand the system. Get this wrong, and life is not going to be so good for a while.

2. You MUST read the directions AND attend the training seminars AND particpate in whatever practice/training bids are run. If you attempt to do the typical guy thing and jump right in without reading the manual, be prepared to sacrifice several months of your life while you sort things out. I spent several unnecessary months on reserve...fortunately I was based in SLC and I like to ski :rolleyes: Me: Well, looks like reserve again in Feb. Wife: But I thought you were top 50%??? Me: I have to go catch my commute, have you seen my season pass?

3. Make sure you get automated trip dropping and swapping...that is an absolute godsend. Try to get contractual reserve staffing.


PBS will not affect pairing construction or rigs. It just builds lines out of available pairings.

If you have something like trip-touching for vacations, you will need to negotiate something to make up for that...obviously don't just give it away. Extra vacation days at a higher credit could make up for trip-touching. PBS should offer enough benefit to the company without concessions. Done correctly it should be a win-win.

I think I would like PBS better, but with our management I don't trust them enough to try it. If they really want it bad enough then surely we can get them to agree to rules we want as well as them. As of right now I would vote no, management has a lot of convincing to do.

I am a middle of the road junkie in base at RAH and came from MESA....far and aways PBS rocks for me. I have been stuck in denial mode a couple of times where the system will just give you anything as it failed to reach a line after so many attempts, but with proper trading I adverted a crappy month. I ended up probably better off, I love the fact I can bid trips with layovers anywhere including home! Also, I bid specific trips any make 2 layers of trips that make up my whole month and usually get many of those trips, below that commutable high time trips, then commutable then finally 4 day trips....with my style of bidding I am very happy!

My short experience at RAH ( S5...8 months ) with PBS was generally positive. Once you learn they system it really is very powerful.

Hey, every time I see your screen name, I think of w hore310. (Just a little humor, not to offend, kinda makes me laugh)

Anyhow, to respond to the original posters question:
I've been where they used line bidding, and I didn't like it so much. It always seemed as though I could NEVER find a line I wanted with exactly the needs I had, time off, good trips, etc.

Now, with PBS, granted it might take you a few months to get used to it and you might screw yourself a few months, but after a couple months, you kinda figure out what you did wrong and the lightbulb kind of clicks on 'how to screw PBS' and you start getting better skeds. Took me awhile, but I help people with bids when bid times comes and they're always saying "thanks".

Now that I'm in the top 35% in base, I get pretty much everything I want. I'd say about 95%, for months now I've gotten ALL I wanted. I tailor a bid accordingly, award days off I need, MIN SKED, avoid certain layovers I just CANT stand, etc....then 2 or 3 lines worth of trips I'd like to have, then generic crap like AWD DAYTRIPS 4 (then 3, then 2) if AVG DAILY CREDIT =>7 hrs, then a line same, 6.5 hrs., 6 hrs. etc.

My bid is usually somewhere between 20-30 lines long counting all the awds/avoids/trips/generic crap. It USUALLY stops around line 8-10, which is RIGHT where the lines of trips I want start.

It is great once you work the system and know how to use it. Much better (to me) than line-for-line bidding, but I think alot has to do with how YOUR company is going to set up the PBS system, that's the key.