For those that changed to PBS from another system do you find that you have more flexibility? How does the pilot group control the parameters of PBS so the company doesn't take advantage of PBS for their own devices.

The concept of PBS to me seems good. I changed to this career to get more flexibility in my life it seems PBS can give me the flexibility I need if it is managed well. So how do you manage it well?

 

If you are asking the question, you are relatively new in the profession. So, for you the answer is: PBS will make your life hell. Since it favors seniority above all else.

PBS only allows senior people to more effectively manage their time. There are a few ways they can do it, the most common at the regional level seems to be specifying what days you want off, and what type of trips your want, and what cities you want to layover in... basically the most senior person on the list tells them what he/she wants. They give it to him/her. Then the next person goes... by the time it gets to the middle of the seniority list.... there are only a few getting weekends off, and all of the trips have long sits... by the time it gets to junior people... all are working weekends, on long four day trips with long sits between each leg, or day trips that do two legs in a 16 hour duty day.

Does that help explain it for you? It's another case of senior people eating their young. Just about all senior, and most mid level folks will do better or at least the same with PBS, and since majority rules... the bottom one third of the seniority list suffer and pay the price...

kinda like pay.... the top 1/3 makes out while the bottom 2/3rd's pay for it.

 

so how exactly should the company determine what kind of line everyone gets. if not based on seniority then what? i love pbs right now as an fo. i will probably hate it when i upgrade. but thats life on a seniority based system. and seniority based lines are the best way we have right now to make sure everyone gets treated fairly.

 

A line bidding system spreads the wealth around, in a way. You will rarely find a line that has all the days off you want in addition to only the most desirable overnights, and commutability.

 

So, are you saying that when they build a bunch of lines, and then you bid on them by seniority that it isn't fair?

What I am saying is that for places that use scheduled lines or blocks, even the very most junior lineholder will get something that is liveable... under PBS, the junior people get extremely BAD lines made over from the scraps left over, in order for the more senior people to be happy like you.

I'm senior enough that I can live with either system. The bidding on established lines is better for the junior folks. It would be wonderful to get PBS and live the high life at the expense of those below me... but, even I'm not that evil.

Besides, with PBS you are giving WAY too much control of schedules to the company.... you can kiss your 30/7 conflicts goodbye.

 

You need to vote NO on the Mesa TA!

 

thats weird. the most junior fo's at pinnacle average 12-15 days off and pretty good schedules (except for the guys who end up getting high speeds). there is one fo that has been here less than a year with 16 days off. before pbs, even when i was a fairly senior fo the most days off i ever saw was 14. now i am suprised if i don't get 20 or 21. pbs allows the trips to be more productive. the more productive your trip the more days off you get. now for the trips to be productive the company would have to build them that way. but thats an entirely different issue.

 

You confused me...
Pairing generator makes the trips. PBS assigns the trips. PBS SUCKS! Unless you're senior. Even then you can screw yourself.

 

On the plus side people say that PBS offers more flexibility with your schedule. I've talked to fairly junior people at Skywest who say they like it due to the flexibility but I don't really understand how it gives you flexibility. I assume the flexibility they are talking about is in trading after the flying has been awarded?

 

So, extending that rational a little further out and the end result is the company will need less pilots.... I'm sure those that end up furloughed will thank you.