Pilot Lifestyle Under Threat
05-14-2009, 09:15 AM
#41
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Originally Posted by iPilot
When I had my 1st year pay I was forced into a 2 leg commute from my parents house. A crashpad was all I could afford in the LA area. If they ban commuting you can bet a lot of pilots will be forced to quit.
Once you could say, but it's only temporary at the regionals, a stepping stone to better pay. Not anymore. Regionals are a career path now for the unfortunate ones who don't want to move to the majors, or don't have the luck. Because that's what it is... luck and nothing more.
05-14-2009, 09:16 AM
#42
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Originally Posted by stoki
This would be easier if airlines didnt play musical chairs with bases and constantly open and close new ones. If an employee knew their airline has a base in Chicago, and knew that it would stay that way, for a good wage, I am sure people would not have a problem moving.
But since you may be living in Chicago till PennyPinch Airlines changes bases and you have to move again, people don't bother moving in the first place. What the hell are we, nomads?
But since you may be living in Chicago till PennyPinch Airlines changes bases and you have to move again, people don't bother moving in the first place. What the hell are we, nomads?
05-14-2009, 09:36 AM
#43
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Originally Posted by BIGRIG
People move all the time for jobs. My Dad and Mom moved 9 times while I was growing up. And they weren't military. If the airlines are going to open and close bases, then they will have to pay relocation expenses if they expect people to live in domicile.
05-14-2009, 09:52 AM
#44
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Posts: 351
Originally Posted by shadyops
Entice pilots to live in base with attractive salaries. Ban commuting. If you don't want to move, find another job.
05-14-2009, 09:56 AM
#45
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Originally Posted by stoki
This investigation is starting to focus on fatigue.... but not the fatigue caused the the standard 14 hour duty days that airlines and their scheduling departments take ADVANTAGE of, but fatigue caused by commuting, something a vast number of pilots do to get to work. This is going in the wrong direction...
You can legally do a 16 hour duty day, get an 8 hour overnight, then back for another long day. Most commutes don't approach that level of stress...they need to fix the existing FAR's before they talk about new ones.
Ultimately there is no legal basis for either the FAA or the company to tell you where and how to spend your days off. Outlawing pilots commuting is about as ludicrous as outlawing pilots having children...I can tell you from experience that small babies are much less conducive to rest than the typical commute.
With that said, the Colgan FO's self-determined schedule was worse than worst-case legal rest. Sleep while jumpseating on multiple redeye legs does not count IMO.
05-14-2009, 11:26 AM
#46
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Originally Posted by rickair7777
You can legally do a 16 hour duty day, get an 8 hour overnight, then back for another long day. Most commutes don't approach that level of stress...they need to fix the existing FAR's before they talk about new ones.
....
With that said, the Colgan FO's self-determined schedule was worse than worst-case legal rest. Sleep while jumpseating on multiple redeye legs does not count IMO.
....
With that said, the Colgan FO's self-determined schedule was worse than worst-case legal rest. Sleep while jumpseating on multiple redeye legs does not count IMO.
Also, stand-ups/high-speeds/whatever are legal and just as exhausting if not more so... especially when the airline makes you fly sometimes up to 20 consecutive calendar days (24hrs off between days every week counted as "off" days). I have seen this happen, no joke.
05-14-2009, 11:30 AM
#47
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Originally Posted by BIGRIG
People move all the time for jobs. My Dad and Mom moved 9 times while I was growing up. And they weren't military. If the airlines are going to open and close bases, then they will have to pay relocation expenses if they expect people to live in domicile.
Also, again as I have mentioned, if someone in the relationship has a stable better paying job, the family is not going to move for the unstable and low-paying regional job. It's not going to happen. The pilot will commute and that's it. And the excuse: "Just quit and find another profession" is not a solution for too many reasons to count.
05-14-2009, 11:51 AM
#48
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I find it interesting that it is not legal rest Dead Heading (good), but the ride to and from the hotel in the van is (what?) on reduced rest.
Onther thing more ailrines could do to curb fatigue and make alot of commuters happy is-Home Basing. My gosh what a novel idea! In fact there are 121 operators like Kalitta that do just that. Hmmm
Onther thing more ailrines could do to curb fatigue and make alot of commuters happy is-Home Basing. My gosh what a novel idea! In fact there are 121 operators like Kalitta that do just that. Hmmm
05-14-2009, 11:59 AM
#49
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Originally Posted by NoJoy
Onther thing more ailrines could do to curb fatigue and make alot of commuters happy is-Home Basing. My gosh what a novel idea! In fact there are 121 operators like Kalitta that do just that. Hmmm
Worst Case Scenario: Commuting is either no longer allowed or we do it on our own time and have to prove we got adequate rest before duty (i.e. hotel receipt with check in time)
I don't personally see either of these playing out. The solution will be somewhere in the middle. Basically they will find the most cost effective way to barely meet whatever regulations are put into place.
05-14-2009, 12:10 PM
#50
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Rather than preaching to the choir here, why not address these issues to your elected officials.
Spend a few minutes you would spend here and email your senators and representatives. Let them know how bad the duty limits are, and how many times the NTSB has suggested increasing rest with no response from the FAA. Or how pressured we are when we call in fatigued/sick.
Every Senator/representative has a link on their home page to contact them. While they probably have some intern doing a quick scan, a couple hundred emails on the same issue in short order while this is in the public consciousness will likely illicit some sort of response.
Spend a few minutes you would spend here and email your senators and representatives. Let them know how bad the duty limits are, and how many times the NTSB has suggested increasing rest with no response from the FAA. Or how pressured we are when we call in fatigued/sick.
Every Senator/representative has a link on their home page to contact them. While they probably have some intern doing a quick scan, a couple hundred emails on the same issue in short order while this is in the public consciousness will likely illicit some sort of response.
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