How about lets say 2 guys live in DFW and both are FOs on an airbus. What if they were allowed to get together and were allowed to specifically do DFW flights/ When one comes in to DFW on his last leg the other DFW commuter starts his trip. It would take some logistics to work it out but that would cost almost nothing if it could be worked out. In fact it would save the company hotel and per diem costs.

the only problem i see with this is if that specific aircraft is used on that segment or if it gets shifted in and out of that station.

 

I'm all for any option to make commutes easier for those who do it, but I don't believe in any way, shape, or form that it is the companies responsibility or obligation to do so. The company offers someone the job and the applicant either accepts it or denies it. They assign the domicile and it is the employee's responsibility to ensure that they arrive for duty at said time.

 

Just my speculation, but if the feds were going to implement anything with regards to commuting it would probably be this: they would probably institute a regulation in which your commute time would count towards your duty time AND make it your responsibility to ensure compliance with it.

 

Most airlines dont assign you anything, you bid it. What if said airline closes bases on regular bases? What if said airline moves your aircraft out of said base? What if they get rid of that aircraft and you're forced to bid into something else at a different base? This isnt like normal jobs with an office building in a city that wont change. Our jobs are unlike any other job in this country. Closest thing to it would be the military and switching bases and the government pays for the moves. Do you think the airlines are going to pay to move pilots every time something changes? Its cheaper for the companies to just let people commute and attempt to make it as easy as possible to do so.

 

No kidding. And since you can only hold what your seniority dictates, then that is an assignment.

Find a new job -most airlines that play "musical domicile" usually don't pay well enough to put up with their b.s. anyway.

Bid another airplane and/or seat - if possible.

Part of playing the game.

All of your points are valid and realistic. However, that is part of the job and most of us understand and accept that when we take the job. I'm not anti-commute, I'm just saying the responsibility to make it to work on time rests with the individual - that is true in ALL professions.

 

You portray it as everyone could and should live in base and thats not the case with this job. Once you're established within your company you dont just "Quit" if you have to change bases. This industry is run on seniority and that coincides with your pay.

I commute to MEM for my job with NWA/DAL, I had a choice of bases and aircraft as a new hire and i chose. Now lets say i moved to memphis right away and now that we've merged with Delta they decide to move aircraft out of MEM and put them in slc, should i then quit or uproot my family and move to slc? What if in a year the company decides to move planes from slc to atl and i cant hold a specific aircraft in atl, should i then uproot my family again? Maybe i should quit and start over at another airline? You're portraying this situation in our industry too simplistic. I dont have an office job thats central located in one place throughout my career. And no guys at this point in their careers just dont quit and start over

Commuting is part of this job now and just because you live in base doesnt mean you're going to have more rest anyway. You cant tell if guys whom live in base are getting sufficient sleep at home before they work so whats the difference? I, as a commuter, am often more rested than guys i fly with that live in base. Regulating commuters DOESNT solve anything.

 

I'd postulate that if the airline was on the hook for relocation expenses beyond your control (closing your base or a Jr assigned seat) that much of the musical base shenanigans would stop pretty quick.

Look at UPS/FedEx....

 

Who are you? Why do you ask this question? I came here to be a pilot. I resent the implication of your post. I am not a young pilot. I had a first career and a fair amount of time flying. You my friend come across as arrogant and that is a quality we would do quite well to do away with.

 

I'm all for living wherever you want to live. My comments were more of knowing that the individual is ultimately responsible to get to work. Some, and I'm not including you in this category, have postulated an "I deserve attitude" with regards to the airline somehow "owing" them a ride to work. Believe me, I understand that certain conditions outside of your control do necessitate a commute on your part - and not by choice either.

My "musical domicile" comment was geared more towards the entry-level bottom feeders (similar to type I used to fly for ) that moved domiciles so as to not have to pay per diem. Those carriers are the ones that came to mind, not established majors who are doing it due to operational necessity or mergers.

I don't think it would either. I was inferring that it could happen (possible but not probable), but only as a knee-jerk reaction.

 

We have our "Residencies" too, It's called Instructing. Where you live at home or the crappy university student cage (which is better then a Resident who has to move to where they are placed, Med school bills and all.) You and one student and whoever you crash on are all the risk involved at that point. Consequently you get paied crap; but you are home every night.

By the time you belt into a plane with 50 specimines of the mighty unwashed masses, Recidency is over. You are now part of a commercial flight crew. The fact that both the company and the pilots look at themselves as being in a disposable job just makes the whole thing worse.

Pretending that flying for a regional is like being a Resident is Bull. Flying for a regional is closer to working the crappy county hospital as a full fledged doctor of medicine. Not glamorous, not big money, but you are still a professional acting in a professional capacity at the only job you have.

But either way, Pilots comparing themselves to Doctors may be a sign that the Pilot Ego is completely out of control.