Per diem aside, how come pilots aren't pushing to be compensated for their time at work, instead of flight time? Wouldn't being paid by the duty hour force the airlines to produce more efficient schedules, instead of inserting hours of sits throughout the day? It seems to me like we only get paid for roughly 50 or 60% of the time that were actually at "work".

 

We are paid by duty time in some cases. They are called trip and duty rigs. Most regionals don't have them, except Air Wisconsin and a few others. It is something you would have to bargain for in the contract and most likely would be the one thing management would not give into. I'm not saying its not possible but good luck getting some 21 year old who only plans on staying at the regionals for 3 years or less to care about something like that. That's not even enough time to see the expiration of a contract in most cases.

I'm on a 3 day trip right now worth 13.5 block and credited at 18

 

"Why aren't we paid for duty time?"

A majority of the regional pilots don't have the leverage (or unity) to get it negotiated. For now, there are still a stack of resumes of people willing to work and not get paid for duty time.

 

The reason that has never changed is because of how it affects the senior pilots who normally run unions (or pilot associations).

Payscales are skewed to favor senior pilots, that's obvious.

The current pay for block, but not duty also favors senior pilots if you think about it...

Look at two trips:

1. 5 Legs, 8 hours block, with 4 hours of non-block duty time (pre/post duties, turns, swaps, airport appreciation) for a 12 hour duty day.

2. 2 legs, 8 hours block, with 1.5 hours non-block duty time for 9.5 hours duty.

Which trip is going to go more senior?

#2 of course, because it is easier, shorter day, and pays more per duty hour.

Here's the kicker: Any realistic scheme to change pilot hourly pay from block to duty is going to require a reduction in hourly rates across the board. This will effectively take money away from the senior guys who hold sweet high block/duty ratio trips. Since senior guys run the union, it's just not one of their priorities. Personally, I'm all for it.

Rigs can prevent truly unjust block/duty ratios at the bottom end, but they aren't going to provide as good of a deal as simply bidding for trip #2.

 

A contract with a minimum credit per day can help... if the minimum is high enough.

 

I think the point is..you're on a 3 day trip..so probably close to 50 hours TAFB. Why are you then essentially paid for only 36% of your time?

I'd take $20 a duty hour. I flew 6 legs today, blocked (after delays) at almost 8.5 for a whopping $215..for 13 hours of actual duty. If i were paid a lesser rate (20 vs 25.46) for the full 24 hours I was "on duty: today that'd be $480

Even if I'm only paid the 20 for the time I'm flying..and the overnight is still the per diem (1.85 or so). That'd still be 280 and change for the day (13hrs@20 + [email protected]).

What's better for us?

vs.

What's best for the company?

who do you think is gonna win?

 

Straight pay for TAFB is unlikely, most other professions which involve travel don't pay you directly for hotel time.

At some level you have to accept that hotel time is the nature of the beast. But trip/daily rigs are useful to prevent long overnights from being unproductive overnights.

 

Why aren't we paid for duty time? Probably for the same reason:

Long haul truckers are paid by the load
Fishermen are paid by the pound
Tow truck drivers are paid by the tow
Repomen are paid by the vehicle
Bounty hunters are paid per head

 

Most truck drivers are paid by the mile. Unless it is an owner/operator.
I'd be happy to be paid by the pound.
Refer to 1.
I am not even equatable to a repoman.
Bounty hunter... really?

Keep in the transportation realm. Barring owner/operators drivers get paid by mile or time.

 

A good start would be getting paid for the time preflighting the aircraft.

Why not block + 30 minutes of pay for each leg or something like that? Its a start and more accurately recognizes the work you have to do. Two 4 hour legs and Four 2 hour legs pay the same, but are drastically different amounts of work.

I consider preflight prep to be one of the most important and critical phases of the flight, and you're not paid a dime for doing it.