I've always heard that 5 crews per plane is a well staffed situation for a regional.

We've probably all felt what 3.2 ish crews per plane feels like.

Historically I think my regional has aimed for high 3s to low 4s

Question 1: when we speak of these formulas, are we simply
looking at the seniority list total and dividing by number of a/c divided by 2 pilots, or do we only factor ACTIVE LINE PILOTS? I.e. no instructors, management pilots, LOAs, or anyone not on the bidding roster.

Question 2: Under 117 what will the new target be? Guesses to a range what will be considered barely sustainable, to borderline overstaffed?

 

We (forum posters) usually look at total pilots. The information necessary to figure active pilots is usually not available to line pilots.

For Mesa (or most any other regional), which is currently @ 6.10, I'd guess they'd have to add 15% to accommodate the 117 rules (7.02), or reduce their flying, or change the efficiency of the scheduling - regionals are very dependent on the 'mothership' to assign them flying, so there's only so much that can be done to alleviate the situation that a mainline carrier gives the regional.

You'll see more changes at regionals, as a %, then at mainline. Its very dependent on factors like work rules and how hard management flies the planes too. Spirit has a overall staffing ratio of 8.41 (831 pilots/51 planes, divide that by 2 to get per seat #'s). Virgin America has a ratio of 5.83. Spirit likely has better work rules, and Spirit management flies their planes around the clock.

There's also more demand in the summer and holiday period then in the fall. Its a 'slow' time right now, so some airlines carry extra crew in a slow period to cover for the future, or to engender goodwill (Southwest didn't furlough in 2008). Other carriers staff for the slow months, run lean in the high demand months, and/or choose to discount goodwill with their employees.

Southwest has a ratio of 5.52. They don't fly their planes at night, and rely heavily on the pilots to pick up extra flying. American, @ 6.77, doesn't rely on nearly as much pilots picking up extra flying, and has to staff for 3-4 pilot crews on long range aircraft like the 777.

There's so many factors that go into staffing formulas - I doubt any of the carriers know for sure themselves the effect of the 117 rules, for certain. But my uneducated guess for Mesa - 15%, with 7% barely sustainable, and 20% overstaffed.

 

Sniper,

Thanks for the great answer - as usual!

So for Mesa you come up with 7.02? (How did you derive that?)

I'll just say in reality it's not even close to that high. But our staffing is good, historically speaking, and only climbing higher due to current hiring.

 

Never mind, I meant to ask how you came up with 6.10, but I figured it out. 855/70 aircraft.

 

1. The company looks at the total block hours, and then looks at historical block averages per active pilot by seat. They can then divide that out and get a rough number of pilots required. It's not an exact science. Most regionals intentionally under staff the summer so they aren't fat the rest of the year.

 

2. Who knows? I'm betting a bunch of the rules won't really show how they work until you start them up. There are going to be some complex interactions. JetBlue just did a pairing study, and the Airbus doesn't increase really at all, and the E 190 only goes up about 2%.

 

How many reduced rest overnights does JetBlue have, how many overnights are less than 12 hours?

Eagle is doing the same thing right now, on the CRJ there won't be much of a change. On the other hand the staffing required on the ERJ will change since they fly more legs per day and have many more short overnights.

These new rules will hit Regionals much harder due to the way we are scheduled.

 

Correct. Southwest hired about 2% also for part 117 requirements. They run about 7 crews per plane. This is about on par with a regional schedule. See about a 2-5% gain. But, I would error on the low side considering most regionals are cheap!

 

We have one crew per plane. I do not like other pilots sitting on my lap.

 

Your CA is disappoint.