SGS233

Hello,

I know it's not an exact science, but wondering how long it's taking new-hire CA's to get off of reserve and hold a line in DCA?

(Last I heard RPA doesn't have a DEC program, per se, but I'm a 175 CA at a WO thinking about making a move to someplace with better work rules.)

Many thanks!

QRH Bingo

Well, for March, DCA only had 4 reserves lines awarded for some reason with a handful of composite lines. Last hard line DCA CA is a 10/5/21 hire. Last composite line is 11/30/21 hire. Bottom CA in all is a 12/6/22 hire.

Info based on awarded schedules for March. Hope this sheds a little light and helps.

Cujo665

How's that look in Boston?

QRH Bingo

BOS seems to be a moving target and hard to discern stable information for you.
Based on the April schedules awarded, there were 28 CAs with 18 hard lines, 3 composite lines, 2 reserve lines, 4 no lines (various reasons, could be FMLA or other long term leave) and 1 listed as upgrade training.

Last hard line is a 12/14/21 hire, Last composite line is a 1/24/23 hire, but a 8/29/23 hire got awarded a line with a mix of training included (could be a fluke). Lots of vacation, paid days off, and training could have skewed the lines awarded, who knows.

Looking ahead to August (current system bid for base vacancies), it appears those bottom few that got composite lines have left BOS. So this information will change again, as I am sure you understand.

Cujo665

thanks for the detailed response. It’s helpful.
Is it PBS or line bidding? I seem to remember it being PBS.
What are the schedules (pairings) like?
3-4 leg days most common?
long sits?
equipment swaps?
or are the days fairly productive.

Would think with the duty rig they’d try to avoid sits

I have the CJO as a DEC. appreciate any updates as to QOL, days on/off… is it 18/12? Or whatever you can bid and hold? Are all reserves 18/12?
how long is short call call out? and long call ?
can reserves pick up OT on days off?
how are they awarded trips? Can they bid on open trips in advance?

QRH Bingo

Is it PBS or line bidding?
PBS

What are the schedules (pairings) like?
Based on the crew planning notes for length of pairing outta BOS:
AA: 1-Day 17%, 2-Day 12%, 3-Day 13%, 4-Day 3%
DL: 1-Day 9%, 2-Day 23%, 3-Day 14%, 4-Day 8%
(no 5-Days and UA pairings)

3-4 leg days most common?
Yes, but lots of 2 leg days in the mix too.

long sits?
The fewer the legs, usually comes with a sit somewhere of 2-3ish hours but not always.

equipment swaps?
Maybe 50/50 of keeping the plane for the day.

or are the days fairly productive.
Depends on the pairing. Some are very productive, some are more relaxed. PBS helps to bid for what you like.

Would think with the duty rig they’d try to avoid sits
You would think so, but not always the case.

updates as to QOL, days on/off… is it 18/12? Or whatever you can bid and hold? Are all reserves 18/12?
Reserve is always 12 days off. You bid for your days off PBS style. However, in BOS, with only 3 reserve lines who knows what you will be awarded. But RPA is trying to increase staffing in BOS.

how long is short call call out? and long call ?
Short Call is 2hrs. Long call is 12hrs with plenty of other restrictions to help "commute" to reserve; i.e. no report prior to 1pm on Day 1 without your approval; which scheduling will do, whether intentionally or not, requiring you to call them out on it . (No LCR awarded in BOS for April).

can reserves pick up OT on days off?
Yes. Both trips in open time and even extra reserve days at 200%, when available.

how are they awarded trips? Can they bid on open trips in advance?
OT: If it's in open time, it's first-come-first-served.
If you mean during your reserve days, LCR can bid 6 days out. SCR, it's hit or miss with the automated system but you can call scheduling and ask.
Reserves are used based on how many days you have available compared to what needs to be covered. They try to make it as efficient as possible "bucket system" but on the CA side, it's however they can fill the immediate need and worry about tomorrow after.

Cujo665

outstanding response. Thank you very much. I was looking at the benefits packages. While the health insurance is $100 more per pay period than I pay now, the others like vision & dental are so cheap or free that it balances out. So that looks a wash. The 401k we have is just a match of up to 100% of 8%. Yours has a direct contribution of 4% that goes up to 10% over time. Yours is better in the long run.

somebody just sent me a copy of the CBA. I must say, if we had this back in the early 2000's there would never have been a shortage. Management killing the job over the years drove new starts to historic lows. Combined with the retirements this was totally predictable, but they don't plan that way. With labor it's a cross that bridge when we get there, not a prepare in advance thing.

looking at the CA bonus a couple red flags stand out. The new pilot has to repay it in some conditions that may surprise people. You repay:
if downgraded, voluntary or involuntary displaced (like in a recession)
if furloughed
leave for any reason other than disabled from any work, not just pilot work
even displaced from a base closure (if you went there solely to be based at home) doesn't let you off the hook.
the good news is its prorated a little after a year.

so reserve using PBS is basically preferencing for long or short call, and days off. Is it possible to bid in blocks like 6 on, 30 hours, 6 on, 30 hours, 6 on to get a large block of 10 straight off at either end?

how often do RSV CA's start a 1, 2 or 3 day and then get more days added on? Is it still like the old days, if you're doing a 2 day trip but are good for 4 days, pack for 5? Or is it safe to pick up a RSV trip of 2 days and expect to be home that second night.... even if they call you out on short call the next day, youd still get home day 2?

is the no UA pairings normal for BOS? Do guys do DL and AA flying on the same day? Or are you doing DL one month and bid AA stuff the next?

How does the family travel benefits work on the mainline side? Back in the day I was at a WO so we got whole immediate family and 13 friends/relatives on our travel account. The 13 friends/relatives had small fees, pretty much the taxes. Immediate family were free.

QRH Bingo

Wow, that's a bit unfair but I guess that's to be expected in this business.

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so reserve using PBS is basically preferencing for long or short call, and days off.
Yes. Even on reserve you bid for your preference LCR, SCR(3am-1pm), SCR(10-10), times can vary a bit by base and scheduling needs. Expect LCR to be converted to SCR up to the maximum of 3 times/month.

Is it possible to bid in blocks like 6 on, 30 hours, 6 on, 30 hours, 6 on to get a large block of 10 straight off at either end?
Yes, you can bid for 6 day stretches, 1 day off, 6 days on, and so-on.

how often do RSV CA's start a 1, 2 or 3 day and then get more days added on? Is it still like the old days, if you're doing a 2 day trip but are good for 4 days, pack for 5?
Yes.

Or is it safe to pick up a RSV trip of 2 days and expect to be home that second night.... even if they call you out on short call the next day, youd still get home day 2?
It all depends on what the company needs from you. It is possible to pick up a 2-day, return home, and be back on SCR the next 2 days. But, it is also possible they reassign you. There are some protections in the CBA but can't remember exactly how it goes. But I think, if you get a trip assigned, and they do not put any reserve duty after the trip, that trip is treated like a line-holder and they have to get you back home within 2hrs of the original release. But don't hold me to that one.

is the no UA pairings normal for BOS?
Yes.

Do guys do DL and AA flying on the same day?
Typically you stick with one code-share for the entire length of your trip. Yes, it is possible to switch mid-trip, but that would be treated more as a reassignment and not normal. Unless, you mark on your bid "allow more than 1 pairing per day" which is defaulted to "no".

Or are you doing DL one month and bid AA stuff the next?
There is a way to bid for that kind of thing, but typically no. It's all mixed for the month - but as stated, it's one code-share per trip. Example, you have two back-to-back 2-Days, the first one may be on DL the second on AA - not mixed.

How does the family travel benefits work on the mainline side? Back in the day I was at a WO so we got whole immediate family and 13 friends/relatives on our travel account. The 13 friends/relatives had small fees, pretty much the taxes. Immediate family were free.
Spouse and kids included, along with 4 parents (yours only, not in-laws), 1 friend on AA and 2 UA (I think) but not DL I believe.
Not speaking for the 1 friend, DL is "free" (imputed income for taxes) regardless of cabin class, UA is "free", business/first charged extra, AA is "free" for you, anyone else (including spouse) is charged something like ~$20 each way. I am not the best source for non-rev info because if there is a time-line involved, I pay for tickets. UA offers the discount tickets. I think DL might too but I have never tried it. UA & AA are deducted from your check (I think it's $100/year) DL is paid upfront by you, $50.

Cujo665

Got an email back from HR. The CA bonus payback would not be triggered by furlough alone.
just resignation, termination, displacement (voluntary or involuntary) to FO

UnbeatenPath

So if there's a furlough and you get downgraded to FO you take a 50k paycut and owe them 100k?