Given that SKW won't give us days for the above training, is there a chance to get a LOA or something similar for this other than vacation time?

I haven't ever heard of anything for the ffdo program. Your best bet would probably be to talk to your chief or RG and see if there is anything that can be done.

Actually their is a federal law that says they are supposed too -

H. R. 302—417 (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018)
SEC. 1963. (c) amendment to include at the end of 44921(c)(2)(C)(iii)
‘‘(2) FACILITATION OF TRAINING.— An air carrier shall permit a pilot seeking to be deputized as a Federal flight deck officer or a Federal flight deck officer to take a reasonable amount of leave to participate in initial, recurrent, or requalification training, as applicable, for the program. Leave required under this paragraph may be provided without compensation.’’.

I would speak to the base management and point that law out.

I would start with simply stating your need of time off and why. If there is pushback then gently remind them of federal law as you understand it.

There are plenty of FFDOs at SkyWest. I highly doubt you will experience an issue at all.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you guys. Great info.