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Is there a way for a pilot to front or back load his schedule (say two 4-5 day trips separated by a 30 hour break or day off) to try and achieve a longer set of days off without using vacation?
Yup. You will have to get creative to find trips that don't violate max hours in the contract, you'll need green days to make the swaps, and 117 makes it hard to go 7 in a row and get the 30 off, but it's possible.
Last month I created a 21 day off line with the last 2 weeks of the month off. Did this with IOT, trade board swap, transition conflict, and a pure drop of a 4 day. Even with 21 days off, I was able to still credit 73 hours because of the transition conflict pay. I've only been here for about a year, so this isn't something that only senior guys can do.
I needed the time off and it was able to work out with some juggling. I care more about my time off than anything, so scheduling flexibility is my goal
every month, not working 20 days a month for 120 hours credit and begging for JRMs. To each their own.