Simulator Instructor
05-15-2022 | 04:28 AM
#193
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 71
I see you have trained with Bennie
05-15-2022 | 04:29 AM
#194
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 71
05-17-2022 | 11:53 AM
#197
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Because they're not signing for $2B in liability every time they step into the sim, risking possible death, and aren't responsible for the lives of 181 people? Because they're not working 16 hour duty days (they're limited to 7)? Because they're not gone half the month, unless they commute, which is DEFINITELY a choice in the circumstance? Because they are quite possibly NOT qualified to fly the airplane (a medical certificate is by definition a qualification, which is also part of why our compensation package is what it is)?
And before you say it's harder than a typical flight, I've been a sim instructor, and under cqt it is definitely MORE work than a regular flight, it is not harder, as it's all scripted out. Also, before you say that they're responsible for the person and anything they ever do, that responsibility falls on the APD/check airman.
And before you say it's harder than a typical flight, I've been a sim instructor, and under cqt it is definitely MORE work than a regular flight, it is not harder, as it's all scripted out. Also, before you say that they're responsible for the person and anything they ever do, that responsibility falls on the APD/check airman.
also I think you missed the point, I never argued which is harder and in its own right is subjective. It’s a simple matter of supply and demand. Obviously there’s more guys willing to go fly airplanes. As a back up though I would argue you should be interested in sim instructors being paid well in case you ever do lose you’re medical.. it’s all part of the same industry. But in finality it seems you’re more upset somebody might make more than you. If you enjoy your job why is it all about the money?
05-17-2022 | 01:51 PM
#198
Spikes the Koolaid
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 435
Likes: 16
From: 737
As for the rest of your post, I agree that pilots on the seniority list should negotiate the ability for us to work in the sim. Most companies I've been at have done that. The point is that they're not doing that. They're subverting (violating) our contract and ignoring our desire to negotiate this issue. As for whether they make more money than us, you get what you negotiate. I wasn't arguing one way or another, i was arguing that somebody who ISN'T qualified to fly the airplane shouldn't get paid as much as a person who IS.
I'll buy that it could be argued that it's in my interest to make sure they're paid well for the simple fact that, among other reasons, I may lose my medical and want to do that job. I would argue it's more important that, in our negotiations, it's much much more important that we have excellent STD LTD LOL insurance to make sure that if I go out on medical I can spend my time trying to get better so that I can return to the line, rather than stressing myself out or working myself to the bone commuting/uprooting my family to commute to Dallas to work 20 days in the sim just to make ends meet.
Do I love my job or do it for the money? My job is a job. So yes, I like my job as far as any job goes, but I'm definitely here for the money.
05-26-2022 | 07:49 AM
#199
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Spot on
It’s the schedule, being lied to by management and complete disregard for the JCBA. Here’s a good place to start, ask anyone in management to explain how you are paid. About every third paycheck is wrong.
Schedule: They will give you a schedule on the 24th and on the 2nd you end up with a bunch of days that got dropped and are now ON CALL days. Sounds nice right? Until you realize the “company” interprets this to mean now you are responsible for 18hr duty period. So instead of knowing you had a 0530 brief and you’d be able to pick your kids up from school now you are on the hook for a 0400 - 1800 reassign that finishes at 2000. This is being done intentionally so they have flexibility in the schedule. If you pay attention the event you were scheduled for is still there (uncovered) but now they own you for 3 sim period instead of just one. If they move you from that 0530 brief to a 1330 brief then they’d have to pay you reassignment (1.5 for all 8hrs) by “PARKING” you On Call they don’t but can still move you. This kills your QOL.
You are a salaried worker (as the company sees its). So overtime, holiday, vacation, and reassignment if calculated by taking your monthly salary / monthly hours ETO calculate an hourly rate then multiplying that by 1.5 or 2.0. Then they will subtract your straight pay and add in you overtime, premium etc. They do the same for vacation and sick. It is unbelievable how often it is just flat out wrong. If you catch it usually they will have an excuse. If you keep pushing it most the time they will eventually fix it. Sometimes not. You can file a grievance but many just decide it’s not worth working there any more.
I’d also ask what the turn over has been the last 12 months? They’ve now been hiring for 12 mo this so Covid and VSP are not justifiable excuse for people leaving. There is one answer for the turn over and it is the leadership and culture.
4 years ago this was a great job. It is night and day compared to then and the only reason is the leadership.
I’m not sure where you guys are in your career. If you live in Dallas AND you have some Boeing experience AND you’re looking to stay busy in retirement I could see someone doing this job for a few years for benefits for a younger spouse or kids before retiring.
If you have a medical this job will set your career back a decade. Go look at JetBlue they’ll give you a seniority number as an instructor
If you don’t have a medical look at American where they’ll actually pay you for the work you do. There has been a mass exodus of instructors to FSI and CAE. These are new instructors either some 8-10 year guys.
Also you might want to Google SWAPA / instructors lawsuit.
Good Luck
Schedule: They will give you a schedule on the 24th and on the 2nd you end up with a bunch of days that got dropped and are now ON CALL days. Sounds nice right? Until you realize the “company” interprets this to mean now you are responsible for 18hr duty period. So instead of knowing you had a 0530 brief and you’d be able to pick your kids up from school now you are on the hook for a 0400 - 1800 reassign that finishes at 2000. This is being done intentionally so they have flexibility in the schedule. If you pay attention the event you were scheduled for is still there (uncovered) but now they own you for 3 sim period instead of just one. If they move you from that 0530 brief to a 1330 brief then they’d have to pay you reassignment (1.5 for all 8hrs) by “PARKING” you On Call they don’t but can still move you. This kills your QOL.
You are a salaried worker (as the company sees its). So overtime, holiday, vacation, and reassignment if calculated by taking your monthly salary / monthly hours ETO calculate an hourly rate then multiplying that by 1.5 or 2.0. Then they will subtract your straight pay and add in you overtime, premium etc. They do the same for vacation and sick. It is unbelievable how often it is just flat out wrong. If you catch it usually they will have an excuse. If you keep pushing it most the time they will eventually fix it. Sometimes not. You can file a grievance but many just decide it’s not worth working there any more.
I’d also ask what the turn over has been the last 12 months? They’ve now been hiring for 12 mo this so Covid and VSP are not justifiable excuse for people leaving. There is one answer for the turn over and it is the leadership and culture.
4 years ago this was a great job. It is night and day compared to then and the only reason is the leadership.
I’m not sure where you guys are in your career. If you live in Dallas AND you have some Boeing experience AND you’re looking to stay busy in retirement I could see someone doing this job for a few years for benefits for a younger spouse or kids before retiring.
If you have a medical this job will set your career back a decade. Go look at JetBlue they’ll give you a seniority number as an instructor
If you don’t have a medical look at American where they’ll actually pay you for the work you do. There has been a mass exodus of instructors to FSI and CAE. These are new instructors either some 8-10 year guys.
Also you might want to Google SWAPA / instructors lawsuit.
Good Luck
