You got to this point- and you don’t know how to fly a visual approach?

I imagine there’s a TON of private-pilot stuff that “we weren’t taught...” here at a MAJOR AIRLINE...

I think the reason it's suddenly become a major issue is that combined with the September pullback and PBS it created the perfect storm that wreaked havoc on schedules across the system. The most junior lineholder FO anywhere in the system was around a March 18 hire. The number of FOs on reserve more than doubled in almost every base. This would not have happened even with the September pullback if the trips were not withheld.

This is something the pilot group needs to make clear is a central issue for the next round of negotiations. The company withholding-for-training clause disappears. Check airmen bid their seniority within PBS. If they are bidding for training in that given month, their trips are then bought away from their lineholding FOs when needed. End of story.

Our committees are unlikely to make this a priority because, as previously mentioned, the current system directly benefits many of them.

“I am the walrus?”

How do you propose we change the system that allows check airman to bid outside seniority and beat EVERY CAPTAIN that isnt a CKA to trips?


They have an LEC Now. its too late.

Have the CKA bid the same as regular captains, designate their awarded trips training trips, and pull those from the FO trip pool (just like the trips are pulled for no-fly-list-trips). Having PBS makes this easy, FO awards are out a day later already anyway.

I agree. I’m a LCKA and not a fan of our bidding system. Personally I would like to PBS bid trips with my specifications and have scheduling buy out my FO. Easy and done!

the real is answer is your suggestion except leave pairings for FOs to then be bought off. Of course they won't do that.

What I meant was now the CKA have an LEC and a bigger voice, how do you propose we convince our own union that we should throw check airmen back into real bidding? I agree with you, this is exactly why PBS can be amazing and we're not utilizing the damn system.

Shut the F up Donnie!

Of course getting FO trips bought would be better, but it would be better than current contract to a degree management would want a quid (to use a loaded word) for. As far as the union, every LEC should get one vote, and every LEC not representing the LCA damn well better vote in the interest of the line pilots.
Getting the company to agree will never be easy because the don't want to be helpful even if it is their own interest.

Smokey this isn't Nom, this is bowling there are rules.