I can see your point. But, if it's taken care of and safeguarded, I doubt you'll ever have a problem. I say that, but then remember the constant emails about guys losing glasses on flights or lost items on the plane. THAT'S where we'll see problems. iPads are the future, I don't think we'll be able to continue in this profession without them.

I misunderstood your point about the data card, you meant an iPad with 4G connectivity. Again, I don't see a problem. But, the EFB manual clearly states updates need not be accomplished once a pairing is started. But, I've yet to be in a hotel that didn't have wifi, even a slow connection an update really doesn't take long.

 

Okay, this is what I was looking for, reasons to help me form an opinion.

I had always seen efficiency as a plus, a plus to increased growth and increased staffing. And, I agree with you the DH and trip protection is a sidebar in this.

But, you've given me a pause and a leaning towards No.

 

The main reason why the company wants this LOA is because pilots will have to do their DL on their off time, not on company time.

144 aircraft by 2021, say 2500 pilots. 2 days of DL not on duty vs 2 days of DL in a crew room, on duty, is 5000 days a year of lost productivity from your workforce where we are not moving planes and someone needs to move those planes.

Say the average pilot works 180 days of duty a year 5000/180= 28 pilots a year. So my math shows they need 28 pilots less a year just on savings for us doing it off the clock. This is a minimum, doesn't account for any conflict drops of any kind.

28 pilots will be 1st year FO pay pilots. Even on guarantee thats a million a year in savings just on wages, not counting healthcare, social security taxes, training, etc.

 

The number is probably lower because they can make those not on min days off train on their days off in domicile but cannot do that to those already on min days off. But the logic is sound and my exact point.

 

I don't temember... Do we have the opportunity to add trips with IOT and DOT prior to them placing the training on our schedule?

 

No. Training adjustments come when the lines are final prior to any open time

 

Yeah, good point.

I dont know why so many miss the simple basic facts, and these are facts...

1)Conflict training bidding as we know it is gone, bye bye. Sucks but the company can end it and they will.

2)Ipads are coming, regardless. This LOA has nothing to do with ipads coming and jepp charts going away. Ipads in the cockpits save the company money and its coming. People need to stop thinking "But I want my ipad." The reason why they wanted this LOA to include DL and protocol for the Ipad is because they know we are stupid enough to care about porn protection on our ipads.

3) Protections in the LOA are barely better than our current CBA, it allows guys to now surf porn on their ipad with more "protections." LOA still allows them to charge us if they want.

4)This LOA will reduce staffing.

5) This LOA saves the company a ton of money because of (see number 4)

6)I dont care if they make me come into base to do my DL, its 2 days a year and 2 days isnt going to give me nightmares.



My main concern is we vote this down, management makes us come in, and guys complain so much we have to now negotiate in Section 6 to essentially get this LOA back for our contract. So if you vote no, be prepared to do your DL in base. It may not happen, but dont vote "no" and then cry "but I dont want to do it in base" if they implement that. Im not giving up anything come Section 6 time to GET BACK 5 hours of pay per day for DL and being able to do it at home.

Like I said, ill come in if they make me, maybe even reanalyze my fatigue and readiness for flight if I have to spend days off in a crew room for hours and hours.

 

Inputs to training are due the day bid awards are done.

 

Oh I know they didn't offer out of the kindness of their hearts. What they offered will save them big money. In order of cheapest to most expensive would be: 1-at home training, 2-domicile training at designated place, 3- current training method.

The point is out priorities as pilots are different, and we need to consider how it affects us as a pilot group before we start getting all bent out of shape about how much money they are saving.

 

Get ready for that with your M4. I don't even track and I have to replace every 2 years.