Damn so many post by you
Just like when you were at Trans States...

I'm on Motch's side. I think there are much bigger "fish to fry" and the uproar on this issue is, to me, unnecessary, and as Motch pointed out the reality is that the vast majority of pilots will pick up their new iPad without giving it a second thought. Do I think we should be paid? Absolutely. Do I trust the union to resolve this issue for me? Absolutely. Will I go out of my way to pick up the new iPad? Not a chance, but I'm heading to Denver for 5 weeks of training and I suspect I can get it done then so for me it's non-issue.

The iPad is an incredible and powerful tool. I am genuinely pleased to have that tool in my flight bag, and I hope the union is encouraging the company to continue to improve this tool by adding power, fixed holders, and universal onboard wifi. I believe those issues are far more important than getting one hour of pay for picking up my new tool that will help me be a better pilot.

Actually the fact that people have decided to complain about 1 hour of time inorder to get a tool like the iPad is somewhat humorous and certainly a sign of the times.

Maybe, just maybe, the union isn't going for money. They could be seeking a better delivery system, a broader agreement for a resolution to remedy the company's demands upon our time. They asked for our assistance and that's enough for me.

The independent contractor always knows better though. They know the important issues. They know what's right for them and you. What they really do is torpedo the leverage the MEC wishes to produce.

Let's try this again....

The angst in all this is that the company is asking pilots to report an hour before a scheduled duty or during off duty to perform a company task. Maybe that task is "optional" in the eyes of the company, but it's a company requested task. As for swapping out between flights during a 3 hour airport appreciation sit, no one has said that's a problem. The problem (big neon sign here Motch lol...) is the ask of a pilot to schedule a meeting that could last an hour before the start of a 117 duty period or during an off duty period. Is swapping out an iPad company duty? I say yes, straight forward yes! If it was a simple drop and swap I think no one would care when it's done.....it's just the whole hour and making an appointment.

As for asking DL or FDX how they swap equipment.....who cares? This is United, I'd like to see us be the airline that sets the bar and not follows.

Anyway....it's just a piece of company junk. I'm only speaking up because I believe in our current MEC leadership and the Dc11 LEC. If they are asking the pilot group to hold off....I say there must be a reason, so just get in line and follow their lead until there is a reason not to follow.

I think the company will figure it out if they want to get the new iPad into the hands of each pilot.

Posting bankers hours for availability and asking for 60 minutes of a pilot's time to exchange iPads is going to be self-correcting. I'm not sure why we're getting wrapped around the axle here.

Scheduled my iPad pick up during a three hour sit in ORD, so essentially getting paid for it.

For the guys on the WB fleets who typically leave late at night, then get back and just want to go home or catch their commute home, no way I’d burn my free time in that manner. Especially when they’re not running the swap meet past 1600. So is a guy on a SIN FRMS flight supposed to show up five hours early?

To be fair, the company has not asked anyone to come in early. They simply asked you to sign up for when it is convenient for you.

This. ^^^^

It was self correcting last time. It shouldn't have to be this way. Of course it will end with "you'll be placed on NQ status by the end of XXX if you haven't replaced your iPad."

That too will self-correcting. If they push it to a system board grievance I'll take the bet that I get the time off AND back pay.

My predicament exactly, even if they had guys in ops for the late shift, I don't see how they'd get everyone swapped over during time allocated for flight planning. Showing up early at the start of a 18 hour FDP, thank but no thanks.

As for commuting in on days off or sticking around after a 17 hour FDP on the return leg and missing the first commuter flight home. Again, thanks but no thanks.

I know for certain that ops has my address, and that they have a FedEx account. They'll figure it out.

Someone asked about FedEx.

Last time we upgraded to new iPads an email was sent out saying your new iPad was available. We were able to pick an arrival date on the company website for delivery at our home. It was then sent via FedEx to arrive on that date or we could opt to have it held at the local office for pickup if we would likely not be home. Delivery had to be signed for. This is just like any other FedEx delivery.

Put old iPad in box new iPad arrived in, schedule a FedEx pickup or drop off at a FedEX location.

Enter your Apple ID in new iPad. Update apps at home or next time at work. I did mine at home, hit update all and let it sit in the counter. That and then updating Jeps probably took 45 minutes but it just sat there I didn't babysit it.

Thanks for the info. Wow, that would be just too easy!

As usual, seems UAL can screw up just about anything.

Maybe I am making this too much of a deal. Last time, I got mine on a flight delay in the last week of availability. Chances of the 777 operating on time are pretty small.

But, I will not be going in unpaid to get one.

The bulletin yesterday about re-initializing the Content locker, log out, then log back in, re-download....isn't that about the same thing as getting a new iPad?

Why does it take an hour to get one? Anyone know?

They’re probably considering the “Where’s the ‘any key’ crowd”.


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Your still working for "Free" if you get it fedex'd to your home and have to do anything (your time) to get it up and running and ready for your next flight... just saying. The process you describe is really not much different (time consumption wise) as going to Ops at report time, sign off the pickup, and logon/download... doesn't take but 30 minutes or so. Bottom line, we need to get this integrated into our next contract so we don't work for free anymore... but chest thumping that "I don't work for free"... working for free at home, in the hotel, or in flight ops is the same thing... still working for free.

I was not debating the aspect of doing it on my time or company time. I was just describing how the iPad refresh was handled at FedEx.

It was a pretty easy process and all I really had to do was be home and enter my personal info to the iPad and hit update in the App Store for the initial install. Probably 15 minutes of my time, I'm ok with that. I also use the iPad for non work use so it is really a win for me, I've recouped my 15 minutes.

Not busting your chops! I was just saying that a lot of chest thumping on this iPad refresh (like the other two times) on this board and the other one... its really not a lot of time involved... but free work is happening however its done. We should have it in our contract that we get 1 hour for company provided issuance of work items (to include uniform fitting) and paid for actual time spent on CQDL...

Had a scheduled 2 hour sit time in the hub yesterday and stopped in flt ops to see about the new iPad. Even though there were no appointments available, there were apparently a lot of now shows. The FO and I signed in, exchanged iPads and set up our new ones during the sit time.

The process went much more smoothly than the first time. The time limiting factor was the sky-fi band width in flt ops. With maybe half dozen pilots using it, slowed to a crawl. Switched to wireless and speed picked up.

Took about 45 minutes for the basic United pilot apps to download and install.

About 5 minutes to set up email account and out the door.

There is a lot of other Apple junk pre installed that can't be deleted.

All in all, not too painful but I would not want to attempt it pre-flight as I think things can go wrong.

Still, there is no reason that the company couldn't have ordered them with our apps pre installed AFAIK.

The techs were knowledgeable and helpful.

T-Mobile reps were there selling the service and there are some pretty good deals.

YMMV

I ended up with a reserve trip to EWR with a layover and DH back to IAH. I left layover hotel 3 hours early to go in and swap it out. It took 2:20 to do it.

My suggestion is to have them pre-loaded with what a 737 pilot needs, 787, 756, etc. Have them fully ready with Jepp and WSI and content locker. After the pilot walks up ask him or her what fleet and then simply load a profile and an email and assign it. Wham-bam, done in 10 minutes.

The Techies in EWR said that yesterday it was taking 3:30 to 4.0 hours due to bandwidth restrictions. If you log on to the nearby United Club First Class lounge wireless it will be much faster. Likely about 2 hours.

Reportedly the Techies were just handing out the Ipads after profile loaded and getting you to re-load it all at home or at the layover. But, you'll need to leave with both Ipads and turn in the old one, once everything properly loads.

I jumped up and got it done in 2:20. But, when I left I saw pilots still hanging out who were waiting to get finished, and they were there 30 minutes ahead of me. If there were a CBT lab or something there you might be able to better use your sit time.

Or, the Techies could simply pre-load them. I would treat it like the loaners in flight ops. Load them up without an email profile. And then set up a profile later. The time consuming stuff could be done by folks that are being paid 10 bucks an hour.

Yet another UAL IT debacle underway......

How’s that?

It makes sense to me how 50 people getting their iPads at the same time (when the union suggested not to) and downloading every pub in content locker -at the same time-could bog down the Wi-Fi.

I would hardly call that a debacle. Stop being so dramatic. This isn’t that big of a deal....well-getting your iPad when the union suggested not to might be.

Uhmmm.....What?

While I have not gotten my new iPad, yep waiting to see what MEC Todd will do for us, it appears to me that this is the best handled iPad distribution to date. The first was a disaster, second our poor FOCs had to put up with pilots and this time they hired an outside firm.

Of course there are those pilots who would like for their personalized iPad to be preloaded with all their desired apps and Company stuff so all they have to do is put a sticker on the camera and head to the airplane.

Back in the day we complained about having to come in and pick up our paychecks.

Blastmail, "Following input from ALPA MEC representatives and a quick response by Flt Ops leadership, the Company has agreed to several enhancements to improve the iPad refresh process. In addition, pilot reports from the field indicate the iPad upgrade team has been very helpful in streamlining the process.

The new iPad requires an initial set-up which takes approximately 10 minutes. Once initialized, the primary time constraint is due to the 60+ minutes it takes to download information to the Content Locker, JeppFD-Pro, Pilot Mobile, and WSI.

Once initialized, pilots will now be able to take the new iPad with them and conduct the remaining content downloads at their convenience. Full details on the updated options for swapping out iPads should be posted on CCS shortly."

Did it yesterday while waiting for my commute flight home. Good process, T-mobile guy handled getting everything set up, but could have done it on my own if necessary.

Not that big of a deal, honestly.

Glad to hear. It seems a little unhinged for some folks to be trying to throw down over this at such short notice. If we were at war with management right now like some of our underpaid compadres at other airlines, I'd understand. But, as our pilot group is seemingly at peace with management and has arguably the some of best pay/benefits in the world right now it seems needlessly vindictive. I'd rather preserve goodwill for the time being and save our negotiating capital for our recently opened contract negotiations.

I learned how easy it is to setup an iPad when I locked myself out of the work iPad... forgot my password! Just need to logon to AirWatch first... then the Jepp Activation App, finally WSI... everything else just takes wifi. Note to self, need to remember the password after a long break.

Seems simple enough.

Unhinged and vindictive? Ok if we are at "war" with management? How about doing what was right. The refresh process was flawed. ALPA did what it had to to smooth the process.

What concerned me more was the disregard many held for the MEC communication. Here's to unification and independent contractors.

It could take up to 4 hours in EWR. Slow due to bandwidth.

Don’t be dramatic......Or so I’ve been told.

no kidding. The new process is you get issued a new iPad and they have you logon to AW, Jepp App, and WSI... takes a few minutes. All the downloads can be done sitting on your kitchen island or on your hotel desk. You get to hold onto your old iPad until your satisfied with the downloads being completed... so if not done before step time then take both. And before anyone asks... you get no ADD PAY for carrying two iPads on a trip.

Got it all done on FSB today. Easy process.

expense internet ?
 

Did you file an expense report for the data/internet bill?

I pay the same amount for home internet no matter how much I use... You're charged by amount of data? Do you also expense internet for your PBS bidding?

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Pick your battles. How bad do you really have it right now? I also flight plan in my hotel room. Should I be crucified? I also click "update" on the jepp app at home while I get ready for work.

Who cares?

Delta board. Full access to app store, 22GB cell data before it throttles back.

Oh my god.
Delta could get daily sand thrown in their cracks and our guys would be jealous.

We could get gold bouillon on Thursdays and guys would complain about the weight

Delta is hiring... upgrade to NB Captain in about 3-4 years. No excuse to move if you're not happy here... and you get full access to the App Store... extra bonus.