Surprised nobody's commented on this. Any ideas why EWR 76T has been built up to such high numbers only to (likely) involuntarily displace to EWR 756 via this latest BAT bid? Just curious why they are targeting upwards of 100 BAT transitions to ewr 756. EWR 787 base opening? Huge 737 capt vacancy? Theories, rumors or otherwise welcomed.

 

Looks like the EWR 76t flying is moving to the EWR 756. At least that what it looks like with the Aug bid packet

 

1) will they get 100 takers?
2) if they don't, could they convert some of the predicted 76T slots for upcoming new hire classes to 756?

Two weeks to Indoc...

 

D'oh! didn't even think to look at that. I suppose its quite a bit cheaper to move them from 76T to 756 as opposed to another entire fleet though. It still seems weird to send all the new hires to the 76T only to move them a few months later. The latest vacancy that closed just a few days ago and it still showed 164 EWR 76T EWR FO's as compared to 35 Captains. And they're still assigning new hire classes to 76T. I clearly don't see the big picture.

 

Snapshot came out today --

1) so far 5 bidding 76t to 756
... and 4 bidding 756 to 76t
... So 1 slot filled with 99 to go

2) not sure, but looks like its a possibility since the senior 76t FOs will not be ok with being displaced while new hires take their slot. BUT we haven't had a vacancy for the 756 in EWR so not sure they can assign new hires to it

(someone correct me if I'm wrong about the vacancy... I can't remember now but I thought the last one was only for the 76t in EWR)

 

I think most of us don't see the big pic as well!

My guess is 35 CAs means we need roughly 60-70 FOs ... Which is exactly what losing 100 will give them

 

This is how I see it. The EWR 756 flying is really some of the best flying in the entire system. You have domestic, Caribbean overnights, Hawaii South America and a ton of good Euro flying. Not to mention lots of 764 heavy wide body pay . If they posted a vacancy guys based in IAD would jump all over it as they have in the past.

They need guys on the 76T/756 and they don't need guys to bid off the 320/777/737 to fly it because it would cause to many training events. So they pull a seniority end around. Put out a vacancy for EWR 76T garbage flying that nobody wants. Fill it with new hires and then give all the new hires 4 days of differences training and make them a 756 pilot.

New Hires will not be getting 756 anytime soon because vacancies for that fleet will not go unfilled however the 76T will continue to go unfilled until the fleets are merged in late 2015 (supposedly).

A seniority F job that the company loves and the union approved.

 

I apparently haven't been issued the "big picture" either. How can they give a newbie 76T pilot differences training and *poof* make them a 756 pilot without putting out a bid any more than they can just assign it to a new hire from the beginning?

 

Because the company (and the union has agreed) will just put out a BAT bid every month and "move/displace" junior 76t pilots to the 756 without a vacancy bid.

So... new hire is awarded 76t - goes to 4 1/2 weeks of aircraft training - during training BAT bid comes out and no one senior bids it - they displace junior FOs off the 76t to 756 - new hire stays for 4 days of differences (or has a week or so off and comes back) ... Then "poof" they are 756 pilots.

So no need for the 756 vacancy bid that will create backfills.

Not saying this is a good plan... Just saying that's how I'm seeing it?

But I certainly could be wrong.

 

Puppet Master and yourself are spot on. BAT is not all bad, however, as it has allowed many 76T pilots to seriously upgrade their monthly bidding percentage by batting over to the other side. The BAT system closely mimics what we would have if the fleets were not separate. Senior guys can BAT to where they are most senior, junior guys get stuck with whats left. A 75/76 is a 75/76....eventually.