Thanks APC225 and pilotgolfer.

 

But don't take our word for it. It's too important to get it wrong. Some of the most interesting stories pilots can tell is how a missbid changed their lives. Check out the Union's Vacancy Bidding Pamphlet.

"The Bid Percentage represents your desired seniority position in a category. It is applied at the time of the award.

The final number of pilots within this range considers vacancies, pilots bidding out and possible secondary assignments occurring in the final award. The Bid Percentage is applied to awarded final number of pilots staffed to this category.

For example, let’s assume LAX737CA’s has a staffing MIN of 96 and a MAX of 102. The final award has 100 active pilots. An award of a 50% bid would mean your seniority is in the top 50 pilots of the category. This % is a point in time, at the time of the award. Changes in staffing at a category can occur due to new vacancies, displacements, and other types of assignments."

https://crewroom.alpa.org/ual/Deskto...cumentID=49515

 

The way that paragraph is worded in the vacancy bidding screen is why I wasn't completely sure 100% is 'I'll take it if I can hold it at all.' I wanted to make sure 0 or 1% wasn't the correct choice. But that wouldn't make any sense.

Bid was in 48 hours ago for ORD 777 F/O. Seniority can hold it based on the snapshots but the award has not been on the last two snapshots. Wanted to make sure 100% was the correct selection.

 

You're right. The use of "50%" in the example was a poor choice since it still doesn't tell you which way it's working.

 

The APU is no longer required to be running for 737 ETOPS....it just needs to be operable....they recently put out a bulletin regarding this.....not that it makes the 737 any better suited for Hawaii trips.

 

I wonder if you could cite the source on that. I found no bulletin and the 737 FM still requires it to be operable before Entry and confirmed ON in the ETOPS a before takeoff checklist. I did hear they're working with the FAA to remove the requirement but haven't seen the allowance for it in any of our governing documents. Not that anyone would use APC for operating guidance.

"Due to the limited time that the 737 can operate on standby electrical power it is required that the APU be run continuously in ETOPS airspace. The policy for ETOPS flights is to start the APU on the ground and leave it running until past the Extended Range Exit Point (EXT)."

 

You know you're right...there is no bulletin about this yet....I read about it in the October 1st CLE CPO update....I was going from memory and I probably had a few beers when I read it....so yes we do still need to use the APU for ETOPS, but at some point it is going away....I read so many bulletins and updates its hard to keep whats what straight!....anyway it says:

APU "on Demand" certification is in the works. By buying a special certification for the APU from Boeing, and through cold soak and random APU inflight starts; APU on Demand will eliminate the requirement to operate the APU in ETOPS airspace.

 

Don't hold your breath waiting for this. Your comment "APU on Demand certification is in the works" has been in the works for years....since the guppy has been flying ETOPS! A recent FAA inspector in my jump seat recently told me that the APU requirement will not be going away.

 

Things change so fast I often have trouble differentiating what is, what was, and what might soon be.

 

Talked to planning and freezes will not be released....the snap shots are not really accurate.