SaltyDog

This is a confusing area. It is never illegal, nor considered a job action to not pick up open time UNLESS the union starts this activity once in collective bargaining negotiations or at the end of the amendment period ("end" of contract which doesn't end).

What is uniue to the IPA contract, some in the IPA were concerned of what a court may do if you did an OT ban OUTSIDE negotiations even though not illegal. (Difference of opinion) So the IPA negotiated a legal activity into our contract to move the company to an arbitrator rather than a court for a dispute that is legal in the courts. The IPA agreed to become MORE restrictive than the law. We can now ONLY do an OT ban during furlough announcement, and IMO, outside of negotiations since it is still illegal to do a job action during negotiations.

No contract can include illegal activity or violate federal statutes because the
two parties agree.
Example:
We can't agree to fly 9 hours daily domestically because we would agree to preagreed override. Nope, against FAR's which are federal statutes and limited to 8. The agreement to going to 9 hours does not make it legal.

So we have something already legal in our contract. Any airline, not in negotiations, can do what the IPA wrote in a contract. IMO, the only real value: UPS knows we will do the ban, no guesswork. Still IMO, just means UPS now knows to boost the flight supervisor hiring (airline in airline) before furlough announcement.

Disclaimer: Not an atty. Just basics anyone can get from any lawyer.

767pilot

No requirement at all, even if you are a reserve. Also, there are certain windows where they are not allowed to call you

Jetpilot

From what I've seen, YMMV, about 60% of the lines are week on/week off or 2 weeks on/2 weeks off, with city purity at least some of the time. 20% are lines that work 5 + weeks of 8, some reporting every week for shorter trips or turns, and 20% are reserves.

Certain fleets, the ones nearing the end of their useful life, or brand new fleets are great if you live in base and would rather play with mama/poppa/the kids, than fly. Sub 100 hour years are not uncommon on those fleets. That is how it was on the 727 in it's final years, has been on the 747 Classic and now more and more on the DC-8. It has been that way in MIA and is that way in ONT now. I spent 18 months on the 727 and flew about 175 hours, it would have been closer to 125 except I had to chase hours to consolidate, or live in the sim doing checkrides to extend the consolidation period.

Over time, planning is getting better at maximizing what the contract gives them, utilizing the new fleets, and creating some interesting pairings at the Bases. It's not uncommon to run into any fleet at any sort, that originates or terminates there.

Newhires should expect a long wait for wk on/wk off unless they can make the Base Trip Lines (60-80th percentile lines) work for them, or are wizards at line improvement. Or move to your domicile and work on your golf game.

hth

CactusCrew

When/if we have new hires ... be cautious with this advice. I moved to SDF from PHX for the job early last year. In July I will be based in ONT. And when the next realignment/displacement/vacancy closes, I will most likely be moved again to ANC or take a downgrade to the panel in SDF to stay in the lower 48.

TRUST ME, considering where I have been ... I am NOT complaining. But the view from the bottom can be slightly different than you will read here or elsewhere ...

Trust but verify !

Later,

Brown CC

Jetpilot

Without a doubt instability at the bottom makes the "Move to Domicile" strategy dicey. For many years I've been one of those who would rather live where they play vs live where the work, so admittedly the "revolving domiciles" policy of Brown lately wouldn't affect me much. The tough choice if you are a commuter is what to bid when you fall into that 60-80th percentile? More commutes with a few more days off on BTL's or reserve with less commutes and less days off. ANC and Over 60 has created a lot of instability at the bottom.

Precontact

Well I think you're pretty much stuck where you are right now unless you're close to the bottom.

DSflyer05

When they finally start hiring again do you guys think it will be a stipulation of employment for "new hires" to move and relocate to ANC. I was wondering if that was the reason they are giving that overide pay to new hires who do so for 3 years. Thanks.

767pilot

There is no stipulation and that is why they try and make it more appetizing. I don't think that the IPA would ever allow one.

fr8rcaptain

On any layover, we are under no obligation to be "on the hook." We even have "no contact Periods," depending on the length of your scheduled layover where the company can only slip a note under your door and turn on a message light.

Many UPS pilots routinely go off on little jaunts when on layovers. Internationally, I've travelled all around western Europe while on 60-73+ hour layovers. Lately, I've been planning a jaunt to Berlin later in July.
I just did a 74 hour layover in HNL last October. Flew the wife over on American and we holed up at a nice resort for the duration.

Archie Bunker

For CY 08, I've logged a whopping 40.6 hours flight time on reserve (mostly A reserve). Living in domicile (or within reserve call out time) is a pretty good way to go. If you want "home" time, there is nothing better. I think the longest time I've spent away from home this year is one night.

The gravy train may be over for me come this next displacement bid. Chances are I'll be Alaska bound on the -400.