ASA Staffed Adequately??

[jetracer5]

I can't believe they even sent us that email? Because we can't trade any trips, Our QOL sucks, and we don't have enough reserves apparently means we are staffed perfectly. Plus we have been canceling flights for lack of crews! Am I the only one that thinks this means we are a bit understaffed? How about we recall until we are down to 2-3 red arrow days a month. Then I will say we are adequately staffed. I mean we only really need to recall about 20-30 or less to eliminate this problem!

 

[Max Q]

How many flights get cancelled for lack of available reserves?

 

[Medeco]

I asked CT directly this question in RGT two weeks ago and he said absolutely none.

I had no proof, but I didnt agree with him.

I have to agree from a business standpoint that as long as we are not canceling flights and losing money from it, they are dead on.

Is it perfect for us as pilots, no.

Medeco

 

[Tarzan]

It is a created staffing issue. They socialize as much as they can to make the numbers look adequate but when weather rolls in or a race happens, they run very short very quickly.

 

[wms]

Red arrow days affect morale, and morale causes flight crews to disengage from the operation, affecting performance. They won't fix it until performance is affected. And if it comes down to fixng red arrow days or risking performance, they'll fix the red arrow days.

The real prolem isn't the staffing numbers, it's scheduling's inability to manage their resources (us) competently. And I believe mgmt knows that is the problem. But the fact is, performance is good and so there is no reason to make any changes.

 

[LazyLightnin']

The fix to the red arrow problem was to increase the number of reserves. Not good for us on the cusp.

 

[samballs]

PBS will have you guys overstaffed

 

[buscap]

PBS will have you guys overstaffed[/QUOT

Perhaps, but irrelevant given our contract.

Hopefully it will mean a painless productivity boost which will bring furloughs back sooner, when the old farts start to retire.

The idea is to not further shrink the airline without taking 'race to the bottom' concessions.

I'll get back to you in ten years on how it works out. Or maybe you'll read my rants on this board. I don't know yet.

 

[Tarzan]

PBS will have you guys overstaffed

About six months before it is used for live bidding purposes. As stated before, irrelevant at this point. I don't see the union giving any relief anytime soon on furloughs either.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

If it is only six months they will not hire and probably will not recall unless there is a significant award for more flying. PBS is efficient, very efficient.

I would say it cuts staffing requirements by at least 10%

 

[jetracer5]

I asked CT directly this question in RGT two weeks ago and he said absolutely none.

I had no proof, but I didnt agree with him.

I have to agree from a business standpoint that as long as we are not canceling flights and losing money from it, they are dead on.

Is it perfect for us as pilots, no.

Medeco

Called in sick a few weeks back and they canceled my flight. I looked at the reserve board and they had 1 available pilot

 

[Oakum_Boy]

"The Company will not modify a regular pilot's trip for routine scheduling convenience."

WTFO? Who wrote this contract, a five year old? The same clowns who wrote PBS? The same ones you'll see in management soon, exploiting these loopholes they created?

Will someone tell me what the word routine means in this context and how this can be enforced?

 

[maxcackel]

Not one, Zero 200 captains available on reserve today. Look at the list.

 

[79%N1]

If we are so understaffed why have I never, not once ever broken guarantee on reserve in the last 7 months?

 

[Speedtape]

About six months before it is used for live bidding purposes. As stated before, irrelevant at this point. I don't see the union giving any relief anytime soon on furloughs either.

What do you mean by the "Union?" Are you referring to the MEC? If furlough relief comes, it will be given only by the "Union" of entire eligble voters of the ALPA members on ASA's seniority list! If that is the "Union" that you refer, then you are correct. We voted on the contract, and we will vote on any changes to the contract! I doubt furlough relief would pass!

 

[PositionandHold]

If we are so understaffed why have I never, not once ever broken guarantee on reserve in the last 7 months?

Because they bypass you to ensure you never break guarantee. It's in the contract. They will follow the bucket unless the next pilot on the list could possibly break guarantee with the trip, in which case they can move onto the next pilot.

Our contract looks good on the outside. But with all the loopholes, the only reason we havent been abused more is really due to management wanting to foster relations with the pilot group. It has nothing to do with the contract. The only thing the contract can do effectively is help wreckless senior do***e bags keep their jobs. No matter how many sims it takes to get a V1 cut within loose standards.

 

[Data]

Because they bypass you to ensure you never break guarantee. It's in the contract. They will follow the bucket unless the next pilot on the list could possibly break guarantee with the trip, in which case they can move onto the next pilot.

Our contract looks good on the outside. But with all the loopholes, the only reason we havent been abused more is really due to management wanting to foster relations with the pilot group. It has nothing to do with the contract. The only thing the contract can do effectively is help wreckless senior do***e bags keep their jobs. No matter how many sims it takes to get a V1 cut within loose standards.

You aren't really saying anything in reference to why, if we're so short staffed, reserves have not broken guarantee. Of course they by pass a reserve guy to keep him under guarantee, that's how they move the whole pile up in utilization, by going to the lowest hour guy for the next assignment. We are properly staffed, it's as simple as that. IROPS always screws things up and depletes the reserve list. Nothing new there. When line values go to high 80's-low 90's and reserves break guarantee, you can complain that we're short staffed. When line holders get extended 3 times a month, we're short staffed. I haven't seen any of that yet.

As for the comment about the senior guys, what, you want them to leave so you can have a better life and become the senior d0uche? Great point.

 

[777forever]

You aren't really saying anything in reference to why, if we're so short staffed, reserves have not broken guarantee. Of course they by pass a reserve guy to keep him under guarantee, that's how they move the whole pile up in utilization, by going to the lowest hour guy for the next assignment. We are properly staffed, it's as simple as that. IROPS always screws things up and depletes the reserve list. Nothing new there. When line values go to high 80's-low 90's and reserves break guarantee, you can complain that we're short staffed. When line holders get extended 3 times a month, we're short staffed. I haven't seen any of that yet.

As for the comment about the senior guys, what, you want them to leave so you can have a better life and become the senior d0uche? Great point.

You couldn't have said this better. ASA pilots, make of list of the things he stated, and when you can check every item off, THEN we are understaffed.

Step one of that list, reserve utilization, can't even be checked off because hardly anyone is breaking guarantee. Many not even coming close.

I believe the red arrow issue can be fixed by putting half the seniority list on reserve and increasing lines values like they did last early last fall.

 

[shamrock]

The only thing the contract can do effectively is help wreckless senior do***e bags keep their jobs. No matter how many sims it takes to get a V1 cut within loose standards.

I always though being a wreckless pilot was good thing...

 

[SiuDude]

Average line values are in the low 80's. We are not understaffed, just mismanaged.

 

[Tarzan]

Our contract looks good on the outside. But with all the loopholes, the only reason we havent been abused more is really due to management wanting to foster relations with the pilot group. It has nothing to do with the contract. The only thing the contract can do effectively is help wreckless senior do***e bags keep their jobs. No matter how many sims it takes to get a V1 cut within loose standards.

The contract is only as good as the company that is willing to honor it. We have a good example of both in this case. But we'll see how you think when that contract is all that stands between you and either lost or the street.

 

[PositionandHold]

I didn't get my point across properly, and Data, you seem to have misinterpreted it. I don't think we are understaffed. Where did I say we were? I think we should raise line values. My frustrations have to do simply with the fact that it is impossible to break guarantee because of contract language, and so we have no real motivation to work our butts off on reserve. Lately I have worked every day of reserve for 75 hours of pay. I can "credit" 90 hours, but wont see any of that money unless I block over 75 hours of pay. And with 15 hour 4 days, it seals the deal. Our contract was written with the well-being of senior guys in mind. Can anyone tell me why reserves who credit 90 hours should not make 90 hours of pay?

My comment about senior d0ouche bags had nothing to do with being jealous of their seniority. I could never be jealous of someone who spent the past 20 years flying to Buttfu king Egypt and back 4 times a day. You missed a very clear point.

We are still overstaffed, I just think that the company should raise line values to ease the load on reserves who wont break guarantee anyway. JPs email was a crock of sh t. To say that they are keeping reserve coverage low partly to allow people to build hours is nonsense. They are not doing this with our best interests in mind.

 

[ace6453]

Can anyone tell me why reserves who credit 90 hours should not make 90 hours of pay?

What are you talking about? If you credit 90 hours on reserve, you are paid 90 hours. It makes no difference what your block is. The only thing that requires 75 hours of block is to get 3.75 for every day on reserve that you didn't "work".

 

[OCP]

What are you talking about? If you credit 90 hours on reserve, you are paid 90 hours. It makes no difference what your block is. The only thing that requires 75 hours of block is to get 3.75 for every day on reserve that you didn't "work".

Exactly if you are talking about ASA you get paid for what you credit. Block has nothing to do with it.

 

[PositionandHold]

What are you talking about? If you credit 90 hours on reserve, you are paid 90 hours. It makes no difference what your block is. The only thing that requires 75 hours of block is to get 3.75 for every day on reserve that you didn't "work".

Yeah my mistake. I was told that by a colleague recently and I apparently misunderstood what he meant. Having never broken guarantee on reserve it didnt really click as right or wrong to me.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

I didn't get my point across properly, and Data, you seem to have misinterpreted it. I don't think we are understaffed. Where did I say we were? I think we should raise line values. My frustrations have to do simply with the fact that it is impossible to break guarantee because of contract language, and so we have no real motivation to work our butts off on reserve. Lately I have worked every day of reserve for 75 hours of pay. I can "credit" 90 hours, but wont see any of that money unless I block over 75 hours of pay. And with 15 hour 4 days, it seals the deal. Our contract was written with the well-being of senior guys in mind. Can anyone tell me why reserves who credit 90 hours should not make 90 hours of pay?

My comment about senior d0ouche bags had nothing to do with being jealous of their seniority. I could never be jealous of someone who spent the past 20 years flying to Buttfu king Egypt and back 4 times a day. You missed a very clear point.

We are still overstaffed, I just think that the company should raise line values to ease the load on reserves who wont break guarantee anyway. JPs email was a crock of sh t. To say that they are keeping reserve coverage low partly to allow people to build hours is nonsense. They are not doing this with our best interests in mind.

I will explain this so you can understand it...ok. Brad has a mania as it relates to the reserve concept.
Brad hates and loves reserves at the same time. He loves the ability to work a pilot without regards to most of the contract work rules that lineholders enjoy. Brad also hates the concept of paying pilots to stay home and do nothing. Hence your lack of ability to break guarantee, and flying 74.99 hrs a month.
The bucket system is one of Brads early masterpieces he "pioneered" at SKYW, we hated it and still do to this date.
I am not sure where your "entitlement" towards breaking guarantee comes from, does your contract guarantee the ability to break guarantee, of course it does, that very same contract allows the company to shift reserve flying around to prevent you from breaking guarantee, unless they need you bad enough.
Brad will continue to remove cash from your pocket one little bit at a time, you will notice, but will not get mad enough to put your beer down and do anything except complain on F/I.
Brad is a Master of "death by a thousand cuts" , his cloaking device is having been a "line pilot", except the last time he was an average "line pilot" was in the Metro.
Enjoy him! Glad he is your problem and not ours any longer.
PBr

 

[CX880]

I will explain this so you can understand it...ok. Brad has a mania as it relates to the reserve concept.
Brad hates and loves reserves at the same time. He loves the ability to work a pilot without regards to most of the contract work rules that lineholders enjoy. Brad also hates the concept of paying pilots to stay home and do nothing. Hence your lack of ability to break guarantee, and flying 74.99 hrs a month.
The bucket system is one of Brads early masterpieces he "pioneered" at SKYW, we hated it and still do to this date.
I am not sure where your "entitlement" towards breaking guarantee comes from, does your contract guarantee the ability to break guarantee, of course it does, that very same contract allows the company to shift reserve flying around to prevent you from breaking guarantee, unless they need you bad enough.
Brad will continue to remove cash from your pocket one little bit at a time, you will notice, but will not get mad enough to put your beer down and do anything except complain on F/I.
Brad is a Master of "death by a thousand cuts" , his cloaking device is having been a "line pilot", except the last time he was an average "line pilot" was in the Metro.
Enjoy him! Glad he is your problem and not ours any longer.
PBr

Do you guys at Skywest still have to fake your mothers death to get out of a scheduling jam? hahahahaha.... hahahahahah. hahahaha

 

[StrykerFL]

Understaffed, uh yeah...

They are understaffed... The word is that there has been a lot of sick calls lately and do to ASA being so understaffed sometimes flights cannot be operated due to lack of reserve coverage.

Word came down from the top from SH/CT for the Chief Pilots office to begin strictly enforcing the attendance policy. Rumor I heard was that like 20 plus 19 B disciplinary hearing letters were sent out last week for people with excessive occurrence's. I guess threatening people with their jobs are supposed to improve moral.

Anyone here know if punitive attendance policies are legal particularly when you can prove that you were sick, i.e. doctors note.

 

[SLUF4]

i'm still waiting on someone to tell me the block hours we fly today versus a year or two ago. where is the data?

 

[Roger Dat]

If we are so understaffed why have I never, not once ever broken guarantee on reserve in the last 7 months?

Because you don't bid reserve......