ASA Reserve Crisis???

[jstyle13]

So far through FEB on the 700 Capt side we have run out of reserve's (at least on the reserve list) every day. As of now, we don't have anyone available till Monday (think anyone's gonna call in sick this weekend for the Super Bowl????). I don't know about any of the other seats but this is crazy. They've gotta be extending line holders. I thought with PBS getting here, reserve life was going to get a little easier/slower. Boy was I wrong.

I was close to a line this month for the first time in 4 years and am hoping to get one in March when the block hours go up. But now im afraid they are going to have to go back +30% reserve coverage. Doesn't seem like our old line system was the problem, seems to be a staffing/scheduling issue still.

I don't know why they are dragging a$$ on the vacancy award. WE need some more captains ASAP. And even if they do put one out soon, guys won't be online till mid-spring. Gonna be an interesting spring......

 

[COOPERVANE]

They are idiots.
There will be a memo out around May about how they got caught by surprise and we just need to stick it out.

 

[mxaviator]

They could barely run this place with 30% on reserve.

 

[spudskier]

Said it before and will say it again, last summer was just a taste of how bad this summer will be if they don't hire a lot... soon...

 

[RJLoser]

This happens everywhere. You work at a regional.

 

[COOPERVANE]

This happens everywhere. You work at a regional.

I am so sick of this attitude. Just because your ********************ty regional has staffing issues doesn't mean mine should. If my paychecks begin to bounce are you gonna say "what do you expect, you work at a regional....get over it"?

THIS is a new phenomenon at ASA. Since I'VE been here mgmt has never been as short sighted about staffing as they seem to be now. No doubt to compete with crappier regionals than us.

However, I fear this may be the new ASA, so congratulations to ALL of us for lowering the collective QOL bar.

Don't you think it makes more sense to WANT OTHER regionals to do well? To give their employees great flight benefits, stock grants and cheap health care? Where does this attitude come from? Is this a result of watching too much Jerry springer?

So, here's to you and YOUR company, I hope you get a 20'% raise, 2 more weeks of vacation and free health insurance. Or am I not doing it right? Am I supposed to revell in your misery and tell you welcome to the club?

We are our own worst enemy

 

[Abernathy]

They are idiots.
There will be a memo out around May about how they got caught by surprise and we just need to stick it out.

Known as the BH method.

 

[RJLoser]

Then grow a pair and lead the way my friend. I am moving on. I have found that is my only option.
PS you work for a sh@tty regional too.

 

[RJLoser]

Duplicate

 

[COOPERVANE]

Then grow a pair and lead the way my friend. I am moving on. I have found that is my only option.
PS you work for a sh@tty regional too.

Let me guess, 1000hrs PIC and your outta there, right? great plan. Never thought of that.

Are you a senior at Riddle?

 

[RJLoser]

No. Just a guy who understands your postion. It sucks man. All you can do is your part. Keep the faith and move on.

 

[asayankee]

Thanks for all you do...

 

[Data]

I don't know why people are so surprised by this, this is the regional business model. Minimum staffing for maximum flying with lowest overall costs...and we aren't even that competitive. I have 20 different suggestions that could save this company money and headache (who doesn't for that matter), but none of them will ever see the light of day. I show up, do my thing, some days I make the effort to get things going, other days, I let the system 'work'. I have zero stress and then I go home.

The only gripe I have about this is that we used bargaining capital to get profit sharing that is based on other people's ability to do their job. We don't have any control when it comes to how they staff and run the airline yet we 'gave up' something to get profit sharing and when our/their performance suffers, due to 'the regional business model', it's money out of our pockets. Want to change this? In the next contract let them have their profit sharing back and give me a corresponding increase in pay rate so that, no matter what happens with their ********************ty, understaffed model, I get paid for it.

 

[701EV]

I don't know why people are so surprised by this, this is the regional business model. Minimum staffing for maximum flying with lowest overall costs...and we aren't even that competitive. I have 20 different suggestions that could save this company money and headache (who doesn't for that matter), but none of them will ever see the light of day. I show up, do my thing, some days I make the effort to get things going, other days, I let the system 'work'.

Data, I'm with you brother!

Day 1, 2, and 3 let the system work. Day 4 make an effort.

If they were smart (I know better) they would have more naps. Naps may leave late but they always show up on time back in ATL.

More day lines. Day lines always run on time.

Back to back two days same reason.

Crews always want to go home on time.

Management doesn't get it

 

[johnpeace]

Crews always want to go home on time.

I'm as motivated to finish my day and get to the overnight on time as I am to get home after the trip.

 

[777forever]

Like I said before, if they offer 200% for all opentime pickups and voluntary extensions, all this whining and fatigue talk will go away quickly like it did last summer.

 

[SLUF4]

Same ol stuff. it's been going on for well over a year

 

[crj567]

Same ol stuff. it's been going on for well over a year

Yet we reward mgmt's incompetence by continually handing them all their hopes and dreams on a silver platter.

-May as well take my 2% and wipe my butt with it.

 

[jstyle13]

Here we go...

Email to CR7 Capt's from Scheduling:

"We have a CR7 CA trip open for Sunday February 6th..... Pay for this trip will be 150%."

this was assigned to a res as of tonight but I guess he/she called in sick. And of course there's no one availible to cover it. I guess the line holders are gonna $$ in again this month because I have a feeling this will happen several more times. Gotta love it....

 

[Abernathy]

this was assigned to a res as of tonight but I guess he/she called in sick.

Good for him!

 

[777forever]

Seems like just the 70 with staffing problems. ATL and IAD 200 is decently staffed

 

[Max Q]

Like I said before, if they offer 200% for all opentime pickups and voluntary extensions, all this whining and fatigue talk will go away quickly like it did last summer.

That excuse is horse sh(beep)t. There are those who want to fly 5 and 6 days in a row and those that don't.

 

[gator_hater]

We probably have enough reserves but when it comes to their efficient use scheduling leaves a little to be desired. Last week I joined a trip that had been broken up for a lineholder to attend training. He left after the first leg home but could easily have done the next round trip that was back in Atl by 1400. This happens all the time and enough of it adds up to reserve shortages.

 

[COOPERVANE]

I just did a DH to an outstation that was almost 3 hours late. When we got there, there was a crew waiting to take the plane we DH'd on to IAD.

There was ANOTHER plane sitting there for 3 hours. The waiting crew called dispatch to try and take the one sitting there and they refused. No reason......just refused.

Soooo they called 2 RESERVE CREWS (or rerouted lineholders) to cover the now very late trips back in ATL and IAD.

This is the level of efficiency that will necessitate 30% reserve coverage. Congrats Pappagiorgio.

 

[johnpeace]

This is the level of efficiency that will necessitate 30% reserve coverage. Congrats Pappagiorgio.

It's true. The scheduling games we see, 4 day trips with a day of sitting somewhere and 20-30% reserve coverage is there for the simple reason that it gives scheduling the flexibility they need to cover crew planning's astounding ineptitude.

If it weren't for all of that, the incompetence of crew planning would be apparent to everyone in the GO.

I think we should make replacement of the crew planning management one of our top priorities in JCBA negotiations. Demand that they retire that guy and find someone half competent to replace him.

 

[centralpilot]

I just did a DH to an outstation that was almost 3 hours late. When we got there, there was a crew waiting to take the plane we DH'd on to IAD.

There was ANOTHER plane sitting there for 3 hours. The waiting crew called dispatch to try and take the one sitting there and they refused. No reason......just refused.

Soooo they called 2 RESERVE CREWS (or rerouted lineholders) to cover the now very late trips back in ATL and IAD.

This is the level of efficiency that will necessitate 30% reserve coverage. Congrats Pappagiorgio.

You don't see the big picture

 

[COOPERVANE]

It's true. The scheduling games we see, 4 day trips with a day of sitting somewhere and 20-30% reserve coverage is there for the simple reason that it gives scheduling the flexibility they need to cover crew planning's astounding ineptitude.

If it weren't for all of that, the incompetence of crew planning would be apparent to everyone in the GO.

I think we should make replacement of the crew planning management one of our top priorities in JCBA negotiations. Demand that they retire that guy and find someone half competent to replace him.

You hit the nail on the head.

 

[sunlitpath]

Adjust your own schedule, if it doesn't suit you. It will force their hand.

 

[sunlitpath]

Sick, fatigue, sick, fatigue, sick, fatigue, etc. Don't sacrifice your health while ALPA sacricifices your life at the altar of free lunch during recurrent ground. ALPA is a scam.

 

[Redan]

Right now the ATL 200 captain reserve list shows zero availability. As long as I've been here Crew Planning and Scheduling have fought for the flexibility to be, frankly, lazy. They were quite opposed to the concept of having the online reserve list, or any transparency for that matter during contract negotiations. When I speak to my captain's rep regarding the abysmal reserve conditions, he tells me our pilot group is too expensive, and asks what I would be willing to give up to achieve the reserve improvements I mention. Yet company can afford to deadhead me 10 times in 10 recent reserve days, as well as pay for umpteen hotel rooms in IAD, MEM, DTW, and have countless crew in hotels for 18+ hours as scheduled on their line trips. The arguments tendered by company justifying this (and regrettably now our elected representatives) are specious and now wearing quite thin. The unbelievable loss of control during the recent snowpocalypse demonstrated how truly antiquated and detached our Skeds and Crew Planning really are. While recognizing the challenges related to the type flying awarded to us by DL, it is now quite obvious to us all that we aren't working with the brightest bulbs on the tree management-wise, and that we will probably have to force their hand to increase efficiency (and thus our QOL). This means upgrading our trip/duty rigs for example, and personally, I won't vote for any contract which doesn't have pay protection in place for reserves. These items cause short term pain for company but produce long term gains in efficiency.