ASA Staffed Adequately??

[jstyle13]

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

I've been on res for almost 2.5 years now. I've only broken 75 once and that was last summer. There are a handful of guys who break 75 each month and they are scr cmf's that have tue-thurs GDO's. Scheduling is pretty good at making sure everyone gets 55-75 credit hours a month.

As much as people like to say we are short staffed when the bucket list gets down to a few guys and they keep tacking assignments on to us reserves, the truth is probably closer to adequate staffing. Until nearly all res's get 75+ hr's and line holders get extended, I would imagine they will stick with what we got.

Now come summer......

 

[79%N1]

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

Um, I do bid reserve because I am forced to.

 

[Abernathy]

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.

Call the FAA and tell them you were disciplined for calling in sick and now feel forced to fly sick for fear of losing your job.

OR just dont worry about it. Good thing about being unionized.

 

[Data]

Call the FAA and tell them you were disciplined for calling in sick and now feel forced to fly sick for fear of losing your job.

OR just dont worry about it. Good thing about being unionized.

Yeah, cause when I hear a guy with 10+ occurrences whining about wanting to call the FAA, I side with them....

 

[777forever]

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.

Correct. ASA's running the reserve staffing pretty thin. Reason is they are trying to save money by keeping as many pilots as close to 75 hrs as possible by having low line values. This increases the number of lineholders and many lines have min days off resulting in less opentime pickups and more work to keep the reserves busy. As a result there are a few days where the reserve coverage is little to none.

Come summer time they will up the line values and increase reserve coverage. And if we run out of reserves for a particular day they'll just extend people. When extensions start happening on a regular basis we will be approaching an understaffed situation.

 

[restart]

So! Anybody been extended yet? Anybody seen flights cancelled due to lack of staffing?

 

[jetracer5]

Call the FAA and tell them you were disciplined for calling in sick and now feel forced to fly sick for fear of losing your job.

OR just dont worry about it. Good thing about being unionized.

I called in sick and the chief pilot said I was in risk of being fired......So I said "So your forcing me to fly sick?" Chief Pilot quote "Now I'm not telling you to fly sick but with the amount of occurrences you have you can loose your job and the union will not be able to help you" ?????????? This is starting to get out of hand and somebody (ie FAA, NTSB, ALPA) needs to address company policy vs federal law. I WILL NOT BE FORCED TO FLY SICK! BTW I got FMLA and got everything covered.........

 

[jetracer5]

Yeah, cause when I hear a guy with 10+ occurrences whining about wanting to call the FAA, I side with them....

Hey most companies give you about 20+ days of sick coverage. I have only missed 6 days in the last year.....guess what I have 6 occurrences! The occurrence policy needs to be trashed and a more mainstream sick policy NEEDS to be put in place. We dont even get close to the sick pay that most companies provide.

 

[Tarzan]

So! Anybody been extended yet? Anybody seen flights cancelled due to lack of staffing?

Yes. Was extended early this month.

 

[wms]

The next contract needs PTO (personal time off) days that we use at our discression without occurences. That's one of the reasons I voted no on contract '07.

We're not going to get much more money so we need to work on issues like this, as well as insurance. It's insulting that grown men and women are threatened with occurences for using the time they've accrued.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

Hey most companies give you about 20+ days of sick coverage. I have only missed 6 days in the last year.....guess what I have 6 occurrences! The occurrence policy needs to be trashed and a more mainstream sick policy NEEDS to be put in place. We dont even get close to the sick pay that most companies provide.

1 occurrence does not equal 1 day. Most of the time, 1 occurrence equals however many days your trip is, but it can be many more days than that. If you are sick for 2 weeks straight, that is one occurrence.

Of course, if you go to the doctor and get them to fill out FMLA paperwork, you don't get an occurrence for that absence.

If you have even one occurrence, it is either because you deserve it, or because you didn't take the proper action to not have one (FMLA).

 

[sweptback]

If you have even one occurrence, it is either because you deserve it, or because you didn't take the proper action to not have one (FMLA).

You need to familiarize yourself with FMLA if you want to spout off a statement like that.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

You need to familiarize yourself with FMLA if you want to spout off a statement like that.

If you miss work because you are sick, you qualify for FMLA. Serious medical condition is one that prevents you from working, and as a pilot, almost anything qualifies. If you take a drug that makes it illegal for you to fly, you qualify.

I understand FMLA. I've used it numerous times to avoid occurrences.

 

[sweptback]

If you miss work because you are sick, you qualify for FMLA.

Not necessarily.

 

[Av8trix616]

Personally, I had to beg plead and whine with my Doc to sign even a string of a few days of FMLA leave, for my recurrent sinus flare-ups. I could *not* get him to authorize intermittent leave at all. He couldn't believe that a professional pilot would be penalized for a simple sick call, despite my attempts to explain that my *job* was on the line. It was one of those doc-in-a-box places though, so that may have been part of it.

I'm furloughed, so I have no need for finding a new guy now, but I would be trying to find a new Doc if I needed the FMLA at this point. Unfortunately, Doc shopping isn't cheap, even if it's just a copay.

 

[buscap]

Personally, I had to beg plead and whine with my Doc to sign even a string of a few days of FMLA leave, for my recurrent sinus flare-ups. I could *not* get him to authorize intermittent leave at all. He couldn't believe that a professional pilot would be penalized for a simple sick call, despite my attempts to explain that my *job* was on the line. It was one of those doc-in-a-box places though, so that may have been part of it.

I'm furloughed, so I have no need for finding a new guy now, but I would be trying to find a new Doc if I needed the FMLA at this point. Unfortunately, Doc shopping isn't cheap, even if it's just a copay.

I suggest you use your FAA doc. Most are familiar with the airlines and why you need the FMLA.

 

[ace6453]

If you miss work because you are sick, you qualify for FMLA. Serious medical condition is one that prevents you from working, and as a pilot, almost anything qualifies. If you take a drug that makes it illegal for you to fly, you qualify.

I understand FMLA. I've used it numerous times to avoid occurrences.

No you do not. You must be out for 3+ days. If you just have a 24 or 48 hour thing, then you DO NOT qualify.

 

[Roger Dat]

Been dealing with this a lot lately. You don't have to miss work for 3 + days, just unable to work. I was sick on my last day of work, and still got FMLA approved. Only missing 1 day of work...

 

[Pasturepilot]

I begin to wonder if a lot of it is up to doctor's interpretation: I've skyrocketed from a good employee to a level-3 warned employee on the brink of termination because of occurances racked up battling a lingering sinus infection. (granted, I ain't flying anymore.. riding out the furlough by turning wrenches at A-tech). My doc refuses to write out FMLA for less than two weeks' leave. I think it is time for a new doc.

 

[ace6453]

I begin to wonder if a lot of it is up to doctor's interpretation: I've skyrocketed from a good employee to a level-3 warned employee on the brink of termination because of occurances racked up battling a lingering sinus infection. (granted, I ain't flying anymore.. riding out the furlough by turning wrenches at A-tech). My doc refuses to write out FMLA for less than two weeks' leave. I think it is time for a new doc.

There really is nothing to worry about. They can't fire you for calling in sick.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

No you do not. You must be out for 3+ days. If you just have a 24 or 48 hour thing, then you DO NOT qualify.

Exactly. Make sure you are out for 3+ days if you call in sick. And by out, I mean unavailable, so even if you have a day off, be sure to call back "in" after 3 days, and put those dates on the FMLA paperwork. You don't have to miss 3 days of work, just be unavailable for 3 days. Like most bureaucracies, you have to make your situation fit into the system.

For those who can't get a doctor to sign, you need to get a doctor that understands the FAA and the medical regs.

 

[Roger Dat]

PasturePilot,

do they have the same sick rules over there for mechanics???

 

[Pasturepilot]

Roger,

Nah, it's different. I had to start over with a new hire date, go back on probation, the whole nine yards. We play by some HR policy book that's available on ourasa. With no union over here, a lot of things are left to the company's interpretation.. not a great situation by any stretch.

 

[StrykerFL]

You need to read and understand the FMLA law itself to see why doctors are not filling out FMLA paperwork. CFR 825.113 specifically says that certain conditions (the common cold, the flu, ear aches, upset stomach, etc.) do not meet the definition of "serious health condition." You also have to look at the definition of "continuing treatment" 825.115 were you will see that in most cases where we cannot fly i.e. cold, sinus infection, etc. (viral infections), bed rest, fluids and off the shelf meds are not continuing treatment.

The doctor has to certify on the FMLA paperwork that you meet the criteria of a serious illness and are receiving continuing treatment for said illness. If you do not meet those qualifiers and the doctor fills out the paperwork anyway they are abusing the FMLA system. My doctor will not fill out FMLA paperwork for this reason. The law is cut and dry. A lot of doctors abuse this unfortunately.

 

[Speedtape]

You need to read and understand the FMLA law itself to see why doctors are not filling out FMLA paperwork. CFR 825.113 specifically says that certain conditions (the common cold, the flu, ear aches, upset stomach, etc.) do not meet the definition of "serious health condition."
I believe the actual wording is "normally" do not meet. These rules are written for the average worker. The conditions mentioned can affect a pilot. For a pilot, some of the conditions listed can induce vertigo which is serious in my book. Go to your AME, and not your normal Doctor.
You also have to look at the definition of "continuing treatment" 825.115 were you will see that in most cases where we cannot fly i.e. cold, sinus infection, etc. (viral infections), bed rest, fluids and off the shelf meds are not continuing treatment.
The language also includes taking a prescribed course of medication as a "continuing" event. Most Doctors will prescribe antibiotics even with a viral infection to prevent a secondary bacterial infection. Antibiotics meet the standard for treatment of continuing nature. Don't make it too complicated. Go to your AME.

The doctor has to certify on the FMLA paperwork that you meet the criteria of a serious illness and are receiving continuing treatment for said illness. If you do not meet those qualifiers and the doctor fills out the paperwork anyway they are abusing the FMLA system. My doctor will not fill out FMLA paperwork for this reason. The law is cut and dry. A lot of doctors abuse this unfortunately.

The law is far from cut and dry. A "serious illness" is defined as any illness that would prevent you from performing the normal functions of your job. An ear infection or a sinus infection would be a "serious illness" for a pilot, but maybe not so for an office worker. "Continuous treatment" can be a regimen of taking prescribed medication. Again, go to your AME. I have never had any problem getting my AME to fill out the paperwork, or the acceptance of that paperwork.

If the Doctor you go to refuses to fill out the paperwork, find a new Doctor. An AME is the best solution.

 

[sayrejm]

Who has the better avitar? Speedtape or StrykerFL... I can seem to pick just one.

 

[sayrejm]

avatar*

 

[777forever]

For the month of March

Highest IAD based FO reserve credit: 55hrs
March Credit for the three TDY FOs in IAD today: 91,91 and 97 hrs

 

[Abernathy]

For the month of March

Highest IAD based FO reserve credit: 55hrs
March Credit for the three TDY FOs in IAD today: 91,91 and 97 hrs

Now why would you IAD RSVs fly so little and our ATL Based TDY'd guys fly so much there? I don't get the logic. I really don't.

 

[777forever]

Now why would you IAD RSVs fly so little and our ATL Based TDY'd guys fly so much there? I don't get the logic. I really don't.

I think they are skipping over IAD based FOs in the reserve list so they can utilize the TDYs more since they're already paying for a hotel for the TDYs. IAD reserves don't catch it unless we're sitting at the computer refreshing the reserve list all day.