ASA summer flying increase

[OCP]

If I'm not mistaken an ACARS message is a valid form of notification now. All they have to do is send you a message with "Crew Acknowledge Required."

I'm pretty sure Delta has it in their contract that they can only be officially notified of an extension in person. I've watched one guy escape down the jetway stairs and into the bowels of the airport before someone could show up to tell him.

I looked and didn't really find anything in the contract that references that. Anyone have a quote from the contract on this?

 

[zawillif]

I looked and didn't really find anything in the contract that references that. Anyone have a quote from the contract on this?

ASA contract doesn't reference this. I was talking about the DAL contract. I think I read in a Tech Brief awhile back that ACARS notifications in flight are an "official" notification. Like I said, I may have dreamed that up-but for some reason it's in my head.

 

[centralpilot]

I seem to remember the ASA contract technically requiring you to check your mailbox for extension notices and such before leaving the airport. Is that still in the current contract?

 

[Medeco]

The FOM does require this, it just does not say when during your trip you have to check it.

With that said, the leadership is smart enough to know they will get resistance on this. I am sure they have come up with a way to make sure we are notified when needed.

As much as I hate that people are on the street, this company has a duty and a right to make money and use the tools it has. We signed a contract, if you are legal, and they follow the contract, you have no choice unless you like to get in trouble and make reason for them to let you go.

It will suck, but I'd rather have this problem than not having a job.


Medeco

 

[Speedtape]

I looked and didn't really find anything in the contract that references that. Anyone have a quote from the contract on this?

It appears that the contract does not specifically address notification methods in rescheduling. Only the FOM states, under pilot responsibilities, at dutyout a pilot must check his mailbox for any messages from scheduling, OCC, or the Chief Pilot. That is the only requirement in policy.

If they change that to electronic notification, there are some protocols that have to be followed first under 26.R.

 

[SLUF4]

They're still getting people via radio as well-be careful answering those calls from ops

 

[Speedtape]

They're still getting people via radio as well-be careful answering those calls from ops

Yes, and one pilot told me that on his last leg, they would not park him until he made a radio call to scheduling. That violates the spirit of sterile cockpit and good operating practices.

Just wondering--are they extending lately? I have not been extended for a while, and I thought that was what RR was for?

 

[sweptback]

Yes, and one pilot told me that on his last leg, they would not park him until he made a radio call to scheduling. That violates the spirit of sterile cockpit and good operating practices.

Holding passengers hostage? It's amazing the dumb ideas that they come up with.

I say you just sit there, both engines running (you're parking at the bottom of D, right?), cashing in on the overblock.

 

[SLUF4]

I'm not sure if they're extending, but on sunday we had 0 reserves at least on 200 captain-things are better the last 2 days, though. I'd imagine there have a been a few extensions.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I'm not sure if they're extending, but on sunday we had 0 reserves at least on 200 captain-things are better the last 2 days, though. I'd imagine there have a been a few extensions.

You "imagine" there have been a few? There either have been or have not been. Did you have any dreams last night about extensions that you want to share with us?

 

[shamrock]

You "imagine" there have been a few? There either have been or have not been. Did you have any dreams last night about extensions that you want to share with us?

Last night I had a dream that I wrote a book called "CrewBid for Idiots", made a fortune from it, and rewarded the guy who inspired it with a free copy. Just thought I'd share that....

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Very funny A-hole. Actually it was funny, and you're still an a-hole. :beer:

 

[SLUF4]

how would I know if there have been any extensions? I'm not a scheduler. It's my opinion that there have been some probably What's your problem?

 

[Stifler's Mom]

What's your problem?

My problem is that I am afraid yourself and others are not looking at the big picture with ASA.

ASA announces an increase in block hours for the summer, and as a result increases the line values during that same period. Instead of everybody being blocked at 75 hours, and running reserves too thin, they increase line values into the mid 80s, and keep staffing the same.

You are obviously a reserve captain because in many of your posts you announce a lack of coverage of Captains on the 200. This increase in flying will most likely be temporary in nature, then things will go back to the way they are right now.

You are worried about what the day-to-day staffing levels are on reserve, but I believe we have bigger problems staring us down right now. 1) What happens if we don't get our costs down into the bottom 2 DCI carriers in another year? 2) What happens if we don't find a use for the 20, 200's that are slated to be parked in 2010?

If those two problems aren't addressed, you won't have to worry about Captain staffing levels because you will most likely be a First Officer again.

If the company wants us to get something, it's probably not good for us (as a pilot group). It may be good for reducing cost.

Management and ALPA are working together in all of our interests to make sure that if we do go with a PBS, that it is something that we can all live with, as it will most likely be permanent. Nothing will go to the pilot group until the Union is happy with it.

Quit looking at our management team as an adversary. In case you didn't get the memo, Brad and Jerry are giving us our Performance Plus money for the quarter even though we missed our numbers. Do you still think they are out to get us? I think they are busting their asses to keep this company alive, and are trying to show us that they are different than management of the past.

 

[Smacktard]

My problem is that I am afraid yourself and others are not looking at the big picture with ASA.

ASA announces an increase in block hours for the summer, and as a result increases the line values during that same period. Instead of everybody being blocked at 75 hours, and running reserves too thin, they increase line values into the mid 80s, and keep staffing the same.

You are obviously a reserve captain because in many of your posts you announce a lack of coverage of Captains on the 200. This increase in flying will most likely be temporary in nature, then things will go back to the way they are right now.

You are worried about what the day-to-day staffing levels are on reserve, but I believe we have bigger problems staring us down right now. 1) What happens if we don't get our costs down into the bottom 2 DCI carriers in another year? 2) What happens if we don't find a use for the 20, 200's that are slated to be parked in 2010?

If those two problems aren't addressed, you won't have to worry about Captain staffing levels because you will most likely be a First Officer again.



Management and ALPA are working together in all of our interests to make sure that if we do go with a PBS, that it is something that we can all live with, as it will most likely be permanent. Nothing will go to the pilot group until the Union is happy with it.

Quit looking at our management team as an adversary. In case you didn't get the memo, Brad and Jerry are giving us our Performance Plus money for the quarter even though we missed our numbers. Do you still think they are out to get us? I think they are busting their asses to keep this company alive, and are trying to show us that they are different than management of the past.

Well said.

 

[SLUF4]

Yes, i've said I'm a reserve captain. I see the reserve list on a daily basis and I've just reported what it shows. My point is that nothing here ever seems to be planned for appropriately-not that I have a "big picture"-it's just my opinion. You're right-they are going to raise line values, but what were they last summer? I don't think we had 1000 flights a day last summer and i worked everyday on reserve crediting about 95 a month-now we have less pilots. But I guess you have the big picture so I'll rest easy. Thanks. I also suppose that if my opinion differs from yours then I'm wrong. I never said management is my adversary. I don't have adversaries, but what's good for managers isn't always good for us.

 

[waterski45]

Quit looking at our management team as an adversary. In case you didn't get the memo, Brad and Jerry are giving us our Performance Plus money for the quarter even though we missed our numbers. Do you still think they are out to get us? I think they are busting their asses to keep this company alive, and are trying to show us that they are different than management of the past.

You guys still got the performance money despite the mx meltdown at the end of March? Did they just throw out the numbers from those cancellations?


If that's the case, that really says a lot about Brad and the new management culture. I knew things were slowly changing on your side, but that gesture of goodwill is quite a surprise.

 

[JumpersAway]

You guys still got the performance money despite the mx meltdown at the end of March? Did they just throw out the numbers from those cancellations?


If that's the case, that really says a lot about Brad and the new management culture. I knew things were slowly changing on your side, but that gesture of goodwill is quite a surprise.

Yes, they are going to pay us for our performance despite the April MX meltdown. They put out a memo that summed up the situation with the view that it was a maintenance mess up, and not a pilot induced one. Thus, since we've done what we were supposed to do, we should be rewarded for our sincere attempt to keep things going in a possitive direction.

Who would have thought that was coming. In my opinion, they are showing some true class and recognizing our efforts. I'm actually thankful we've got the management team we've got- one with common sense and the pulse of the employees.

 

[OCP]

You're right-they are going to raise line values, but what were they last summer? I don't think we had 1000 flights a day last summer and i worked everyday on reserve crediting about 95 a month-now we have less pilots.

Though we do have less pilots, there are actually more 200 capts than there were a years ago, due to ATR going away.

 

[jstyle13]

Though we do have less pilots, there are actually more 200 capts than there were a years ago, due to ATR going away.

They still will need to have more guys on reserve though if they don't want to run out of reserves every day. I think we have some 80ish outta 500 captains on reserves. I imagine they will try to get closer to 100/500 for the summer which means they will have to increase the credit/block on the pairings. Guess we will know by the 10th.

If they keep 400+ lines and the same amount of reserves...its gonna be a looooong summer. Prepare for extensions.