CitationShares questions

[commuterguy]

I have some questions and am hoping some CS guys can give some insight.

Are you allowed to switch AC after a certain period of time?

Does pay and healthcare start on day 1? Does it still hold true that family insurance is about $240 a month out of pocket?

I read (and may have misunderstood) that you are resposible for all healthcare up to $3500, then insurance picks up the rest. Does that mean that if you visit a Doctor you pay the entire amount of the visit, or just pay a copay of $20 or so?

Are you allowed to switch to another one of the approved domiciles? Or are you locked into whatever city you were hired into?

I have read that as a CS pilot you will pretty much do 135 duty/rest fairly consistantly. I'm sure there is no "usual" day, but is it safe to say that you are flying/at the FBO for 14 hours every day, followed by a 10 rest? Do you ever have an afternoon show from an overnight or is it pretty much early shows each morning?

I really aprreciate the info!

 

[m4j2t]

I have some questions and am hoping some CS guys can give some insight.

Are you allowed to switch AC after a certain period of time?

Currently there is a 39 month equipment lock. It does not apply to FO's who bid upgrade. Current upgrade is at least three years. After the lock expires you are free to bid into another A/C, but you incur another lock.

Does pay and health care start on day 1? Does it still hold true that family insurance is about $240 a month out of pocket?

Pay starts on day one (new pay scale implemented on 04/01). Health starts on the first day of the following month. It's your choice of the PPO/HMO's. It's standard deductibles and co pays. Not 100% until you reach the limit. (where did you read that) There are a couple different plans for the people that live on the east coast. I'm not familiar with them. My family of three and 1/2 (expecting in Aug) pays $280.00 per month and the child birth is covered just about 100% (minus a few co pays) on the HMO plan.

I read (and may have misunderstood) that you are responsible for all health care up to $3500, then insurance picks up the rest. Does that mean that if you visit a Doctor you pay the entire amount of the visit, or just pay a copay of $20 or so?

Just the copay.

Are you allowed to switch to another one of the approved domiciles? Or are you locked into whatever city you were hired into?

They are hiring for only some of the bases right now-per the employment page on the CS website. Some people are spreading rumors about base closures and base locks (for lack of a better phrase). There has been nothing from the company about this.

I have read that as a CS pilot you will pretty much do 135 duty/rest fairly consistently. I'm sure there is no "usual" day, but is it safe to say that you are flying/at the FBO for 14 hours every day, followed by a 10 rest? Do you ever have an afternoon show from an overnight or is it pretty much early shows each morning?

We do a set 14on-10off duty day. I'm not going to explain it because there is talk of a refinement/clarification to the work rule coming out any time now. Keep checking about it. I'm sure someone will update it.

I really aprreciate the info!

Good Luck!

 

[skypine69]

Out of curiosity why does CS care where you are based? I can imagine that they want you to be in a city that has a fair amount of airline traffic, but when they say they are only hiring into certain bases why is that? Dont they airline you to where they need you?
thanks

 

[RCA]

They are trying to align crews to allow for more efficeint crew swaps. In other words, you fly the airplane home and the next crew starts from base.
This strategy is unproven and will need time to prove itself. Considereing todays environment of airline service and price increases, they maybe onto something.
CS has said, if they are unable to attract qualified applicants the base structure would be reconsidered.

 

[Jafo73]

They are trying to align crews to allow for more efficeint crew swaps. In other words, you fly the airplane home and the next crew starts from base.
This strategy is unproven and will need time to prove itself. Considereing todays environment of airline service and price increases, they maybe onto something.
CS has said, if they are unable to attract qualified applicants the base structure would be reconsidered.

Sounds just like what NetJets tried to tell us... of course it doesn't work because you can't make the owners go to or be close to a 'base' on the swap days

 

[flagshipper]

Judging by all the long positioning legs we do to end up in base it has to cost a whole lot more than airline tickets. My average repo on a swap day has been over 2 hours. Talking about 3k in just gas. Our tickets are just 400 bucks a piece. I am not whining about not having to airline of course I usually end up with a CA on the other coast and he ends up in base and I end up on a 6 hour transcon.

I would love to change bases eventually and if we get locked in I might be a position where I would have to quit. It is just scary to think that on a whim I could be told where I have to live the rest of my career.

 

[gunfyter]

crew-utilization/pilot productivity is more valuable than airline ticket and ferry fuel costs. spelled selloff costs.

 

[bailout]

its 50/50 on the duty days. Just depends what you have scheduled. You could be 'on duty' while sitting at the hotel. Some times you get stuck going in early and sitting standby, but not usually at the end of the day.