[FONT=Verdana,Verdana][FONT=Verdana,Verdana] The process at Northwest is different because they currently operate under a scheduling system which provides for a [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Verdana][FONT=Verdana,Verdana]monthly [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Verdana][FONT=Verdana,Verdana]system bid (called an Advance Position Award, or APA) that continually adjusts to their network needs. [/FONT][/FONT]
Heyas,
From this tone of this, it sounds like Delta Flight Ops would like to have the NWA APA system instead. Maybe it's something we can work on in 2012.
Even without the separate block/reserve categories, it would provide the pilots MUCH more flexibility and predictability and allow the airline to manage staffing in a much more dynamic manner.
Just to recap it for our FD pals:
It's a two tier system, with 1 permanent and 1 temporary preference card, which is basically just a list. Anything above your current position is considered an award, anything below is considered a displacement.
Permanent bids, for actually FLYING the position, close on the 5th of each month, four months prior. The award comes out 15 days later on the 20th, 3.5 months ahead.
There's no "up to 1 year to convert". The company must have you trained by the time the position becomes effective. If not, you get the pay anyway. In %99 of the cases, training starts 2 months before the effective date of the bid, allowing you to predict VERY effectively when your going to be in training. This lets guys "sharpshoot" if they don't want to go to training during the summer or the holidays. For guys that don't mind MSP in December, it lets them snag an award if they are just below the cusp.
No waiting for base swaps wither. Swap every month if you want, and can plan ahead. No languishing in a position, wondering "gee, I wonder when the next bid will come out", watching the calendar pages tick by.
ULTRA micro-managing of the staffing comes from Temporary Bids. These close on the 25th each month, or 5 weeks prior to the flying month. These are awarded when the bid lists for monthly bidding comes out. So as not to skunk those who have a permanent position at the base, TDYs are award their schedules after everyone else. This is a GREAT system for trying out a new base, AND the company pays your hotel and gives you positive space from HOME to base. Highly coveted by commuters, it is one of the last "really good deals" around.
Not to bash it, but the current DAL system seems to give all the cards to the company, with very little in the way of predictability. There are parts I like...the ability to specify a VD seems like a good idea, along with the "percent bid".
The company would win on this too. They get to micro manage the staffing, as well as fine tune the number of people going through a training cycle.
Maybe there is some room for a hybrid system.
Nu
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