Delta short call rsv question

[cargoflyr69]

Hey, Delta north -9 pilot trying to figure out the new reserve rules and looking for assistance.

Today was is my first short call period ever. This is my question, How much time do I have to acknowledge a short call assignment?

Just a little bit ago i was called and let it roll to voicemail like i usually do, Logged into I-crew 9 minutes later to self-notify and see what flying they had for me. When I saw it was a report 1+45 from that moment I called scheduling to see if they would waive check-in and let me go right to the gate, thats when he said "Oh you've been removed from the trip and placed on personal drop sick because you didn't answer the phone." I said I had self-notified on i-crew and wanted trip details, he said I was expected to be immediately available while on short call and because of the ultra-short nature of this assignment he had to move on to the next pilot on his list. I told him that a 9 minute response was totally reasonable and I wanted the trip or to be put back on duty, his choice... I had to talk to a supervisor to get re-instated to short call for the remainder of today.

What does one do if they take a shower, go to the mail box, or something similar? are we really expected to be at their total beck and call sitting by the phone while on reserve?

I know its the past but at NWA there was a 15 minute response window written in the contract. At Delta all I can see in the contract is 23.5.9b just says "a pilot must be promptly available for contact..." Is there a numeral equivalent to "promptly available" here or not???

I'm just having flashbacks to reserve at the regionals

 

[hockeypilot44]

Hey, Delta north -9 pilot trying to figure out the new reserve rules and looking for assistance.

Today was is my first short call period ever. This is my question, How much time do I have to acknowledge a short call assignment?

Just a little bit ago i was called and let it roll to voicemail like i usually do, Logged into I-crew 9 minutes later to self-notify and see what flying they had for me. When I saw it was a report 1+45 from that moment I called scheduling to see if they would waive check-in and let me go right to the gate, thats when he said "Oh you've been removed from the trip and placed on personal drop sick because you didn't answer the phone." I said I had self-notified on i-crew and wanted trip details, he said I was expected to be immediately available while on short call and because of the ultra-short nature of this assignment he had to move on to the next pilot on his list. I told him that a 9 minute response was totally reasonable and I wanted the trip or to be put back on duty, his choice... I had to talk to a supervisor to get re-instated to short call for the remainder of today.

What does one do if they take a shower, go to the mail box, or something similar? are we really expected to be at their total beck and call sitting by the phone while on reserve?

I know its the past but at NWA there was a 15 minute response window written in the contract. At Delta all I can see in the contract is 23.5.9b just says "a pilot must be promptly available for contact..." Is there a numeral equivalent to "promptly available" here or not???

I'm just having flashbacks to reserve at the regionals

If you're telling the truth. that story is messed up.

 

[JOPILOT]

This doesn't seem right??? If you are on short call I guess it would be better to start answering the phone, but other than that minor item you should have been given the 9 minutes? JP

 

[cargoflyr69]

no man its all true, no flame here.

I'm still new to the i-crew and it takes me a long time to find what I'm looking for when i log on. I was sleeping at 7am when they called, so it took a few minutes (9 to be exact) to get out of bed, fire up the computer, and log into i-crew. The first page under under the "my schedule" tab is the notifications. I had a rotation in there and notified by putting in my password. I'm pretty sure i did everything correctly.

it was when I saw the report time I realized i needed to get my butt in gear and to the airport that i called scheduling to see if they would waive me to the gate or pay for airport parking (avoid 15-20 minute employee shuttle bus ride) This was a common unwritten courtesy extended by former NWA schedulers.

Point is, I notified myself and if i would not have called scheduling to ask those questions, I would have suited up and been on the way to the airport.

I'm new to this and want know what my rights are.

Is there a numerical time limit to responding to a trip assignment here at the new Delta?

 

[Kalifornia]

It could be worse...

http://www.interlinerates.com/blog/crewsked.mp3

 

[FmrFreightDog]

no man its all true, no flame here.

I'm still new to the i-crew and it takes me a long time to find what I'm looking for when i log on. I was sleeping at 7am when they called, so it took a few minutes (9 to be exact) to get out of bed, fire up the computer, and log into i-crew. The first page under under the "my schedule" tab is the notifications. I had a rotation in there and notified by putting in my password. I'm pretty sure i did everything correctly.

it was when I saw the report time I realized i needed to get my butt in gear and to the airport that i called scheduling to see if they would waive me to the gate or pay for airport parking (avoid 15-20 minute employee shuttle bus ride) This was a common unwritten courtesy extended by former NWA schedulers.

Point is, I notified myself and if i would not have called scheduling to ask those questions, I would have suited up and been on the way to the airport.

I'm new to this and want know what my rights are.

Is there a numerical time limit to responding to a trip assignment here at the new Delta?

I would post this in the Scheduling section on the ALPA board. The Scheduling committee reps seem to have been pretty responsive to people's scheduling issues in the past.

 

[Colonel Savage]

Sometimes schedulers will go into panic mode when handling a short call and bypass until he gets to the first pilot who answers the phone. The best thing to do if you're on reserve (and probation) is to answer the phone the first time.

 

[Meiguy]

Just curious why you didn't answer your phone if you wanted to fly anyways. If your on short call there is no advantage to logging in to see the trip. If it was a white slip, green slip, or long call with a yellow slip in and you are debating whether or not you want to go then I would do the same thing you did. On short call I just answer the phone. It really is no benefit to see the trip before you talk to scheduling.

 

[Mike man]

The best thing to do if you're on reserve (and probation) is to answer the phone the first time.

Give me a break...have some sack...never pick up the phone if it is crew scheduling or no caller id, call back at the time limit in the contract.

As for "promptly available", file a grievance ask for a definition as remedy. One could argue promptly available until you are blue in the face. Sometimes my crappy AT&T cell service doesn't tell me I have a voice mail for several minutes after I get a call.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Today was is my first short call period ever. This is my question, How much time do I have to acknowledge a short call assignment?

..."Oh you've been removed from the trip and placed on personal drop sick because you didn't answer the phone." ...

What does one do if they take a shower, go to the mail box, or something similar? are we really expected to be at their total beck and call sitting by the phone while on reserve?

I know its the past but at NWA there was a 15 minute response window written in the contract. At Delta all I can see in the contract is 23.5.9b just says "a pilot must be promptly available for contact..." Is there a numeral equivalent to "promptly available" here or not???

Sometimes schedulers will go into panic mode when handling a short call and bypass until he gets to the first pilot who answers the phone. The best thing to do if you're on reserve (and probation) is to answer the phone the first time.

SURELY you guys have some kind of detailed rules (in the form of a SPECIFIC TIME LIMIT) in your contract?
You have got to be kidding me that you have to worry about your jobs (or getting a note in your files) at the whims of a SCHEDULER????
Wow.

 

[cargoflyr69]

Sometimes schedulers will go into panic mode when handling a short call and bypass until he gets to the first pilot who answers the phone. The best thing to do if you're on reserve (and probation) is to answer the phone the first time.

I'm far from being on probation. Sometimes I'll answer the phone on the first ring, sometimes not. As I see it this is my prerogative and nothing in the contract says I have to.

Like I said, this morning I was asleep when the phone rang. It was rolling to VM about the same time I realized that it was scheduling calling. There is no way I would answer in a groggy state such as that. I would have to log into icrew anyway to see what my trip was.

I still maintain that I did everything by the book in this instance.

Question for Delta guys... Is this par for the course when dealing with Short Call reserve here? I just want to know what to expect my life to be like as time goes on.

I like the grievance for "definition" remedy idea. I will be in contact with a union rep.

 

[another cfii]

I'm far from being on probation. Sometimes I'll answer the phone on the first ring, sometimes not. As I see it this is my prerogative and nothing in the contract says I have to.

Like I said, this morning I was asleep when the phone rang. It was rolling to VM about the same time I realized that it was scheduling calling. There is no way I would answer in a groggy state such as that. I would have to log into icrew anyway to see what my trip was.

I still maintain that I did everything by the book in this instance.

Question for Delta guys... Is this par for the course when dealing with Short Call reserve here? I just want to know what to expect my life to be like as time goes on.

I like the grievance for "definition" remedy idea. I will be in contact with a union rep.

I don't think you did anything wrong here. Individual scheduler sometimes get their panty all twisted when they can't locate a pilot 1st try. One time i told them i'll commute in for SC, and they called me 5 min. past my original SC time, and then again 15 min. later, of course, both calls went straight to v-mail, and when i landed and turned on the phone (30 min. before my 2 hour commute window expired), the message sounded like i was in some sort of big trouble. Anyway, i'd post this question in DALPA board, and Geordi or someone else will help talk to the individual scheduler that took you off the trip and he'll straighten it out, and hope it doesn't happen again.

It's a steep learning curve for you folks living up north, but please understand people down south don't understand words like "snow", "ice", or "slippery road", when you try to explain why it'll take 2 hours to drive 10 miles to work.

Fly safe.

 

[andyd]

It's widely rumored that 60% or so of the schedulers are new and learning as they go. You did nothing wrong or out of the ordinary, 9 minutes sounds VERY reasonable as promptly available. I refuse to answer the phone when on the crapper or in the shower, a little common sense on their part goes a long way. Promptly available is just as widely subject to interpretation as the "2 hour" reporting time....there is NO required reporting time in the contract! If it takes you 3 hours to navigate the bus/cab/train system in NYC to get from JFK to EWR then that's what it takes...just tell them upfront and they then know what they have to work with, if it's not good enough they will move on to the next guy in line....same goes for driving 30 miles in the wx in MSP or DTW....or in ATL traffic when it comes to a screeching halt because someone is changing a tire on the OTHER side of the freeway....we cannot control how long it takes us to get to the airport, we can only do our best to get there asap..

 

[Voice Of Reason]

When I saw it was a report 1+45 from that moment I called scheduling to see if they would waive check-in and let me go right to the gate, thats when he said "Oh you've been removed from the trip and placed on personal drop sick because you didn't answer the phone." I said I had self-notified on i-crew

...What does one do if they take a shower, go to the mail box, or something similar? are we really expected to be at their total beck and call sitting by the phone while on reserve?

I know its the past but at NWA there was a 15 minute response window written in the contract. At Delta all I can see in the contract is 23.5.9b just says "a pilot must be promptly available for contact..." Is there a numeral equivalent to "promptly available" here or not???

It's widely rumored that 60% or so of the schedulers are new and learning as they go.

If that is true, shouldn't they have had an orientation fresh in their heads where your mgt has already told them that a scheduler should follow a certain protocol, so not to create a morale which would put you guys on level with the merger of USAir/AWA???

They should know how to help continue on the right path...

 

[cq43vt17t]

I have done the same thing and looked at the trip in opentime before just taking the trip. I have learned that it really doesn't make a difference looking at the computer first. The rotation isn't going to change, you aren't going to bypass it, once you have it, it's yours. Now I answer when they call and check the schedule after they call.

The one time I truely missed a call, they ended up calling me back in 15 minutes.

VOR, there is no set time in the contract. It is to be a reasonable amount of time. General rule for the NYers is 3 hrs. I have had guys take 3:15 that I've flown with.... the crew trackers are usually cool with whatever time as long as you keep them informed.

 

[FlyinGuy]

Sounds like the "overfly guys" might have a legitimate excuse!!! This sure is complicated.

 

[Monster Buck]

I have only been at Delta a couple of years but have not run into the prob you had. Sounds like his Panties were in a wad but you got it worked out. Nine minutes is fine. But for those spouting "I want to know the rules" be careful what you wish for. I have worked with the Delta schedulers many many times over the last couple years and for the most part they are great. We don't want a hard time IE "2 hour show" "15 minutes to answer the phone"....the professionally followed general rule of "about" two hours to get there is GREAT! You get stuck in bad wx or traffic and it takes 2 and 1/2 no prob. If it takes a little or little less no big deal, no person putting a bad boy letter in your file that you checked in on the computer at ops at 2:01 Having hard rules sounds great but it can cut both both ways. Careful what you wish for.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

I have only been at Delta a couple of years but have not run into the prob you had. Sounds like his Panties were in a wad but you got it worked out. Nine minutes is fine. But for those spouting "I want to know the rules" be careful what you wish for. I have worked with the Delta schedulers many many times over the last couple years and for the most part they are great. We don't want a hard time IE "2 hour show" "15 minutes to answer the phone"....the professionally followed general rule of "about" two hours to get there is GREAT! You get stuck in bad wx or traffic and it takes 2 and 1/2 no prob. If it takes a little or little less no big deal, no person putting a bad boy letter in your file that you checked in on the computer at ops at 2:01 Having hard rules sounds great but it can cut both both ways. Careful what you wish for.

Um, having NO specifics hurts WAY more than it could ever HELP.
Sounds like you guys could have someone call "promptly" 5 mins!

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

Sorry you got a weirdo on this one. Just takes them a little while to understand that nothing makes my wheels stop spinning and digs my heels in faster than a scheduler with an attitude.

The benefit of not having a specified callout time is that they cant hold your feet to the fire over the whole "2 hours" understanding. If it takes you 3..it takes you 3. YOu just have to be readily available, and the chief pilots understand that. If they give you crap in a bad way, just go to the CP and they will set them straight.

It's a gentleman's operation overall though.


My personal procedure (Ive been on my reserve my entire 3 years here except for a few months here and there)- when I'm on SC, I always let it go to voicemail unless I happen to answer. Then I just go straight to the VRU and acknowledge the trip. Then... I get there when I get there.

I usually have my uniform ironed so I'm not pushing to hit the "understood" 2 hours-ish mark. If it's going to be longer due to traffic or some other reason, I'll let them know. If they give you crap, boo hoo! Not your problem!

The amount of "tight" callouts that I've gotten are no more than about 10% of the callouts on SC.

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

Um, having NO specifics hurts WAY more than it could ever HELP.
Sounds like you guys could have someone call "promptly" 5 mins!

Wrong! Not here...