F.O. Movement between Aircraft

[qxpilot]

Question for all your other Regional FO's out there. Here at Horizon, our company hires into all aircraft types depending on where the need be. Great, if you are a new hire and going right into the RJ. But for those of us, that went into the Dash over 4 yrs ago, too bad. I understand, most regionals hire into the lowest aircraft and then you can move into the larger aircraft with seniority right? Here, they pay us on seniority, not what you fly. So those of us that are senior get jet pay, while new hires in the RJ get Dash pay. The problem is that the schedules for the RJ flying are so easy compared to the Dash flying. I bid #5 in the Dash and fly 22 legs in 4 days. Where as someone way more junior to me maybe flies 10 legs in 4 days on the RJ. So if I were to bid the RJ, I would take a 2 year seat lock and also a huge pay cut down to Dash pay. Understand? Yeah, great system huh? Just curious what other Regionals do out there.

 

[acaTerry]

most regionals hire into the lowest aircraft and then you can move into the larger aircraft with seniority right?

Not necessarily so. It depends on need, qualifications, etc. I was hired at ACA with about 2200TT and put in the J32, but I have seen 800 hour interns go into the RJ.

 

[ArcherB]

I am pretty sure I have this straight, but say you are flying a turboprop and someone junior to you is on the RJ. Now if the company decides to do away with the turboprops and shrink the fleet would you (the senior TP guy) be moved to the RJ and the junior RJ guy furloughed. I see that as being the only fair way to do it. Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[rightrudder]

I work for Air Wisconsin and we are seat locked for 2 years in our equipment (unless you are displaced, then you can bid what you can hold). After that, you can move to another FO position with no penalty. There are a number of companies that will allow lateral movement, some have penalties, some don't. At least you are paid for what you can hold, but I agree, it isn't fair for new hires to get better schedules than folks who have been there quite a while.

Here's a question for QXpilot, I used to fly for Horizon, with a 10/99 hire date, would I still be an FO if I had stayed?

 

[stillaboo]

So those of us that are senior get jet pay, while new hires in the RJ get Dash pay

If they're in the RJ, wouldn't their pay have to be RJ pay (just junior RJ pay, the equivelent of Dash pay?). Are you like UPS, were pay is by seniority, regardless of equipment type?

This is the way it should be. If you are senior and you like your 'junior aircraft' base and schedule, they you shouldn't be penalized. If you're junior and are hired into a CRJ-700, you shouldn't get paid more just b/c you were lucky (or maybe you weren't if you like the junior plane better).

At my airline, the needs of the company dictate what equipment a new hire gets.

 

[DoinTime]

At Pinnacle we have a two year equipment lock for FO's but you can never be denied an upgrade vacancy regardless of your lock. Your also not held to the lock if the company did not operate the new aircraft when you started your employment or if the company decides to waive the lock. Your paid in whatever position you hold.

 

[acaTerry]

Sorry for my ignorance.

No ignorance at all! This is actually a tricky issue. Especially when seatlocks get involved. Why, a J41 FO with 4 years at the company still gets paid less than a second year FO in the jet because of a seatlock? This is where it is so important to have a good contract.
Some airlines will make seniority in domicile, some in equipment, but most go by a master seniority list. This way if you change equipment, you can actually be higher than someone who has been in your new equipment longer than you have--because despite being new in this equipment, you are senior by the list.

 

[AuburnAviator]

RightRudder-
In answer to your question, YES you would STILL be an FO.....
Nice, huh??

 

[qxpilot]

Yeah, it really burns me when these new hires go into the jet and think that they were someone special and deserved it with all of there 1000 hrs of flying Cessnas. Then they complain that they don't get jet pay. Boo hoo.... Horizon has some really stupid ideas and this one is about at the top. When I talk to people outside the industry, they just can't believe Horizon does that. It really gives you nothing to work for as an F.O.