Flexjet Management Promotes Calling Pilots while in Rest

[GlorifiedCabbie]

The sky isn't falling and I didn't mention the teamsters and I don't want you to give anything away. Three strikes.

 

[slowtation capt]

I see the light!!!! The sky is falling...quick! Quick! Get the teamsters. I want to give what I have away for some sh!tty representation.

Or don't, and be forced into giving up a required rest period

 

[wingsnthings]

It is humorous how things get twisted. He is asking that we go by the rules set in the FOM. some have chosen not to answer the phone, he is asking them to reconsider their stance on the issue. If you choose not to answer, you don't have too. Don't look too far into this because there isn't much more than that. If rest is broken, they reset the clock. Never had an issue with this policy. Architect, this is far from anything that would make me reconsider my stance on the union.

 

[The Architect]

Never Asked

Architect, this is far from anything that would make me reconsider my stance on the union.

With all due respect. I have never asked you to reconsider your stance on the union.

I have not promoted anti or pro-union in this thread. I have only indicated that when working at a company sometimes it's better without a union and sometime it's better with a union.

Your choice.

 

[TWA 2 ASA FO]

Ok. I can't resist. That's simply BS.

Public site? Private discussion? Come on.

Seniority integration, bases, schedules...

You're happy to discuss, even argue, your position on those things and more on this "public site." But if it's something that YOU don't what known to others in the industry or discuss - it's a "private discussion." Give me a break.

So, in light of that, and in order to play on a level field, let me present the following in it's entirety.

From the Flexjet DO, email content unedited:

From: RH, DO
Date: July 23, 2014
To: Flexjet Crew
Subject: Flex pilots, for your consideration...

August 19th will mark a year that I have been back in the office. How time flies and what a year it has been. I had only been back in the office for three days when I was informed of the pending sale of the company and so started the emotional roller coaster ride. In that time the Flight Operations management team never lost sight in representing and supporting the crewmembers. Over the past year and especially the past several months it is abundantly clear that no significant quality of life changes have occurred and our new leadership wants nothing more than to win our trust and build an even better company on the foundation we established. Earning your trust in the new company with new leadership is no easy task. It is built over time and is proven through actions. It took many years for the Flight Operations team to build that relationship with its pilots. With the following issue, I am asking for your cooperation once again.

I wanted to address a topic that seems to have grown out of nowhere during the years I was out flying the line. It is the issue of the "no call list". The list of crewmembers that have told the company they are turning off their phones during rest. Before I begin down this path I must make one thing abundantly clear. If you so choose, no one in this company will ever assign you or make you answer your phone during rest. Neither I nor anyone in the company can require you to answer your phone in rest. The company has no intentions of bending that rule. So what am I talking about? I'm talking about the choice to tell the company "under no circumstances are you to call me during rest." Then making this a blanket policy for every duty day regardless of an assignment or not. I don't understand why this has become such a big issue but I truly want to understand why. It is a fact that the no-call list hurts the operation, drives more dead-head, duty hours, standby and most of all punishes the crewmembers that are not on the list. Now I'm not saying if you are tired that you don't have the option of not being disturbed. When you are fatigued you should absolutely request not to be contacted during your assigned rest period! I?m sure everyone has a story of how they were played by dispatch or scheduling and I'm sure that story is a good one. But ask yourself this question, how many times has this truly happened? I assure you whatever the number it pales in comparison to the lost opportunities, additional deadhead and unnecessary increased duty hours on you and your fellow crewmembers. I fully understand this is a two way street. Operations certainly played a hand in this as well. There is plenty of blame to go around, but the way to mend that fence starts with each and every one of us.

My request is simple. Let's bring back a level of trust we have not seen here in a while. I am asking that we abolish that list and I promise you this: no one from the company will call you more than once while you are in rest. That call will only happen in the first two and probably the last two hours of a 10 hour minimum rest. In other words you will be guaranteed 8 hours uninterrupted rest at a minimum. There will be no unnecessary calls with that 10 minute itinerary change at 4 a.m. because of an indifference to the fact you may be sleeping. If anyone calls a second time, then you are out of rest and company will back you 100%. All I am asking is that you leave your phone on along with Flexmobile during your assigned rest period. Leave texting or any other alerts off since there is always a chance of an erroneous message. There will be no repetitive emails or texts, no notifications from the company unless it's an urgent issue and no breaking your rest accept for operational purposes.

The blanket policy of not being able to call makes no sense. Knowing you are contactable is a huge advantage to the operation and will go a long way in rebuilding the diminished level of trust, but it must start with you. We have a fantastic group of crewmembers and you all have proven to be team players. Like we have said many times before the ball is dropped just about every day and you guys pick it up running. We understand you are the backbone of this operation and we also understand this is a sensitive issue. Again, if you feel you need the rest, call the company, tell them you are turning the phone off, pull the curtains and go to sleep. You will get no push back from us, only our support. Rest assured we have your backs.

I want you to know I have put out a similar request to the operations floor. My motivation to return to the office was the opportunity to work on pilot quality of life issues and to make this an even better place to work. I didn't anticipate the sale and all the anxiety. Let's face it, it's been a tough year full of uncertainty but now things are certainly looking up. You voted for 34 new bases and it was approved. Many of you have upgraded, more than we have seen in years. Soon we will have paperless expense reporting, we are making progress on last day rules, and much more to come. It is an exciting time to be working for Flexjet! Lastly, know you're Chief Pilots and I are here to support you. It's time to build back the trust we have lost. In the next several weeks we will be calling everyone on the no-call list. We want to listen to your concerns and ultimately we will respect any decision you make. All we ask is that you please consider putting back the trust in us and your company. The decision either way is up to you.

Unedited........ But you missed a big part.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete this message.

I would be VERY careful posting confidential information on a public site.

This email was not sent to you since you are not a FJ pilot. Who ever forwarded this to you and you are in violation of company electronic information policies.

Your union cannot protect you from things like this. I would be VERY carefully about posting information like this.

People get fied for stuff like this. Maybe you will be the next CGF1 arrival.

 

[The Architect]

Omg

Unedited........ But you missed a big part.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete this message.

I would be VERY careful posting confidential information on a public site.

This email was not sent to you since you are not a FJ pilot. Who ever forwarded this to you and you are in violation of company electronic information policies.

Your union cannot protect you from things like this. I would be VERY carefully about posting information like this.

People get fied for stuff like this. Maybe you will be the next CGF1 arrival.

Here come the threats.

Classic FUD!

Sorry, I'm not going to loose any sleep.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This post may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete this message.

You heard me! This post was for TWA! Everyone else better delete it or else!

 

[TWA 2 ASA FO]

Here come the threats.

Classic FUD!

Sorry, I'm not going to loose any sleep.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This post may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete this message.

You heard me! This post was for TWA! Everyone else better delete it or else!

hu?bris noun \ˈhy?-brəs\
: a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence

Maybe you are unaware of how seriously companies take privacy of internal electronic communications.

I know you must feel invincible behind your ever powerful union, but there are things your union cannot protect you from.

 

[Fresh Air]

What just happened

The heat just got turned up a little bit under the frog boiler. Hey, don't worry, it's just a little rest time, and it's not MANDATORY that you answer the phone....... But be warned that we will remember you if you don't.

Nothing to worry about, froggies, the water's only a few degrees warmer.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

“People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome.”

Are you one of the “willing cooperators” who complain, bemoan, and return to your daily life? Doing nothing is implied consent.

 

[TWA 2 ASA FO]

Or don't, and be forced into giving up a required rest period

Exactly what required rest period is the company asking us to give up?

I bet you have numerous examples of FJ pilots not being given the FAR required 10 hours of rest or else this is once again one of your emotional statements that is not based on fact.

Trying to think of the last time I didn't get my 10 hours, oh wait, I NEVER HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO THAT.

 

[slowtation capt]

Exactly what required rest period is the company asking us to give up?

I bet you have numerous examples of FJ pilots not being given the FAR required 10 hours of rest or else this is once again one of your emotional statements that is not based on fact.

Trying to think of the last time I didn't get my 10 hours, oh wait, I NEVER HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO THAT.

How are you really in rest when you are allowing the company to call you within the first 2 or the last 2 hrs of those 10 hrs to make a change to your schedule.
I never said you would not physically be given 10 hrs, you of course are trying to twist something that I didn't say.
The company could never assign anything that would not physically give you 10 hrs, but leaving yourself open to a phone call that could come from scheduling in either the first 2 or last 2 hrs of those 10 hrs is not having 10 hrs free from company responsibility.
Go ahead and sign off on it, bring down the industry.

 

[V1 Rotate]

How are you really in rest when you are allowing the company to call you within the first 2 or the last 2 hrs of those 10 hrs to make a change to your schedule.
I never said you would not physically be given 10 hrs, you of course are trying to twist something that I didn't say.
The company could never assign anything that would not physically give you 10 hrs, but leaving yourself open to a phone call that could come from scheduling in either the first 2 or last 2 hrs of those 10 hrs is not having 10 hrs free from company responsibility.
Go ahead and sign off on it, bring down the industry.

Our rest blocks are generally more than ten hours. Say 12, for example. They can call in the first two or last two hours of that 12 hour block, but not both, and we still have our ten. If rest is only ten hours, then it doesn't apply.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

The simple question I think needs to be answered is how do you know if its the first 2 hours or the last 2?

 

[V1 Rotate]

You don't know. But if they don't call in the first two then they might call in the last. My experience is that neither happens very much.

 

[slowtation capt]

Our rest blocks are generally more than ten hours. Say 12, for example. They can call in the first two or last two hours of that 12 hour block, but not both, and we still have our ten. If rest is only ten hours, then it doesn't apply.

" That call will only happen in the first two and probably the last two hours of a 10 hour minimum rest. In other words you will be guaranteed 8 hours uninterrupted rest at a minimum"

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

So after that non answer, if you have off for say 16 hours, do you stay awake to do a 14 hour day starting at the beginning of your original duty on time ? Or can they back that time up, and catch you short of rest to do your new duty time?

 

[luckydog]

What is so difficult to understand?

We get a defined rest block of 10 or more hours (usually 14). If they call and if I answer during the last 2 hours of my 14 hour block I've had 12 hours uninterrupted rest and might get the full 14 depending on the assignment. If they call, and if I answer 8 hours into my rest block, I won't get an assignment that starts earlier than 10 hours after I went into rest.

The FAA doesn't view a phone call during rest an interruption, so it's up to me to answer the phone or not. I usually choose not if I'm sleeping. If I'm sitting at breakfast with the other crew member, I'd answer. It's not that difficult.

What I find ironic is the FO guys saying we are hurting their negotiations. Ever since they signed their contract all we've been told is our pay is above market rate because they lower the scale on every single aircraft size.

Let the thread die, it's a non-event. Dispatch will make the occasional desperate 4 am call. Some will answer, some won't; nothing has changed.

 

[BlueNose]

Flexjet flying Flight Options trips is limited by protections in the Flight Options Pilots CBA.

Any other operator flying Flight Options trips is limited by subcontract charter provisions, including Flexjet.

lim it ed adjective
1. restricted in size, amount, or extent.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. If Jet Solutions is a Flight Options brand partner, and all Flex pilots have agency agreements with Solutions, how exactly is the number of FO trips they fly restricted? Did I miss the scope provision that restricts the amount of third-party charter or brand partner flying the company may use, or is that still a big hole in the contract scope clause as we've discussed on here before?

The only 'limiting' factor for DAC in sending more trips to the Flex side is that FO crews have a much lower hourly labor cost (not really the preferred way to guarantee job security for your members, is it?). If FO dispatch availability tanks during upcoming negotiations, I think they will send trips to the Flex side, the only 'limit' being what the Flex fleet can handle. Please explain to us what the IBT will do to stop that? Or is that threat 'inconceivable'?

 

[TWA 2 ASA FO]

So after that non answer, if you have off for say 16 hours, do you stay awake to do a 14 hour day starting at the beginning of your original duty on time ? Or can they back that time up, and catch you short of rest to do your new duty time?

The out of rest time would not change. You are always protected in the backside.

 

[rajflyboy]

U guys are afu

Its standard practice in the 135 world to begin your duty day when the phone rings... provided you have had at least 10 hours off

This is how the fed has used this rule for years

I wonder how experienced many of you guys are? Its like amateur hour reading these posts