From: Bob Tyler
To: All_PIC; All_SIC; All Flight Attendants
Sent: Fri Oct 13 16:27:15 2006
Subject: Flight Ops info
To each Flight Options crewmember:
MORE ABOUT PTO REQUESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
I'd like to provide an update to the vacation bidding initiatives for pilots that have been ongoing over the past six months. We have completed several bid rounds during which we've successfully offset the number of surplus crewmembers that have resulted due to the restructuring of the fleet. I want to thank each of you who have been affected by this process. I realize that it has been a challenge for everyone involved.
As we look ahead to next year, we are reviewing the current vacation initiative to see if it can continue to offset our excessive headcount. We will consider several variables as we make these decisions. We will review attrition rates, new sales, and redemption rates. Our expected surplus of pilots in January 2007 is likely to exceed 130 pilots. This number takes into consideration our normal attrition rate and the expected fleet size. Unfortunately, our headcount has not decreased as we had hoped.
We posted the bidding periods for 2007 on the Aircrew Portal. You may note that we will be returning to the normal vacation bidding process. The long and short bidding window have not proven to be an effective tool at this time. We are actively searching for a way to provide visibility of future vacation opportunities so you can reasonably bid for vacation. Several points are noteworthy. We are trying to:
* Provide enough vacation slots so that every crewmember has a chance to use the vacation that they accrue annually;
* Provide a reasonable expectation for when a crewmember might realistically be able to take vacation. While a junior pilot in a program might not have the expectation of getting major holidays off, he should have reasonable insight on when vacation slots would be available to him; and
* Plan the majority of the annual training events around the vacation demand. We're developing a historical database of vacation requests. We are considering sending more crewmembers to training during periods of low vacation demand. This would allow more vacations to be awarded during the holidays and summer months.
AIRCREW PORTAL
I encourage you to visit the Aircrew Portal often. There is a substantial amount of information available on a number of subjects. In addition, I suggest you access your email through the web page at least once a tour. This link will give you direct access to your mailbox on our server. You'll be able to review any emails that may have not been received on your Blackberry for various reasons. As you are aware, we communicate an abundance of information via email and it's important that you review this info routinely.
Thanks for continuing to provide great service to our Owners. You are professionals and it shows. Be safe out there.
Best regards,
Bob
To: All_PIC; All_SIC; All Flight Attendants
Sent: Fri Oct 13 16:27:15 2006
Subject: Flight Ops info
To each Flight Options crewmember:
MORE ABOUT PTO REQUESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
I'd like to provide an update to the vacation bidding initiatives for pilots that have been ongoing over the past six months. We have completed several bid rounds during which we've successfully offset the number of surplus crewmembers that have resulted due to the restructuring of the fleet. I want to thank each of you who have been affected by this process. I realize that it has been a challenge for everyone involved.
As we look ahead to next year, we are reviewing the current vacation initiative to see if it can continue to offset our excessive headcount. We will consider several variables as we make these decisions. We will review attrition rates, new sales, and redemption rates. Our expected surplus of pilots in January 2007 is likely to exceed 130 pilots. This number takes into consideration our normal attrition rate and the expected fleet size. Unfortunately, our headcount has not decreased as we had hoped.
We posted the bidding periods for 2007 on the Aircrew Portal. You may note that we will be returning to the normal vacation bidding process. The long and short bidding window have not proven to be an effective tool at this time. We are actively searching for a way to provide visibility of future vacation opportunities so you can reasonably bid for vacation. Several points are noteworthy. We are trying to:
* Provide enough vacation slots so that every crewmember has a chance to use the vacation that they accrue annually;
* Provide a reasonable expectation for when a crewmember might realistically be able to take vacation. While a junior pilot in a program might not have the expectation of getting major holidays off, he should have reasonable insight on when vacation slots would be available to him; and
* Plan the majority of the annual training events around the vacation demand. We're developing a historical database of vacation requests. We are considering sending more crewmembers to training during periods of low vacation demand. This would allow more vacations to be awarded during the holidays and summer months.
AIRCREW PORTAL
I encourage you to visit the Aircrew Portal often. There is a substantial amount of information available on a number of subjects. In addition, I suggest you access your email through the web page at least once a tour. This link will give you direct access to your mailbox on our server. You'll be able to review any emails that may have not been received on your Blackberry for various reasons. As you are aware, we communicate an abundance of information via email and it's important that you review this info routinely.
Thanks for continuing to provide great service to our Owners. You are professionals and it shows. Be safe out there.
Best regards,
Bob
