Heading Home

[V2CLIMB]

I recently got married and after 20 years of flying on every continent I have reason to consider the possibility that some day I may need to bail-out of a trip in order to be home in time of a family need/ crisis. As professional aviators, it is expected that we will miss plenty of events at home over the years. However, I believe it is not unlikely that any of us may some day need to be home when we are on the road.

What is more, I am now a Manager and will need to consider this issue if it arisies for one of my crew members.

I would appreciate a discussion of the question "How do you decide when it is time to leave a trip for a personal or family need?"

V2CLIMB

 

[dsee8driver]

I have one suggestion now that you are a manager. Stay away from the Kool Aid. I have seen many great guys head up north through the management doors and come out a different person.
I think you just need to put yourself in the position of the crewmember asking for the time. Last week we had a guy that was not released to go home from KMIA to KTPA to board up his house before Charley. Co. decided to be a harda$$ saying he could not use sick days for that because he was not sick.
We all know there will always be abusers of the system. SO it's pretty much up to you to put yourself in the other person's shoes.

 

[pilotyip]

Hard Days off at home

Build hard days off at home. Let pilots bid by seniority for days off. Honor those days no matter what, unless you can make the reward for giving up a day off that you get volunteers to work on days off. If a guy doesn’t have the seniority to hold a special day off, i.e. daughters B’day and no one will swap with him, that is too bad. It comes with an aviation career. As management step up and take trips when you workers are in bind. Use reserves and commercial air when emergency situations arise, family in acccident etc.

 

[airksk]

Depends on the situation, is it a NEED to be home for a situation, or is it a want to be home for an event. In my company, there aren't any discretionary days off, if you can't hold it on a bid or swap with someone, you are stuck with it. That being said, if it's a genuine family emergency, such as a serious medical issue, getting the time isn't a problem. As a manager, you should also be aware that some things may be covered by law, such as FMLA. Other than that, it all depends on what kind of mood management is in, and what kind of coverage is available.

 

[AA717driver]

I would err on the side of leniency--until someone abuses it. You will always have your 2-5% of slackers who will milk the system.

Maybe when someone has an "emergency", you resist a little to see how serious they are. For me, if I need to be off a trip, I need to be off. I don't do that frivolously.

As a manager, if you have to come out and fly the rest of the trip for someone who has an emergency, you will have earned his or her loyalty and that will pay off in the future. IMO.TC