Impact of change in Flight Time/Rest reg on pilot staffing

[GuinessGuy]

My big fear is the days of 85 hours of credit/block with 17 days off will go the way of Pan Am!!!!

I don't want 85 credit/block hrs with 10 days off!!!!!!

 

[pilotyip]

When air carriers increase their ticket prices by just 5 or 10 dollars it tremendously increases their bottom line. I don't see an increase in $15 per ticket causing the general public to rethink their vacation plans.

don't believe so, look at SWA wo tried to rasie fares last spring, they did not hold a week. It is not that people have to travel, they travel because it is cheap. When it is not cheap, they do not travel. Airlines live off retirees, shopping for cheap tickets

 

[Homer Jay]

don't believe so, look at SWA wo tried to rasie fares last spring, they did not hold a week. It is not that people have to travel, they travel because it is cheap. When it is not cheap, they do not travel. Airlines live off retirees, shopping for cheap tickets

No, airlines live off the business traveler.

 

[WolfManPack]

No, airlines live off the business traveler.

This is correct..in fact the airline I'm furloughed from admits that freely. It's not really a big secret that business travelers pay the bills.

The fact is that if all the airlines are affected the same by the FT / DT in the way of costs, then the fares will have to go up.

I believe pilots are done with subsidizing the companies they work for. At least I know I am.

 

[av8tor19]

To see how it would affect pilot staffing, you would have to look at the current duty day and the overnights.

1. If you airline already has a max 14 hour day, not much would change.

2. If your airline has rest periods less than 10 hours, where you take the last flight in, to the first flight out, that is where the major change will be.

If option 2 exists then it creates a whole other dynamic.

To solve option 2, the company can reschedule the overnight for 10 hours.

If not, then they will have to double stage the overnight. 1. For the inbound crew to leave later. 2. For the early morning crew to get in for their rest.

So now the overnight which required 1 crew now requires 2.

It's not over yet. When you sent the first crew in to rest, you just restricted 1/2 their duty day because it's spent in a hotel. Get too many of these and most lines will have a hard time making 70 hours.

I do see some hiring.

 

[Skippy]

companies would just do continuos duty/stand up/high speed/ whatever the hell each airlines calls them- overnights- that would mitigate any need to higher alot more pilots

i like them-- most pay for least amount of work-sign me up

 

[crj567]

It will not effect airlines that have trip and duty rigs like DAL, it will kill the regionals as their costs per block hr will go way up.

I also expect to see hiring.

Yep-and we will see 737s going back and forth to DHN all day long... Each will have 38 passengers who enjoy all the ping-pong tables installed where the extra rows of seats used to be.

-You really are completely pointless, ACL.

 

[pilotyip]

Not true

No, airlines live off the business traveler.

Not true, bus travelers are the highest revenue generators, and without them they could not survive. But the airlines have to fill those empty seats with anything that gives money to the airline. I saw an article once that all of SWA's profitability was based upon 3.5 seats per flight filled advance purchase prices. At higher prices fewer passengers, particularly those who don’t have to go by air and only go because it is cheap and it will affect the bottom line. Study airline yield management. The airlines can demand high fares on Fri/Sun/Mon when the business guys travels, but on Tues/Wed/Sat they have to put something in that seat that generates revenue. There is too much capacity in the system and the airlines are chasing LF. UAL just made a decision to reduce capacity with it's future fleet, replacing the 767, 777 and 747 with 787’s and 350's

 

[Splert]

Maybe not much of a hit ot B6.

we have been told the day extension of flight time will absorb any additional staffing due to reduced night duty and flight time.

Nobody really knows until ink is put to paper.