I've had it!

[Fracster]

I cannot in good conscience ever give someone positive info on NJA. This is not a career job...heck, its not even a stepping stone!

There is no was a regional could be worse than 14 days every day. It doesn't matter if you get 10, 12 or 14 hours of its still 14 hours.

Every week gets worse than the last. I take back every fair comment I ever made. If you're corporate, stay there. If you're at a regional, stay there. If your're unemployed, stay there.

Just my opinion

 

[Vspeeds]

Please Explain!

Could you please explain a little in detail as in regards to your various comparisons you made?

Thanx

 

[earl]

There is no was a regional could be worse than 14 days every day.

What the crap are you talking about?? "There is no was" ? For GOD's sake man, pull it together. Take a deep breath.

Earl

 

[Twotter76]

Umm I hate to point this out but at my regional (widely regarded as one of the best to work for BTW) I can work a 16 hour day and I still have to commute home. Tell me again why you have it so bad? I am pretty sure that you still make more than me as a second year CRJ FO...

 

[old*art]

And what is this crowd going to be saying when the game gets "in the red zone" ?

 

[Fracster]

I had a few drinks before I posted so lets just say that wont happen again.

What I meant to say is a regional job is as good or better than NJA.

As a second year regional fo you will make more than at NJA.

91K has done little for knowing when you will be on or off. You will show at 5, 6 or 7am and sit at the fbo for a full 14 hours before released to the hotel. If you have trips during the day then you will fly your trips and still sit at the FBO until 14 hours. Why, because scheduling can.

NJA scheduling reports to no one and cannot be reprimanded.

The only positive is you dont commute but on the other hand you might not have another crew member or an airplane yet scheduling will hold you on so that you arrive home at 11:59 on your last day. Its a joke folks.

 

[Twotter76]

After rereading my reply I can see where it comes across a bit strong - but then you aren't the only one drinking and posting. My point was simply that there is always somewhere worse off. At my regional our scheduling department is not held accountable for its actions so we suffer. Trips that are not commutable on both ends, hiding open time, repeated denials of any trip trades, these are all common practice. Throw in a displacement or two and you have a very grumpy workforce. At least you all have a new contract to look forward to. We have, um, well i'm not actually sure what we have to look forward to. These are some of the many reasons that NJ is starting to look really good to me. At least i'd get to see my beloved west coast again.

 

[flyer172r]

Would it be possible to change the scheduling practices as part of the new contract?

 

[Flechas]

Remember guys, DON'T DRINK AND POST, the results could be fatal!

 

[Fracster]

Twotter,

Your post was fine brutha, no probs there! If you come here you will get to see your West Coast. I doubt any of the gateway will shrink. You will continue to deal with scheduling problems, just different ones.

flyer172r,

I doubt it. After speaking with many union officials this isnt something they are dealing with for the new contract. Let me clarify, they are working on new schedules but as for the scheduling practices there isnt a whole lot that can be done right now I believe. Until the scheduling department is held accountable days will continue to remain long and hard.
They never figured out how to schedule before 91K so we cant expect much to change. Funny thing is NJA is trying to save money and become efficient, etc, etc but yet the most costly and inefficient department is scheduling.

 

[El Chupacabra]

We are shooting for 55 hours of duty any one tour max. After you reach that they will have to send you home.

 

[ProFracPilot]

We are shooting for 55 hours of duty any one tour max. After you reach that they will have to send you home.

Wow. Good luck on that one! If we had this limitation at FltOps, I'd be sent home after day 4!

 

[Lrjet55]

ProFracPilot,


Can you explain how Flops is scheduling you with 135 Regs? I was told that after 10 hours of rest you can still be in the hotel and contactable but the time spent in the hotel is not counted towards duty. Can you elaborate?

 

[xjcaptain]

So let me get this straight. You are suprised that at a fractional (pseudo charter) you spend long periods of time waiting at FBO's for customers, or are basically on call....Who woulda thunk it? Did you actually think you would fly with no downtime? Airlines are no different. Fly some, sit some. Long duty days 14hrs plus (up to 16 at times) are the norm not the exception. Now I'm not saying there isn't room for improvement, but if you didn't see this coming when you entered the aviation field you must have had blinders on.

 

[El Chupacabra]

Be happy to get things straight for you...

You finish a trip at 12 hours on duty. There are no more trips but you have to stay at the FBO 2 more hours until you duty out... for no reason other than they can. If there were another trip you can't possible do it in the time you have left before duty time runs out.

You have no airplane, no flying partner. You hang around at the FBO for 14 hours. Just because they can.

You are assigned an airplane that will not be out of maintenance for 2 more days. You must hang out at the FBO 14 hours. Just because they can.

The reason for this change is harassment while we are in negotiations.

It may not piss YOU off but it does me...

 

[ProFracPilot]

Can you explain how Flops is scheduling you with 135 Regs? I was told that after 10 hours of rest you can still be in the hotel and contactable but the time spent in the hotel is not counted towards duty. Can you elaborate?

Well, I don't know if this is an explanation. But here's the policy:

CREW DUTY/REST POLICY ​

[font=Arial,Arial]Dispatch may attempt to contact crewmembers once they have received minimum required rest (defined as at least 10 hours uninterrupted rest or extended rest as defined by SOP) after their last assigned duty period, but before their expected duty-on time.

When doing so, the following procedure will apply:

Dispatch will only initiate contact after the crewmembers have received at least the minimum required rest. Crewmembers will ensure they are available for contact after receiving the minimum required rest. After required rest, the crewmember will also ensure the hotel phone and the Blackberry is turned on and not silenced. The crewmember is expected to answer either if called. If called from 0001 to 0600 local by dispatch, for an earlier than originally assigned trip, the crewmember’s duty begins at time of contact. For calls after 0600 local, duty will begin at the scheduled show time. [/font]

 

[El Chupacabra]

I do not think that is going to fly very long.

It does not really matter when duty starts... it matters when Rest Ends. And according to the FEDS ... rest Ends as soon as you have to answer the phone/pager.

 

[AirBear8]

How do they know if you're at the FBO? In this situation where you know they can't use you to fly and if you live close to the airport why not just go home or back to the hotel?

FWIW reserve at Mesa is similar. You can't get a crew tracker to release you in time for the last flight home even if you don't have enough duty day to do anything because they're scared to make a decision. But of course when they need a favor from you they get angry when you won't help them out.

AirBear

Be happy to get things straight for you...

You finish a trip at 12 hours on duty. There are no more trips but you have to stay at the FBO 2 more hours until you duty out... for no reason other than they can. If there were another trip you can't possible do it in the time you have left before duty time runs out.

You have no airplane, no flying partner. You hang around at the FBO for 14 hours. Just because they can.

You are assigned an airplane that will not be out of maintenance for 2 more days. You must hang out at the FBO 14 hours. Just because they can.

The reason for this change is harassment while we are in negotiations.

It may not piss YOU off but it does me...

 

[njwingman]

How do they know if you're at the FBO? In this situation where you know they can't use you to fly and if you live close to the airport why not just go home or back to the hotel?

AirBear

You'll get it figured out as soon as you get here. There'll be a couple dozen NJA pilots in each of the main FBOs to help. Be sure and let us know when you are NJA bound.

 

[Lrjet55]

AirBear8,

The company knows where you are at all times. After every leg we call in to give the times of the last flight and check on changes for the next leg.

You cant go home because you will rarely, if ever, have an overnight at your gateway. If you do then go home if you dont live to far away. Only you know if its worth going home on a 10 hour turn.

You cant go to the hotel until the company releases you to go. Go early if you want but if they catch you or if something happens like a trip pops and your not ready within an hour you'll probaly get in trouble or canned.