NJA Quality of Life

[blueridge71]

I know that the pay under the new NJ contract is exceptional, but what about the quality of life?

Specifically, I'm curious about reserve and standby. My current company situation with standby is starting to look like FLOPS where you are either on rest, flying, or standing by.

How are you treated by scheduling and the company in general?

 

[theskyking]

They like to get a full days work out of you, whether that be flying or stand by. I did spend this last Sunday on stand by at the hotel all day watching football and then airlined home the next morning, day 7. I was driving up into my driveway by 1000. Not typical, but does happen.

As far as standby at the FBO, the new contract has some sections addressing it. I'm sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but after 3 hours of cumulative standby for the day, you start earning overtime. At 7 hours, it goes to double time.

Not sure what you mean by reserve. We can be scheduled stand by at home, hotel, or FBO. There is no reserve per se.

I'm sure some others will chime in as well.

 

[On Your Six]

Does unionization make a difference in this case?

 

[blueridge71]

thanks, Sky King. That is what I was looking for.

We can do airport standby all day for all seven days of the tour with no extra compensation.

Hotel reserve doesn't bother me.

What I meant by reserve was the flex schedules. I've heard those referred to as reserve.

How about overtime? Is that readily available if desired?

 

[blueridge71]

Also, under the new contract, do you just notify the company when you change bases or is some bidding involved?

 

[imacdog]

Just notify the company with a 30-day notice of your base change. You can change as often as you want but the minimum time you must spend at your new base is 30 days.

 

[realityman]

Does unionization make a difference in this case?

Yes. Anyone else earning overtime for standby at the FBO beyond 3 hours? That was something negotiated. Certainly wasn't anything required to be given by the company for any reason.

Actually, there are quite a few things in this section of the contract where the union made a big difference for us and our quality of life. Too many to list here.

But yes, the union made a difference in our standby (reserve) scheduling. (a positive difference)

 

[theskyking]

thanks, Sky King. That is what I was looking for.

We can do airport standby all day for all seven days of the tour with no extra compensation.

Hotel reserve doesn't bother me.

What I meant by reserve was the flex schedules. I've heard those referred to as reserve.

How about overtime? Is that readily available if desired?

Old reserve schedule is gone as of Feb. 1. With that schedule you could bid 2 sets of 2 hard days, and then the company was able to use you when they wanted throughout the month within some contractual limitations.

The new schedule is an 18 day schedule that is awarded by the 15th of the month prior. You will bid on tour length and days off using a PBS system yet to be implemented. The company will work those bids into a schedule that gets awarded by the 15th of the month and is not changeable by the company.

There will be a new schedule as of Feb. which will work more like a reserve schedule. It's a max 15 day work month in which the company can send you on a tour when they want, but it can be no longer than 5 days and will be followed by mandatory days off. On any day you are eligible for a tour, you will find out the night before by 1800L whether or not they are using you and what your show time will be.

Hope that helps.

 

[wms]

Are they still going to have the 7on/7off schedules?

 

[theskyking]

That's still there. Sorry. Should have mentioned it too.

 

[wms]

Thanks

 

[notaNJApilot]

yes, anywhere from 50-90% of the pilots will be on 7&7. it's also the lowest paying schedule.

 

[SELFloadingCRGO]

Are you able to switch from any of the schedule options at any time? For example, this month I want the 7 on 7 off, next the 15 day flex.
I know it was briefly mentioned, but if you are on the 7 on 7 off schedule, you travel home on the first and last day correct? If so, is that all you do on the first and last days, or do you/could you have an assignment on the first or last day?

 

[theskyking]

Are you able to switch from any of the schedule options at any time? For example, this month I want the 7 on 7 off, next the 15 day flex.
I know it was briefly mentioned, but if you are on the 7 on 7 off schedule, you travel home on the first and last day correct? If so, is that all you do on the first and last days, or do you/could you have an assignment on the first or last day?

There will be three bidding periods per year. So, once on a schedule, you are on it for 4 months.

You do travel on your first and last day. Quite often, you will have some other duty on those days as well.

 

[fischman]

Yes. Anyone else earning overtime for standby at the FBO beyond 3 hours? That was something negotiated. Certainly wasn't anything required to be given by the company for any reason.

Actually, there are quite a few things in this section of the contract where the union made a big difference for us and our quality of life. Too many to list here.

But yes, the union made a difference in our standby (reserve) scheduling. (a positive difference)

Disclaimer: These are my own interpretations and do not reflect the views or opinions of IBT 1108 or NJA.

I just wanted to make a slight clarification to this statement.

You might be sitting at the FBO for 14 hours IF you have a good crew and good airplane. This is now called "flight asset" and is what we used to call "airport standby" or "hot spare."

"Standby" is now what we used to call "FRDA (Flight Ready Duty Assignment)". This occurs when you do not have a full crew or a good airplane. In these cases the company has 3 free hours in order to figure out what to do with you, or to get the plane fixed. Anything over 3 hours of "standby" in a duty period and you will start to receive OT. Anything over 7 hours, and you start getting double OT. Also, the hours are not consecutive. So if you break at 0800, they get the plane fixed by 0900, then you have spent 1 hour of "standby" for the duty period. If you then break at 1200, and the plane isn't fixed until 1500, then you have spent 4 total hours on "standby." You would have earned 1 hour of OT in this example.

"Reserve" is now being on duty at rest accommodations. (Home, hotel).

Hope that helps.

 

[realityman]

Thanks fischman. I just didn't feel like posting all those details.
But hopefully, everyone gets the point.

 

[blueridge71]

So no extra pay for hot spare?

 

[imacdog]

So no extra pay for hot spare?

As long as you have a good plane and crew, there is no extra pay for standby at the FBO.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

The three bid periods are Feb 1, Jun 1, and Oct 1. Your schedule (7/7, 15 reserve, 18 schd reserve) could change at these three points.

If U R a new-hire, you will be on the 18 day until your IOE is over, and then when the specific bid period that you are in is over.

For example, if you finished training 2 weeks before the bid period, you could potentially be off the 18 day bid in two weeks. If you finish with 3 1/2 months left, you will be on the 18th for that time period.

You could be forced to stay on the 18th, as the max % it can go down each bid period is 10% of the pilot group for your plane. In other words, if it was 40% of the pilots (the max), it could only go down to 30% the next bid period.

cliff
YIP

 

[Jafo73]

The three bid periods are Feb 1, Jun 1, and Oct 1. Your schedule (7/7, 15 reserve, 18 schd reserve) could change at these three points.

there is a flush bid once a year, the other 2 bid periods will not cause you to loose a 7n7 line unless you bid off of it or they don't have 10% on the 15 flex schedule, then you could be junior manned to it.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Jafo73: How will the flush bid work, and which bid period date will that be?

Thanx 4 the correction!

cliff
YIP

 

[imacdog]

October 1st is the annual open bid period.

 

[Jafo73]

Hi!

Jafo73: How will the flush bid work, and which bid period date will that be?

Thanx 4 the correction!

cliff
YIP

everyone looses what they currently have and bids on what they want for the next year (max) or until the next bid period (min), then it's awarded on seniority. Of course if you are senior in your fleet and want a certain 7n7 line for the rest of your life the flush bid won't effect you.

 

[igneousy2]

So does this mean then that you can no longer forecast what your days off will be 5 years from now if you aren't senior in you aircraft? Does this mean that guys starting now shouldn't expect to be able to hold christmas off for a few years?

 

[CA1900]

Does this mean that guys starting now shouldn't expect to be able to hold christmas off for a few years?

Well, Christmas (and 9 other holidays) will pay more; plenty of us will celebrate a couple days early/late, and bid the holiday for extra money. Plus, on the 7/7, it's often the case that if you have Thanksgiving off, you'll work Christmas, and vice-versa.

But to answer your question, yes, it's possible your 7/7 line could change every year, but at least it won't be every quarter. That seems a reasonable compromise, and one that rewards seniority, which is a good thing. (And I say that as a junior guy!)

The Open bid (where you can be bumped to a different line) is the one starting October 1st, so there's still plenty of time to make summer plans.

 

[IDEtoNJA]

The Open bid (where you can be bumped to a different line) is the one starting October 1st, so there's still plenty of time to make summer plans.

CA1900,

Just to clarify, this year's the open bid period is going to be the June 1st bid period. The next open bid period will be Oct 1st, 2009. All the open bid periods thereafter will be the Oct 1st bid period.

IDEtoNJA

 

[CA1900]

Yep, didn't mean to omit that. A few things are different in this transition period. Good catch!

 

[gordon24]

Hi!

The three bid periods are Feb 1, Jun 1, and Oct 1. Your schedule (7/7, 15 reserve, 18 schd reserve) could change at these three points.

If U R a new-hire, you will be on the 18 day until your IOE is over, and then when the specific bid period that you are in is over.

For example, if you finished training 2 weeks before the bid period, you could potentially be off the 18 day bid in two weeks. If you finish with 3 1/2 months left, you will be on the 18th for that time period.

You could be forced to stay on the 18th, as the max % it can go down each bid period is 10% of the pilot group for your plane. In other words, if it was 40% of the pilots (the max), it could only go down to 30% the next bid period.

cliff
YIP

This cat isn't even on property yet and already thinks he knows the contract.

 

[fischman]

This cat isn't even on property yet and already thinks he knows the contract.

GOOD!!!

 

[CA1900]

The three bid periods are Feb 1, Jun 1, and Oct 1. Your schedule (7/7, 15 reserve, 18 schd reserve) could change at these three points.

No, it can't, unless you specifically bid something different. Only during the open bid period (the June 1 bid next year; Oct 1 all subsequent years) can it change without your consent. Even then, you cannot be junior-assigned onto the 18-day schedule (which is no longer called Reserve). Only the 15-day schedule can be junior-assigned, and that's only if 10% of senior folks don't bid it.

If U R a new-hire, you will be on the 18 day until your IOE is over, and then when the specific bid period that you are in is over.

That's not correct. Here's the exactly language from the contract; highlighting is mine:

19.4(D) IOE Training Schedule
A crewmember commencing IOE training will be placed on the 18-Day Training Schedule effective the first day of the duty tour in which he commences IOE Training and compensated according to the 18-Day Fixed Schedule wage tables set forth in subsection 27.1(C). The maximum tour length and minimum number of days off for a crewmember on the 18-Day Training Schedule will be as provided in subsection 19.1(B). A crewmember will not be required to remain on the 18-Day Training Schedule for more than 120 days or after he successfully completes IOE Training, whichever occurs first; provided, the 120 day period may be extended on a day-by-day basis for circumstances beyond the control of the Company (e.g., crewmember performance difficulties, simulator malfunction, crewmember vacation, LOA).

19.4(D)(1) Completion of IOE Training
A crewmember will be assigned to the 18-Day Fixed Schedule or, if applicable, the schedule he was awarded pursuant to subsection 19.4(D)(4), effective (a) the last day of duty tour in which he completes IOE training; or (b) at the expiration of the 120 day period described in subsection 19.4(D), whichever occurs first; provided, that if the crewmember has completed IOE training within the 120 day period described in subsection 19.4(D), he may be required to remain on the 18-Day Training Schedule for up to 30 additional days until he completes a Part 135.299 Check Ride, if required. A crewmember assigned to the 18-Day Fixed Schedule pursuant to this subsection will not be required to work more than eighteen (18) days in the calendar month that he is assigned to the 18-Day Fixed Schedule. The crewmember will maintain the 18-Day Fixed Schedule until he is assigned or successfully bids a different Schedule under the terms of this Section 19. Notwithstanding the forty percent (40%) limitation set forth in subsection 19.3(A), the assignment of a crewmember to the 18-Day Fixed Schedule pur- suant to this subsection will not result in the involuntary displace- ment of another crewmember from his existing 18-Day Fixed Schedule prior to the next scheduled open or closed bid period.


​

For example, if you finished training 2 weeks before the bid period, you could potentially be off the 18 day bid in two weeks. If you finish with 3 1/2 months left, you will be on the 18th for that time period.

Again, not correct in this contract. In the prior contract, yes, you'd have to finish out the bid period before you could get a 7/7. That's not the case anymore.

You could be forced to stay on the 18th, as the max % it can go down each bid period is 10% of the pilot group for your plane. In other words, if it was 40% of the pilots (the max), it could only go down to 30% the next bid period.

That part's correct, yes.