NJA Question

[CE750Driver]

I guess the point of it was can I buy a ticket and fly down every seven days and NJA be fine with it or do I need a 310 area code to do my job?

As long as you show up, they dont care.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

One of your guys told me that they will pay to move you to a gateway city. Is this true or is he full of it?

 

[CA1900]

He's not full of it, but he's misreading the contract. As I did when I first looked at working here.

Short version: Pilots hired before the new contract can work from basically any airport with adequate commercial service (with some caveats), and is considered a "Home Base Airport" pilot. Anyone hired after the new contract was signed must work out of one of the (currently 5) domiciles, unless they're in the top 30% of seniority. The company has the option of making that percentage higher, but contractually they have to offer home basing at at least the top 30%.

Here's what the contract says about moving expenses for new-hires:

13.2(b)(i)(2) Crewmembers hired after ratification of this Agreement who are awarded a Home Base Airport designation and subsequently decide to move within ninety (90) miles of a Domicile will be assigned to that Domicile. Upon written request, the Company shall reimburse the crewmember for moving expenses as set forth in Section 15...

It's the part I put in bold that's the catch, and the part that many (including me) misinterpreted at first. It says newhires who are awarded an HBA designation are eligible for moving expenses if they move to one of the domicile airports. Since the company hasn't extended HBA availability past the top 30%, no new-hire could possibly be awarded such a designation. The company would have to increase it to 100% for this paragraph to apply.

The other catch: If you accept the moving expense reimbursement, you forfeit the ability to be home-based, even if your seniority later allows it. No thanks! I like knowing that eventually I'd be able to move nearly anywhere, and wouldn't risk that for a few thousand dollars.

Hope that clears things up a little.