Part Time Pilots, Yay or Nay?

[nimtz]

So you still have to work 10 days a month for half pay and no bennies? No thanks, I'll work 11-12 days and keep everything.

No doubt. Anybody who is forfeiting funding their 401K better be really sure that sugar train their riding on has solid tracks. As for buying your own health insurance, have fun with that one!

 

[altimaklr]

Pinnacle had this in 2009 except you kept all benefits..

 

[ASADriver]

Sounds like a great idea. Sign me up!

 

[BOX OFFICE]

I notice several of you mentioned guys several times in your posts. It's not really guys with sugar mommas (rare) who will benefits from this, but rather girls with a hubby who makes more money and has better benefits. Especially if she has kids or wants to. I think part time would be fab, and all my flight attendant friends who bid it love it. I've never heard anyone being forced into it and it usually goes pretty senior.

 

[JustaNumber]

But I'm opposed without some insanely airtight limitations on what the company can do with it.

Even airtight limitations open the door to the concept. Right now part-time work is not considered appropriate in the piloting profession. But if one or more significant airlines start up the practice, then it opens the door in ALL airline negotiations for management to push for the practice, as it becomes more and more industry-standard. Before you know it you're giving up pay raises in order to fight off mandatory part-time positions, which become more and more numerous. Eventually everyone is working part-time and we're working for Wal-Mart Airlines.

 

[Maria]

Part-time could be very nice, but I need the health insurance and 401k, plus the ability to return to full-time. Perhaps offer a health plan w/o maternity/contraception bennies for those of us without that need.

 

[BOX OFFICE]

Perhaps offer a health plan w/o maternity/contraception bennies for those of us without that need.

Seriously? Talk about a bad precedent! I think most of us have a need for one or both of those! Or at least the first if you don't have the second covered!

 

[rickair7777]

Even airtight limitations open the door to the concept. Right now part-time work is not considered appropriate in the piloting profession. But if one or more significant airlines start up the practice, then it opens the door in ALL airline negotiations for management to push for the practice, as it becomes more and more industry-standard. Before you know it you're giving up pay raises in order to fight off mandatory part-time positions, which become more and more numerous. Eventually everyone is working part-time and we're working for Wal-Mart Airlines.

I'm with you, better safe than sorry.

 

[JustaNumber]

Part-time could be very nice, but I need the health insurance and 401k, plus the ability to return to full-time.

I don't think you get it...once we allow part-time to be an acceptable pilot category, then management will have sole discretion as to how many positions are available in each category (just like they now tell you how many positions are available for each aircraft at your company). Before you know it, the majority of pilot positions will be part-time.

This is all about setting PRECEDENT. Just look at every other industry in the country to see how part-time work is being abused. It's coming to the pilot industry, if you let it.

 

[Flip]

CC wants to find a way to manage the swings in pilot numbers - being overstaffed at certain times and under staffed at others. He has asked about the idea and it is being looked at. Part time pilots and/or VLAs in 1, 2 and 3 month blocks. He thinks this would be preferable to furloughs. FWIW

 

[BOX OFFICE]

I don't think you get it...once we allow part-time to be an acceptable pilot category, then management will have sole discretion as to how many positions are available in each category (just like they now tell you how many positions are available for each aircraft at your company). Before you know it, the majority of pilot positions will be part-time.

This is all about setting PRECEDENT. Just look at every other industry in the country to see how part-time work is being abused. It's coming to the pilot industry, if you let it.

Ok. Theyve had part time FAs for years. By your "logic" all FAs would have to start part time and part time would be the majority. But of course we know that's not the case Sorry, but you're full of crap.

 

[LearLove]

Sounds like a great idea. Sign me up!

yeah, what could possibly go wrong...

 

[JustaNumber]

Ok. Theyve had part time FAs for years. By your "logic" all FAs would have to start part time and part time would be the majority. But of course we know that's not the case Sorry, but you're full of crap.

It is an undisputed fact that part-time worker "abuse" is rampant in many other industries outside of aviation. I personally have a brother-in-law AND a sister-in-law who once were full-time workers (one blue-collar, one middle-management white collar), but both were forced into mandatory part-time positions (doing the same job) with no benefits, with more work than they can handle. If you think this can't happen to us, you are naive. Just because something hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it isn't necessarily a significant threat.

 

[cfi on the fly]

I consider myself part time now as it is. With the two weeks of vacation that can be turned into 6-7 weeks off, 4 sick calls a year of at least two weeks each, and a month or two of coma a year makes for not alot of work....and not alot of pay, but thats my choice.

A wife that makes descent money, living below your means, and taking lots of time off is the only way Ive been able to stay somewhat happy with my job, however sad that may be.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

I would have jumped at it. I was getting severly burnt out with the years of reserve. I don't take the company medical benefits (frankly I don't even bother to use what's left of the travel benefits) I could afford to take the pay hit every few months to keep my sanity. I asked several times about it, or even taking a leave for a month and was always told no, we are too short staffed (yet plenty staffed to have ready reserve every day)

 

[SSDD]

A month or two LOA is different than being part time.

 

[airksk]

Ok. Theyve had part time FAs for years. By your "logic" all FAs would have to start part time and part time would be the majority. But of course we know that's not the case Sorry, but you're full of crap.

Sorry, but by your "logic" there's no difference between fa's and pilots. Sure, they've had part time fa's for years, but there is a little difference in our roles and expense to the company don't you think?

Remember, every thing we allow has consequences. Remember what happened with mainline airlines when they let scope out of the bag for a bit more money? At the time, I'm sure it seemed like a great idea, getting a nice raise can only help right? No way a company could possibly find a way to use something like that against me right?

Be careful what you agree to, it can and will be used against you by your company.

 

[dodgerk]

Great for some individuals but bad for our industry pilot group. Junior pilots would especially be hurt.