Question for CAL pilots

[Pancho747]

I will be starting with CAL in a few weeks. I was hoping a CAL pilot could give me some information on the Company's reserve rules.

How are trips assigned? Is it by seniority or FIFO? Lowest flight time in a month?

Also, when you are on reserve do they usually assign you every day or do you have a certain percentage of reserve days when they do not use you?

Is the reserve system computerized? Do you get a pretty good idea whether or not you will be used based on reserve availability/open time?

Is 757/767 reserve better of worse than 737 reserve?

Do they usually give you adequate notice to report for a trip?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Boeingman]

I will be starting with CAL in a few weeks. I was hoping a CAL pilot could give me some information on the Company's reserve rules.

How are trips assigned? Is it by seniority or FIFO? Lowest flight time in a month?

Also, when you are on reserve do they usually assign you every day or do you have a certain percentage of reserve days when they do not use you?

Is the reserve system computerized? Do you get a pretty good idea whether or not you will be used based on reserve availability/open time?

Is 757/767 reserve better of worse than 737 reserve?

Do they usually give you adequate notice to report for a trip?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Usage depends on how many reserves they use and have left. Some guys luck out and never fly, others fly every day. to unpredictable to give a consistent answer.

Some of the guys on reserve can give you better answers, but one issue that will cause a lot of heartburn is they day match your availibility i.e. senority goes out the window for assignments.

Fully computerized and you can look at everyone and assignments made.

757 vs 737? 737 you will fly a lot. Many short calls off reserve quciker. 757 a lot of DH at 1/2 pay, IRO seat in coach, you'll be on reserve for a long time. A lot of Europe trips will be flown as lineholders drop the IRO pairings as much as possible.

Rules are 2 hours to show 1 hour to effectuate a departure. There is a A & B reserve system long call, short call, but I never even read that section of the contract. Again I must defer to some of the guys more familiar with the system.

If you're planning to commute to reserve...good luck.

 

[Ex737Driver]

I agree with Boeingman except for the 737 reserves flying a lot. Just ain't so. Once you get your 100 hours you will be far down the totem pole to get trips. Most open time is being assigend to guys with the "X" by their name, which is less than 100 hours in the aircraft. As long as CAL is hiring 16 a week, this will continue for a while. Also, aggressive pickup removes a lot of trips to guys that really want to fly all the time. Last, you still have lineholders taking trips that pop up into open time. CAL's CCS system has a OPEN TRIP notification that emails you when a particular trip becomes available.

 

[Boeingman]

You know, ex737driver is probably right about current 737 guys flying with all the hiring. I was recently flying with a few guys who just came to the 756 sub base and they were saying over the summer it was hectic.

Like I said though, some of the guys on the airplane or more junior on reserve today can give you a better handle than I can on the situation.