Orionflyer
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2002
- Posts
- 19
firstthrid
Here's my educated guess:
- Guys will still bid turns and two day lines because they want to clear their board, whether they are lances or just "players" who rely on EF and VJA for killer months. The supply of these schedule fillers will remain unchanged.
- More flying is uncovered on the weekend because of the ELITT trades (which will still happen... just 3 down to 2 % for two weekends and normal limits for the rest) and because people would rather do other things. When the VJ rate is high (weekend or not), it is because the pilots sense the need and because not enough people will do straight time. This won't change... Instead of EF starting at 0900 herb, uncovered stuff will get bid on all day... if no one bids it straight, it'll go to premium bid, then FCFS with premium.
- the higher reserve percentage is not way out of line with previous staffing practice when reserves have been increased for certain periods. I've heard guys on the conference calls arguing that this is bad because it needlessly restricts the company. Either way, there are still a given amount of block hours to fly and a certain number of pilots. With more reserve lines, there's more open time right there (unless they hire more pilots or make denser lines... generally consider good things). The demand for that open time will still be the main determinant of premium pay... that demand is controlled by staffing (right now, too high with more flight cuts in August).
(... the issue of restrictions on Reserve guys picking up with respect to the 100 hr rule is a whole different story....)
Here's my educated guess:
- Guys will still bid turns and two day lines because they want to clear their board, whether they are lances or just "players" who rely on EF and VJA for killer months. The supply of these schedule fillers will remain unchanged.
- More flying is uncovered on the weekend because of the ELITT trades (which will still happen... just 3 down to 2 % for two weekends and normal limits for the rest) and because people would rather do other things. When the VJ rate is high (weekend or not), it is because the pilots sense the need and because not enough people will do straight time. This won't change... Instead of EF starting at 0900 herb, uncovered stuff will get bid on all day... if no one bids it straight, it'll go to premium bid, then FCFS with premium.
- the higher reserve percentage is not way out of line with previous staffing practice when reserves have been increased for certain periods. I've heard guys on the conference calls arguing that this is bad because it needlessly restricts the company. Either way, there are still a given amount of block hours to fly and a certain number of pilots. With more reserve lines, there's more open time right there (unless they hire more pilots or make denser lines... generally consider good things). The demand for that open time will still be the main determinant of premium pay... that demand is controlled by staffing (right now, too high with more flight cuts in August).
(... the issue of restrictions on Reserve guys picking up with respect to the 100 hr rule is a whole different story....)