ACARS and time fudging

J

JordanD

Here so I don’t get fined
Sort of a rant more than a question, although the practice doesn't really bother me too much but it just makes me wonder. What's the point of even having ACARS to report OOOI times if the company is just going to go in and fudge the numbers to make the flight "on time" when they take a 5 minute delay. I'm sure a lot of companies do this, but one airline in particular seems to do it just about every time that I've noticed. Why not just save the money and have the pilots call in the times since the numbers just get fudged anyway? :p
 
I will presume most crew members are paid and duty times are compiled by OOOI times. Thus in the long run it is hurting the company as they are paying more to their crews and could end up where a crew member is no longer able to fly because they exceeded their duty times for that given period. (day/month/year) Not sure if there is any legal ramifications.
 
With those times it makes or breaks on-time performance numbers. Regionals for the most part, if they are the same, get paid for meeting peformance standards and goals. If those numbers drop and stay below certain percentages for too long of a time fines occur and ultimately loss of the contract. I think that this is where this comes from. I know one regional that does not authorize the change of OOOI times unless the dispute process takes place and there is an agreement that the time is incorrect. Another reason would be that no department likes to have a delay attached to them as well.

This is not for sure just a good educated guess.
 
Bottom line is that the practice is wrong regardless of who does it. Either way one is stealing from the other if you are paid by block. At most airlines lying and/or stealing is grounds for termination.
 
We have crews call in all the time and want times changed. If your airline is changing these numbers that is just not a good deal.

And as far as why that system is there, just wait until it is not. My airline has 4 systems that times need to be reported in with long enteries for each time. Trust me it will be your worst day at work if that system goes down.
 
Just to be clear, I'm not the one doing the number scrubbing. I just notice with this particular carrier every time I go into the computer to code a delay and give a reason a new out time prints out and it's magically the exact scheduled departure time.
 
JordanD said:
Just to be clear, I'm not the one doing the number scrubbing. I just notice with this particular carrier every time I go into the computer to code a delay and give a reason a new out time prints out and it's magically the exact scheduled departure time.
Click to expand...

Report it to the Faa. Freedom was doing the same but at a greater extent. Operating 12+ hrs late and showing ontime. The feds found out and fined Delta big. Violating on time reporting rules. Freedom stopped soon after.
 
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