ASA/ExpressJet

This is true.. Honestly man, there's so little information out there about what's really going on it's like we're following blindly whatever the union says. Nearly every conversation about the contract between pilots at L-XJT is based off rumors.

Welcome to the "bigs" my friend.
 
Remember, PBS is like saying "Religion".

Now the specific "Denomination" depends on the implementation of PBS.

PBS can be awesome if it's to help the pilots bid and help the company cover trips and you have the ability to monitor it for quality control and have a method of saying "Negatron.... RUN IT AGAIN!" (SouthernJets)

PBS can be your worst nightmare if it's just being used to squeeze blood out of a turnip, you have no QC and the company says "Here are your results, read it and weep". (SouthernJets Express)

This is the concern... For the past year I've been sitting in a crashpad listening to the Continental guys complaining about their crap PBS system. It was horrible. And a regional would probably be lucky to even have it that good.
 
This is the concern... For the past year I've been sitting in a crashpad listening to the Continental guys complaining about their crap PBS system. It was horrible. And a regional would probably be lucky to even have it that good.

PBS does not equal PBS.

I warn people about that all the time, but it falls on deaf ears.

"The Delta guys love it!"

Yeah, but the PBS we have is a particular vendor, a particular programming method and a large quality control system to make sure it respects seniority, your preferences and that it's an agreeable result.

WMostellar might be the best guy to talk to about that as he's a PBS QC guy.

As an industry, we should just call it "Preferential Bidding" instead of PBS as it implies that we're all using the same application, bidding methodology and etc.
 
PBS does not equal PBS.

I warn people about that all the time, but it falls on deaf ears.

"The Delta guys love it!"

Yeah, but the PBS we have is a particular vendor, a particular programming method and a large quality control system to make sure it respects seniority, your preferences and that it's an agreeable result.

WMostellar might be the best guy to talk to about that as he's a PBS QC guy.

As an industry, we should just call it "Preferential Bidding" instead of PBS as it implies that we're all using the same application, bidding methodology and etc.
I can tell you, for sure—PBS definitely isn't PBS.

"What the? Huh? Okay. Fine."
 
This is the concern... For the past year I've been sitting in a crashpad listening to the Continental guys complaining about their crap PBS system. It was horrible. And a regional would probably be lucky to even have it that good.

Down at the bar with some L-ASA guys last night and they had nothing but good things to say about their PBS system. You are right, most L-XJT pilots are afraid of PBS because of how bad is at Continental/United. It would be nice to have some ASA guys in our crew rooms and just demonstrate how their PBS system works because every pilot I have talked to at L-XJT has a different idea of just how bad it is. I don't really want PBS because I just had 1 week of vacation turned in 20 days off granted I picked up some stuff as I got a little bored.
 
I can't respond since we literally have no factual information to go on. The last I heard is that our MEC didn't like the ASA PBS system but was willing to look at other (better) options. The concern is getting screwed by going over to a PBS system.. So now we give up line bidding, and gain a wopping $2.00/hr to fly a plane twice the size of what we fly now, on a concessionary contract... Brilliant.

The version we were given by our side is that the xjet mec has a boner for smart pref, which is the same PBS software that TWA used when they first got PBS. It's run by some old dude in France who is not an airline pilot. It globalizes which overlooks seniority to make a better solution for the company. There is no way to see why you got what you got. It has been on the market for basically 15 years. Many companies have researched it, nobody has chosen it. The one redeeming quality it has is a pretty interface. The XJT mec has gone from no PBS to ok any PBS but yours to smart pref only and back again...in a manner that seems a lot like stalling.
 
I can't respond since we literally have no factual information to go on. The last I heard is that our MEC didn't like the ASA PBS system but was willing to look at other (better) options. The concern is getting screwed by going over to a PBS system.. So now we give up line bidding, and gain a wopping $2.00/hr to fly a plane twice the size of what we fly now, on a concessionary contract... Brilliant.

I would be LIVID at your MEC and LEC Reps if I was a pilot at your place.
 
This is an example of a reasons report:

Screen Shot 2013-03-20 at 9.04.24 AM.png
 
You are a junior maggot, why don't you bid a coveted "A" Position? BTW, why do y'all call it "A" and "B", reinventing the wheel?

:)
And on that subject, when I showed up for class at Eagle, I started talking about "advanced entitlement" and everyone looked at me like I was stupid.

"Oh, sorry..uh, system bid?"
 
There isn't a "reasons report"?

Ours will tell you exactly why you got or didn't get what you wanted.

Our PBS is great. It doesn't do miracles. If you're junior you will still have a junior schedule. But once you figure it out, it can be great. There is a pretty steep learning curve and if you don't put in the time, you won't be happy. But really you're basically allowed to make your own schedule based on whatever is most important to you.
 
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