Half Time Pilots

jynxyjoe

jynxyjoe

Queso King
I'm not a big union dog but I've seen enough to trust my union. One of the things being done right now is trying to work a Half Time Pilot (HTP) line. I may be wrong on the abbreviation.

Basically you are paid 37.5 for the month, full bene's, non-rev privileges, 21 days off min. It sounds like a great deal for some of us that can get a second job or have a business but I was wondering from a global scale if this hurts anyone else.

Will the next step be part time pilots all the time, even lower wages because you can work part time at wendy's?

Is there a down side to this?

I'm just curious if anyone thinks we are setting ourselves up for something bad in the future.
 
Not a fan, except in situations such as current economic environment or significant reduction in block hours.

Only in the above situation could agree with it.

A company's ability to resort to part-time pilot positions should be connected to the union's ability to provide ample job security and furlough protection to it's members.

That said, when block hours decrease below a certain percentage - bring on the part-time lines - see if they are picked up, and if not, then the hours are tossed back into either open time or a full-time line is generated. If they are picked up, great, but when the amount of block hours increases again above a certain set level (which would be in the CBA right?) - the part time lines are dissolved, and all pilots are provided with MMG unless they are on a LOA of some sort. Otherwise thanks to the wonders of the seniority system, pilots may be awarded part-time lines when in reality they have no desire to only work half of MMG, but since they lacked the seniority to get a full time line it's either having SOME control over your schedule for half a month, or sitting on reserve - of which, you left thanks to increased seniority.

Anyway - perhaps all of that above will read like a jumbled up gnash of letters, I could perhaps explain it better verbally. But not like my opinion matters much these days.
 
I'm really leaning toward it. How we are going to do it with PBS I have no idea. As long as I can pay some bills I'll do it.
 
What realy sucks is that the "Half Time Pilot" (as you call them) picks ups open time with all that time off. So they can in reality build the rest of ther month with trips that pay time and a half. Thus making more than the bottom scum working a full line.

I can't tell you how angery I am about that:yup::panic::banghead::mad::mad::mad:
 
Flyvne said:
What realy sucks is that the "Half Time Pilot" (as you call them) picks ups open time with all that time off. So they can in reality build the rest of ther month with trips that pay time and a half. Thus making more than the bottom scum working a full line.

I can't tell you how angery I am about that:yup::panic::banghead::mad::mad::mad:
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LOL. well i don't think HTP can pick up open time but I'm not a union rep.
 
Flyvne said:
What realy sucks is that the "Half Time Pilot" (as you call them) picks ups open time with all that time off. So they can in reality build the rest of ther month with trips that pay time and a half. Thus making more than the bottom scum working a full line.

I can't tell you how angery I am about that:yup::panic::banghead::mad::mad::mad:
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Where do you work again?
 
At ExpressJet the 40 and 60 hour line holders can only pick up advertised time, not open time. Advertised time can only be picked up in-base.
 
With our PBS system, they'll go in and schedule what's called a "pre-scheduled event." This includes sims, recurrent, vacation and now, LOAs. So, if you take an LOA for 7 or 14 days, you're just blocked out on PBS as "unavailable." I'm pretty sure since you're listed as unavailable you CAN'T pick up open time, nor should you be able to.

Part time pilots with full benes are a drain on management. They'd like nothing more than to kill the health insurance and non-rev benefits while you go on leave. If you're gone more than 60 days, that's what happens here. I don't think management will see slashing wages and providing full benefits as a long term solution to a revenue problem. Pretty sure they're already gunning to get our PT FAs benefits nixed.
 
Kind of similar:
Hello Crews,



We again received an overwhelming response to the 30 day Voluntary Time Off Program (VTOP) for bids 0905-0908. We were also approached by many of you asking if we could allow less than a 30 day VTOP.



After some programming changes, I am happy to announce that 7 day VTOPs are now being offered. Please remember, these are awarded based off of seniority and staffing needs, so not everyone who applies will be awarded.



Thanks to those of you who suggested this shorter duration!



If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Chief Pilots.



Keep up the great work, have a good week and fly safe!







Eric Gust

VP, Flight Operations
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Flyvne said:
What realy sucks is that the "Half Time Pilot" (as you call them) picks ups open time with all that time off. So they can in reality build the rest of ther month with trips that pay time and a half. Thus making more than the bottom scum working a full line.

I can't tell you how angery I am about that:yup::panic::banghead::mad::mad::mad:
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A lot of Jetlinkers do this with their 40 and 60 hour lines, I don't agree with it either (regardless of advertised vs. open).
 
L-16B said:
A lot of Jetlinkers do this with their 40 and 60 hour lines, I don't agree with it either (regardless of advertised vs. open).
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So you don't agree with....1)Saving pilot jobs by reducing the amount of overstaffing at your company and 2)Pilots picking up line-holder advertised trips so as to make their lives better? So it's a win for the company, a win for the union, a win for line holders who want some trips dropped, and a win for people who want reduced flying lines so that they can enjoy life a little more. Sounds like the only person that loses is you, somehow. I'm glad you're not in charge of anything, we'd all be furloughed and you could do all the flying...
 
It's hilarious to read these posts about "Well it hurts me"

From my perspective it hurts a little of everyone but no one loses their jobs.

Well whatever, if we get the HTP here I'll be happy because it saves our jobs.
 
jynxyjoe said:
It's hilarious to read these posts about "Well it hurts me"

From my perspective it hurts a little of everyone but no one loses their jobs.

Well whatever, if we get the HTP here I'll be happy because it saves our jobs.
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Then I guess you didn't read my first post.

It hurts the union's ability to protect jobs by offering a lower paying alternative. Then, it hurts the junior line holders if the PTL are not taken away when the block hours are significantly higher. Hurts = significant decrease in quality of life.

Hell, I'm a furloughed pilot and I can see how it would hurt "other" people and not myself.

We at ASA also thought the COMA lines, the part time lines, and other VLOA alternatives would have saved my and 79 other people's jobs. Guess what, it didn't.

So, once again, from the standpoint of protecting jobs, it does very little.
 
Well....I didn't bid for a Part-time line, but for this month (April), I was awarded what we call a "Relief Line" wherein they build a line out of the trips folks drop, with no reserve days during the month.

As a result, my line was built with 35 hours of flying and 21 days off (originally). However, I was displaced off of my second sequence because another pilot was going through IOE.

So, I end up the month with about 28 hours of flying, but I get paid guarantee. It's been AWESOME!!!

Of course, when the paycheck rolls in, it probably won't be so "awesome." We'll see.
 
Flyvne said:
What realy sucks is that the "Half Time Pilot" (as you call them) picks ups open time with all that time off. So they can in reality build the rest of ther month with trips that pay time and a half. Thus making more than the bottom scum working a full line.

I can't tell you how angery I am about that:yup::panic::banghead::mad::mad::mad:
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Ummm....not so much in my experience. I actually tried to pick up OT from open time....but there just wasn't any (on my days off) for the aircraft I fly out of my base.

Of course, I COULD have bid for OT out of ORD, but why bother with trying to commute?
 
If you're having to do part time lines.....um, there shouldn't BE any open time. Otherwise, wouldn't the company NEED those pilots for the flying, thus eliminating the need for having part timers?

I think as long as it's done with union oversight, it can help save some jobs. But when the block hours come back up, the union has to have the ability (and balls) to say "Enough. Everyone's back to full time now."
 
kellwolf said:
If you're having to do part time lines.....um, there shouldn't BE any open time. Otherwise, wouldn't the company NEED those pilots for the flying, thus eliminating the need for having part timers?

I think as long as it's done with union oversight, it can help save some jobs. But when the block hours come back up, the union has to have the ability (and balls) to say "Enough. Everyone's back to full time now."
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You're absolutely correct, Steve...and I know that (deep inside :D) but one can hope to beat the system, right? ;)
 
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