We're running trials on PBS here. It varies from "my line rocks!" to "WTF??!!!11!!"
Generally, the senior guys get a decent credit with like 18 days off, and the junior guys get 10 days off. On EVERY trial run, no matter how I work it, all of me reserve lines come up with 6 on/2 off, which magically equals 10 days. I'd think I was doing something wrong if all the other reserve guys weren't getting the same thing. The FAs went live with PBS a few months ago, and the general concensus is "Hate it." People that have been getting 16-17 days off are getting 5 day trips with 10 days off now. People that want high speeds are getting long trips, and people with long trips are getting high speeds. Personally, I think it COULD work if people would spend some time and fix some of the glitches. A few months ago, we had all the senior CAs get awarded reserve lines through PBS!
Part of the problem is that there is NO formal training on how to use the system. You get a cryptic, poorly written manual that does nothing but explain what the terms in the program mean during training. Past that, you have to go with trial and error and hope what you bid will work. That's fine in the testing stages, but what if you're a new hire and this thing is live? You could be SERIOUSLY screwed. About the only training I've noticed is talking to other pilots who have already spent months and have it mostly figured out.
Now, on with the thread...
What you gotta love (if you are with pncl) is that mesaba just sent out notices for recalls and PNCL is turning people away from interviews and cancelling remaining interview classes and class dates till at least feb 07. And they say they are 90 FO's fat... this makes me feel great!
Now, ask yourself "Why did Mesaba need to recall guys?" They're probably gonna get more Saab flying for the holidays, and in order to trim fat and look good for the court, they furloughed the guys they would need for that month. Now, after the holidays are over, there's a good chance those guys might be BACK at Home Depot. NWA can't just give that flying to PCL b/c we're better staffed than Mesaba right now. BTW, I'd say we might actually be fat on FOs, especially counting your class and the one behind you. The CA I flew with today said he and all the guys he knows on reserve are flying 75-80 hours a month on reserve. I haven't cracked 50 hours yet on reserve. So, I'd say we're probably good on FOs, but short on CAs. If they would run upgrade classes like they should and need to, the staffing would probably even out.
