Who leaves in a Furlough?

[flyboy04]

I hope i never go through one, but im curious, when airlines have a furlough, do they do it soley by seniorty with the company, or captain/FO seniority. Seems like if was only by seniorty, that most FOs would be, and Captains would just be demoted back to the right seat. Or is the case that junior captains leave as well. Its kind of a confusing matter to me, can someone clarify? Or is it a case that once a captain always a captain at an airline?

 

[derg]

Seems like if was only by seniorty, that most FOs would be, and Captains would just be demoted back to the right seat.

Correct.

Or is it a case that once a captain always a captain at an airline?

Incorrect.

 

[AlexF]

Or is it a case that once a captain always a captain at an airline?

Incorrect.

Yep, I learned that a long time ago. You work your way up to captain of one aircraft, and assuming you don't get bumped, you start at the bottom and work your way up to captain of the next aircraft. Then start at the bottom and work your way up. and so on.

I also learned that seniority is one of the single most important thing to have at the company you fly for. Everything from the job you have, to the times you work, to what you fly is based on your number!

 

[derg]

Yep, I learned that a long time ago. You work your way up to captain of one aircraft, and assuming you don't get bumped, you start at the bottom and work your way up to captain of the next aircraft. Then start at the bottom and work your way up. and so on.

Not correct.

I also learned that seniority is one of the single most important thing to have at the company you fly for. Everything from the job you have, to the times you work, to what you fly is based on your number!

To a large extent, yes.

 

[AlexF]

Not correct.

Really, I was talking to a UAL pilot a few weeks ago and she was saying that each aircraft you fly you start out again as a FO. However, if that's wrong and you can stay a captain forever, then I'm happy!

 

[BobDDuck]

Really, I was talking to a UAL pilot a few weeks ago and she was saying that each aircraft you fly you start out again as a FO. However, if that's wrong and you can stay a captain forever, then I'm happy!

Everything is based on your seniority number. If you move up to the bigger shinnier airplane just as soon as you can, chance are you would be moving back into the right seat. However, if you wait a while, even after you could hold a seat in the bigger plane, your seniority may allow you to move directly to the left seat.

 

[AlexF]

Everything is based on your seniority number. If you move up to the bigger shinnier airplane just as soon as you can, chance are you would be moving back into the right seat. However, if you wait a while, even after you could hold a seat in the bigger plane, your seniority may allow you to move directly to the left seat.

Wow, thanks for clarifying it! I don't know if I would feel that comfortable being PIC with 200 people on an aircraft I've never flown before, but it's sure nice to know I may have that option!

O yha, also on a non-related note. I'd like to thank Doug for doing, among many other things, what other forums don't: saving archived posts. I have been able to learn soo many things just by searching the archives. And when I have a question, I can just post it and I'll learn the answer to my question and then some!

 

[derg]

Really, I was talking to a UAL pilot a few weeks ago and she was saying that each aircraft you fly you start out again as a FO. However, if that's wrong and you can stay a captain forever, then I'm happy!

You can't neccessarily stay "captain forever".

Ok, say there a company has two airplanes. A 777 and a 737.

The company also has 8 pilots.

There are four pilots (two FO's and two captains) per aircraft.

The seniority list is like this:

1. Jim
2. Frank
3. Beth
4. Ted
5. John
6. Tammy
7. Casey
8. Mark


Jim (#1) and Beth (#3) are 777 captains
Frank (#2) and Tammy (#6) are 737 captains

Ted (#4) and Mark (#8) are 777 first officers
John (#5) and Casey (#7) are 737 FOs.

The company sells the 737 and furloughs four pilots

Mark (#8) is the first furloughed, followed by Casey (#7), Tammy (#6) and John (#5).

Jim (#1) stays a 777 captain.
Frank (#2) is "displaced" to 777 captain because the 737 was sold.
Beth (#3) is "displaced" to 777 FO, even though she was a 777 captain.
Ted (#4) stays a 777 FO but is no longer the most senior FO because Beth (#3) moved to the 777 and is more senior

 

[BobDDuck]

It was Ted, in the aft lav with the gear pin.



Doug, how did you suppress your user is active green light? Stealth mode huh?

 

[AlexF]

It was Ted, in the aft lav with the gear pin.

Really? I always suspected Frank cause franklu, he was a little to frank with everyone.

Doug, how did you suppress your user is active green light? Stealth mode huh?

Doug's the owner, operator, moderator, CEO, founder, LLC head, financier, CFO and as, appropriate to his avatar: The Big Cheese! He can do anything his heart desires!

Doug, thanks for the explanation. My "captain forever" was an exaggeration. But you cleared it all up as I knew you would, after all:

One of my hobbies is helping aspiring aviators and the general public answer questions they have about life as a professional pilot.