KDENPilot

Why is that unrealistic? The 12 hours off we get between reserve periods is when we're supposed to rest, isn't it? If you're expecting a call around midnight, then why not plan on going to bed around 4pm, and when you get the call you've had 8 hours rest. If you don't get called, then find something to do around the house/crashpad, go grocery shopping, watch tv, etc during the night. I do stuff like that all the time. Even on my days off, it's typical for me to stay up all night until mid-morning or so, then sleep during the afternoon/evening. If I have to do something during the day, then I adjust as necessary, but I NEVER plan anything when I'm on reserve. Come on, I get a minimum of 13 days off a month, it's not like I can't plan my personal life around that, and I'm a commuter.

meatloaf

Hey...you stole that from a guy I just flew with!

Actually, it was: "Part time pay gets part time motivation."

Jetjok

Anyone who can just lay down and actually get a "good nights sleep" in the middle of the afternoon is a better person than I am. When I was on reserve, it was always tough getting the right amount of sleep. Come to think of it, when I was flying international, it was still tough getting proper sleep. However, that said, I always felt that my first priority was to get rested for the next leg. My "off" time was always arranged around getting proper rest, so that I could show up for the next leg, rested as best as I could be. It was a self-preservation thing. I always wondered how the guys who lived in domicile could get good sleep, before showing at 0200 for a flight. I knew they were out playing golf, or going to the movies, or taking the wife out to dinner, when they should have been sleeping. I suspect that if I lived in base, I'd have done the same thing. It's gotta be tough.

JJ

HazCan

You're either pulling our legs or you live in some kind of vampire world! I think you are missing the bigger point: YES, it is our responsibility to come to work rested, sometimes that is tough to do no matter how hard you try. The company has taken away a tool that we used to make ourselves more rested (read:safer) and more ready to operate. There is no reason for that, all they need to do is assign the standbys earlier. Yes, it is still our responsibility to either be rested or pull the plug and not fly, however it would be nice if the company could help us out. Good for the goose, good for the gander....

KDENPilot

No, not pulling legs or a vampire, although I do sunburn easily. I'm just nocturnal by nature, have been since I was a kid. Must get it from my dad, he worked graveyard shift for over 30 years. Weird, I know, even more so because I actually like night time hub turns, and when I do international, the time changes don't beat up on me quite as much as they do some people. What can I say, I guess it's proof we're all wired differently. I see the point about getting the standbys assigned earlier, but of all the issues out there with the company, this just seems like a fairly minor thing.

MEMA300

Let me guess. Single or a DINKS.

oweeo

Saw the MD-11 am airport Stbys post in open time around 1900 local time last night. Hope that trend continues...

FDXLAG

The time to fix the "minor" things is when the company starts making the changes. Something we should have done with accepted fares and a whole host of other minor issues that have cropped (spelled with an a) up since we signed the last contract. But if you are happy I guess we should just move on.

Jetjok

KDen,

Unfortunately, I don't agree with you, in that I see this as a minor issue that can have major, major consequences. As well, it appears that it should be an easy one to rectify. The union should be discussing this specific issue with the company, post-haste. If for no other reason than to get a better understanding of why these standby assignments are happening the way they are. If guys understood the issue, I'm sure they would be more willing to go along with the way scheduling is currently operating. Only of course, if what scheduling is doing makes SENSE. Regardless, sleep is a major problem and the company should be doing all it can to assist its pilots in getting as much as they can (sleep, that is.

JJ

skeebo2

BEWARE if you call in fatigued. You will have to speak with the duty officer. During this recorded conversation he will try to do one thing. That is to get you to self incriminate. Then you will have to call (or be called by) you ACP. Email circumstances too. He too will try to hang you.

We all have a file on us. We are allowed to see it. BUT if you call in fatigued it goes on some thing called a pilot report card. Bet you didnt know this existed? This report card has your picture and ANY derogatory comment that ANYone (mgmt/ DO) wishes to put on it. Call in fatigued its a BLACK MARK on you report card. For their future disciplinary or what ever actions.

Next contract we need access to our report card as we do now to our file.