FedupFlex

If you are being excessed out as an MD11 Capt to MD11 F/O, why don't you apply to be a Flex Instructor? There is a posting open right now, and since you are currently qualified as a Captain, you'd be a good candidate as a Flex, and in 18-24 months time, after your Level 1 then 2 checkout and some teaching experience, you'd too could become a PCA to give recurrent validations in the simulator since you've already been qualified as a Captain.

LivingInMEM

As has been said over and over - if you think the schoolhouse is such a great deal, apply for the postings. They are not being swamped with resumes and they are not turning away otherwise qualified applicants to go with someone who will cost less money.

The only screen that is being applied is whether they will make a good instructor or not, and have no doubt that if they only had one position for two equally qualified applicants (one Capt and one F/O), they would go with the Capt every time.

FR8Hauler

I guess I am the only one who thinks this is #$%@ up. I don't know what this has to do with disputed pairings and I certainly am not "soaking up" any. Maybe no line checks or IOE's but with their vast captain line experience they will be giving PC's. And they will be flying in the left seat to "maintain their currency" = less captains we need = guys get excess ed and stay excess ed so FO's can fly in the left seat. We don't "throw people bones" we have a contract, at least that is what most of us have to adhere to.

fedupbusdriver

When they fly for currency, a line guy gets the pay, and stays home to boot. Every pilot here is capt material, they are doing a job that you obviously either do not want, or have been turned down for, and they are getting paid fo pay to do it.

FR8Hauler

I give up...We deserve what we get.

MaxKts

Have not been turned down (didn't apply for obvious reasons) and would love the job - problem is I am not being excessed to the right seat of the MD and I don't think FR8 is either. The point is if we have too many Capts and need to excess then why do we need to Capt qualify an FO? Nothing against the FO's but against how the company is running the show!

fedupbusdriver

Not trying to argue, but if you would love the job, then you should apply for the one that is currently open. If the capts would take the job, there would be no need to checkout the fo in the left seat. But I still do not think that having them left seat qualified, keeps an excessed guy out. They do not bid lines as capts, and when they fly, they bump the capt and fo on the trip, becasue they can only fly the left seat with another instructor. I wish every fo in the bus could bump me for their landings.

If someone wants to be upset with this process, then blame the pilot force for voting in a contract that doesn't adequately compensate the LCA's and Flexes, making it hard to get capts to apply for the position.

AFW_MD11

Is there MD11 Flex openings right now?

Or Bus only?

I couldn't find any postings for MD11 Flexs open right now??

I think these guys are MD11 Captains being bumped back to Bus FO? thus, they don't have the 300 hours maybe and can't apply to be Flex's in the Bus......

For clarification, that might be one of their contentions here.

Sounds like the other is that no matter how much they pay or don't pay the FO Flex guy - it isn't "right"/proper etiquette for an FO to give a CA a checkride - sim or airplane - EVER.

Los1

Completely agree....

av8rmike

Mostly I just sit on the sidelines, eat my popcorn and enjoy the games here, but every once in a while I throw the popcorn bag at the computer and start typing.

The things that seem to be working like a burr under your collective saddles are (1) F/Os 'checking' captains, (2) F/Os flying in the left seat and (3) the fantasy argument that if F/O Flexes fly occasionally in the left seat, this somehow causes you to get excessed. Let's get edumicated here:

(1) F/O PCAs are allowed under the contract. Under the AQP, the only 'check ride' is the LOE and that requires an APD which requires a line holding captain. Any other F/O PCA event is Train to Proficiency which means as long as you satisfactorily complete all the objectives in the allotted time, you pass. All of these events are MANEUVERS oriented. Seems a good F/O flex can train/validate a MANUEVER as well as any captain to me.

(2) The F/O flying in the left seat is type rated and perfectly legal to do so under the FARs. Under our contract, the F/O flex is REQUIRED to be checked out as a captain. If they fly in the left seat, they are required to fly with a SCA/LCA in the right seat, so it's a double bump. You must not like getting paid to sit at home.

(3) I won't even address this. If you think that the very occasional left seat trip for a F/O flex has anything to do with captains being excessed, I'll just encourage you to get back on your meds. Fast...

Just because someone is a captain doesn't mean they don't suck and just because someone is a F/O doesn't mean they do. You should focus on the quality of your instruction instead of the seniority of your instruction.