Fartknocker

Thanks. That's the kind of stuff I was wondering. Doesn't sound like it is a normal practice.

fdx727pilot

No, it will normally only be considered if you are gettng close to your consolidation expiration date.

KnightFlyer

All good advice. It seems like the 12-hour rule next to R-days is the tough thing to deal with when picking up trips as a commuter.

I don't do Reserve but the one time I did it I had a pattern of 4 R-days, a day off, and then 2 R-days. They wouldn't let me move an R-day. I found a choice 1-day trip for M/U on the day off, but no go with the 12-hour rule and 1 in 7 issues for the last R-day. I put in for VLT with no restrictions for that day. As it turned out, I had a trip on the 4th R day and when I came in on the PM inbound they assigned me a VLT trip on the day off to hub turn into (!?). Worked good, got an 1 in 7 for an R day that week and then was able to dropped 2 R-days later in the month to make the same pay.

If you need a trip for consolidation I have 2 easy Indy week-long trips to choose from. In any case, be persistent with VIPS, open time, etc. and you can build a good schedule.

Fartknocker

Thanks for the offer with those easy IND trips!

I will look into the PDO bump if I don't get much flying later on in the month. For now, I'll just keep looking at VIPS for open time.

Gypsy32

Next bid month, one option for consolidation if you get a R line is to take a conversion to VTO. You can do this after the bid closes during the 36 hour window.

Be careful with this though. If you need specific days off, list them. The more restrictions you put on the schedulers, the less likely you will get a flying line.

If you hate sitting in the crashpad, this is an option. In a 5 week bid month on the 11, you might get stuck with a REALLY long trip... all 90 hours in one shot.

Jetjok

For consolidation purposes (only) you can request from scheduling, after getting the approval of the guy you would be bumping, to PDO bump another pilot. Depending on where you are within the constraints of your consolidation will most probably determine if crew scheduling will approve the bump. In other words, both captains and f/o's are required to get a minimum of 100 hours within 120 days of either the type ride or initial flight check. So if you're (as an example) 90 days into consolidation, but only have 40 hours, it would appear that you were behind the power curve. In this instance, your pdo request would most likely be approved. If, on the other hand you had 80 hours logged, then probably not, because you would probably get those last 20 hours in the last 30 days.

By the way, it is your responsibility (so what else is new) to get your consolidation time. When I was checking out as an MD-11 captain, I was number last. Toward the end of the 120 days, it was not looking like I'd get the time needed. I received a nastygram from flight management, telling me to get my time. I called crew scheduling and explained that since I was on reserve, and was running behind in time vs days for consolidation, why didn't they just assign me a reserve trip so that I could get the time. Their response was "there's no provision in the contract for us to assign a trip out of seniority sequence." Of course we all know that they do that on an ongoing basis, every day. But what they were telling me was in order for me to make my best effort, I'd have to bid first fly. I then requested and got a very nice trip on a pdo bump, made my consolidation, and all was right with the world.

Happy New Years to ALL. And Fartnocker, and be doubly happy that you were hired directly into the right seat.

Bitme

It took 3 line checks to extend my time enough to get me through consolidation. Some of you would say I was crazy to submit myself to to these, but I'm confident in my abilities and wasn't worried. Each check guy basically made it easy and my time was extended and I sat home with the kids. I'm a believer in getting paid to stay home. If they give you a nastygram simply reply with a Picard "make it so number one" and comply otherwise watch your kids grow up, or wax the car or whatever it is you do.

Falconjet

Right now there is only one trip in open time for the whole month in the right seat. If I were you I would hold on to those R days and find a hobby in Memphis.

FJ

Fartknocker

I am very happy to be in the right seat! It's a blast flying the 727!

I would have gladly done the FE training, but given the opportunity to bypass a training cycle, I took it. I don't like training.

I am just happy to be here.

Huck

The district attorney just shut it down....