CommutAir Pros and Cons
02-06-2019, 01:22 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 1
CommutAir Pros and Cons
I've been with CommutAir for over 10 months now. Just want to share with those of you thinking of joining what it's like here:
Pros
I've heard people complain about the scheduling, and had plenty of weather or pilot's causing in sick induced delays, these I can't really blame schedulers for. The training scheduling for both initial operator experience and ground/sim instruction is a complete train wreck.
All in all I have to say it's been a good experience for me, though the financial insecurity of not knowing if I'll get paid is a big negative.
Pros
- The interview process is straightforward. As long as you're qualified you can get a job without jumping through arduous hoops.
- If you want to fly you'll get hours, even on reserve I got a good number of flight hours.
- The pilot group is friendly and professional.
- We get four Commuter hotels a month, which makes commuting much easier. If it's a busy month it's enough that you don't need a crash pad even on reserve.
- Communication within the company is crippling. Trying to get someone to actually talk to you on the phone is basically impossible. You'll hear non-stop how busy everyone is. Unfortunately they're busy with someone else's problem all the time.
- Getting paid is very challenging. The only thing worse than the constant short shifting is trying to get it fixed (see con #1).
- The sim instructors are hit or miss. Some are professional and will turn you into a great pilot, if you can get Troy he's the absolute best for training you to be safe. Some are like children, throwing tantrums when equipment breaks or you don't get something right on the first attempt.
I've heard people complain about the scheduling, and had plenty of weather or pilot's causing in sick induced delays, these I can't really blame schedulers for. The training scheduling for both initial operator experience and ground/sim instruction is a complete train wreck.
All in all I have to say it's been a good experience for me, though the financial insecurity of not knowing if I'll get paid is a big negative.
02-06-2019, 01:40 PM
#3
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 60
CommutairSarah,
What do you mean trying to get paid? That’s got me on edge considering I was suppose to start soon. I’ve noticed that they are terrible getting back to me. Almost didn’t sign with how bad they are at it, just makes me wonder if they are growing to fast
What do you mean trying to get paid? That’s got me on edge considering I was suppose to start soon. I’ve noticed that they are terrible getting back to me. Almost didn’t sign with how bad they are at it, just makes me wonder if they are growing to fast
02-06-2019, 02:15 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2016
Position: jungle jet
Posts: 102
I don't know what she's talking about regarding pay.
I've been here for 2-1/2 years.
Every pay period we get a transparency report documenting what payroll thinks we're to get paid. Yes, just about every time I have mistakes on mine.
I have NEVER had an issue getting them corrected before my paycheck was cut. An e-mail to the payroll administrator with a breakdown of the mistakes results in a reply 2-3 days later confirming that they were corrected.
Is it annoying? Yes.
Have they made mistakes in my favor? Yes.
But gripes are fixed pretty seamlessly. Even when I have had to arrange alternate transportation to the hotel (late arrival, slow shuttle, etc) I've been paid back on the very next pay period.
There is a lot to gripe about here at times.
Getting paid correctly and on time is not one of them, in my experience.
02-06-2019, 02:17 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2016
Position: jungle jet
Posts: 102
I don't know what she's talking about regarding pay.
I've been here for 2-1/2 years.
Every pay period we get a transparency report documenting what payroll thinks we're to get paid. Yes, just about every time I have mistakes on mine.
I have NEVER had an issue getting them corrected before my paycheck was cut. An e-mail to the payroll administrator with a breakdown of the mistakes results in a reply 2-3 days later confirming that they were corrected.
Is it annoying? Yes.
Have they made mistakes in my favor? Yes.
But gripes are fixed pretty seamlessly. Even when I have had to arrange alternate transportation to the hotel (late arrival, slow shuttle, etc) I've been paid back on the very next pay period.
There is a lot to gripe about here at times.
Getting paid correctly and on time is not one of them, in my experience.
I've been here for 2-1/2 years.
Every pay period we get a transparency report documenting what payroll thinks we're to get paid. Yes, just about every time I have mistakes on mine.
I have NEVER had an issue getting them corrected before my paycheck was cut. An e-mail to the payroll administrator with a breakdown of the mistakes results in a reply 2-3 days later confirming that they were corrected.
Is it annoying? Yes.
Have they made mistakes in my favor? Yes.
But gripes are fixed pretty seamlessly. Even when I have had to arrange alternate transportation to the hotel (late arrival, slow shuttle, etc) I've been paid back on the very next pay period.
There is a lot to gripe about here at times.
Getting paid correctly and on time is not one of them, in my experience.
I should mention, most of the mistakes on my pay have been related to being in the training department, and miscommunication between what is and what isn't at my override or a deadhead versus a checking event.
02-06-2019, 02:18 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 161
I have been here almost a year. I have never had issues with pay. They come regularly twice a month. After each half of the month they send a report about your credit hours for you to audit. They few times time there has been a discrepancy it has been fixed within the day.
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02-06-2019, 02:34 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2015
Posts: 133
pro
Talking about pros and cons I would love some more info in terms of your contract. If anyone has a copy they could PM that would be amazing. if not then info on your reserve rules would be great. Also how long for a DIRECT entry CAPTAIN to hold a line. Any info on where to live for a decent amount in KEWR.
02-06-2019, 02:55 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2016
Position: jungle jet
Posts: 102
Talking about pros and cons I would love some more info in terms of your contract. If anyone has a copy they could PM that would be amazing. if not then info on your reserve rules would be great. Also how long for a DIRECT entry CAPTAIN to hold a line. Any info on where to live for a decent amount in KEWR.
We do not have direct entry captains. This has been mentioned time and again.
We upgrade in seniority order, and allow new hires to bid upgrade.
The last 4 upgrade classes have only filled about 50% of the posted vacancies. The junior line holder in Newark is a 11/17 hire as of the 02/19 bid.
But we just started awarding captain to new hires in December of last year, so expect that to drop dramatically as they begin to hit the line this month. There is one reserve, and 8 CQF's below him, the junior CQF is a 10/18 hire.
I would imagine all of them will be line holders by April as the first wave of captains upgrading in indoc complete IOE this month and bid for March.
02-07-2019, 05:17 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 399
Heres the reserve portion (yes, this is all of it.):
G. Reserve
1. General
a. A reserve pilot shall reply to a telephone message from Crew Scheduling within fifteen (15) minutes.
(i) Crew Scheduling shall post the report time and designate the reserve type on the Company’s intranet site: For the first day of a reserve pilot’s block of reserve days no later than 0900 ET on the second calendar day prior to the first day of reserve duty. It shall be the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that he receives his reserve assignment.
(ii) For any subsequent days of reserve, no later than 1800 ET on the day before. It shall be the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that he receives his reserve assignment.
(iii) If Crew Scheduling is unable to assign a report time by 1800 ET the day before due the need to take rest, flight time, and flight duty period regulations into account, Crew Scheduling shall inform the pilot of the reserve assignment by telephone before the end of the pilot’s duty period.
b. All flying assigned to a reserve pilot must be assigned by telephone during a flight duty period (FDP) or reserve availability period (RAP).
c. A pilot may request a specific start time, short call or airport standby reserve, or an open time trip via the reserve portal on the Company intranet website or via phone. Such request shall be made no later than 1700 ET three calendar days prior .
Example: The first day of the reserve block is a Thursday. The Company must post the reserve report time on the Company intranet site no later than 0900 ET on Tuesday. Therefore, a pilot who would like to make specific requests for his reserve report time or duty shall make such request no later than 1700 ET on Monday.
d. A reserve pilot who completes a flight assignment prior to the scheduled end of his reserve call out period shall contact Crew Scheduling as soon as practicable and may be:
i. released from duty; or,
ii. given another assignment; or,
iii. placed on airport standby reserve. The total call out period, assuming the pilot is not given an additional flight assignment, shall not exceed ten (10) hours from the beginning of his duty period.
e. Reserve pilots may request to trade first and last days of a block of reserve days and entire blocks of reserve days with other reserve pilots.
f. A pilot who has not received an assignment by the end of his reserve call out period shall not be required to be available for call until the start of his next reserve call out period. A reserve pilot may be assigned a flight(s) that may extend beyond or commence after the scheduled end of his reserve call out period. A pilot assigned to a flight that commences after the scheduled end of his reserve call out period shall be paid extension pay.
g. When a flight to which a reserve pilot is assigned returns to his domicile after 0200LT on a scheduled day off, that day off shall be moved to a later reserve day in the month. If there are no remaining reserve days in the month, it shall be placed in the ensuing month and become an inviolate day off.
h. When a reserve pilot is extended into duty on a previously scheduled day off, the provisions of paragraph 25.G.1.h. shall apply.
i. The Company shall maintain its current reserve bidding portal on its intranet site.
j. A reserve pilot who completes a split-duty period assignment on the last day of a block of reserve days shall not be assigned another reserve availability period (RAP) or call out period during the same calendar day.
k. If a reserve pilot has not been given an assignment by 1900 on the last day of a block of reserve days, he will be released.
2. Short Call Reserve
a. A short call reserve pilot shall report to the airplane (or other point of assignment) as soon as practicable, but not later than one hundred twenty (120) minutes following the Company’s first attempt to contact the pilot.
b. A short call reserve pilot shall not be on call in excess of twelve (12) hours.
c. A pilot may be rolled from short call reserve to airport standby reserve. The total duration of the pilot’s reserve call out period, assuming the pilot is not given a flight assignment, shall not exceed ten (10) hours from the beginning of his short call reserve duty period.
d. If a short call reserve pilot complies with a Company’s request that he report within one hour, he shall receive one hour of additional pay credit above guarantee.
3. Airport Standby Reserve
a. An airport standby reserve pilot shall report as soon as practicable, but not later than thirty (30) minutes following the Company’s first attempt to contact the pilot.
b. A pilot on airport standby reserve status shall not be on call in excess of eight (8) hours.
c. An airport standby reserve pilot shall not be placed on short call reserve.
1. General
a. A reserve pilot shall reply to a telephone message from Crew Scheduling within fifteen (15) minutes.
(i) Crew Scheduling shall post the report time and designate the reserve type on the Company’s intranet site: For the first day of a reserve pilot’s block of reserve days no later than 0900 ET on the second calendar day prior to the first day of reserve duty. It shall be the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that he receives his reserve assignment.
(ii) For any subsequent days of reserve, no later than 1800 ET on the day before. It shall be the responsibility of the pilot to ensure that he receives his reserve assignment.
(iii) If Crew Scheduling is unable to assign a report time by 1800 ET the day before due the need to take rest, flight time, and flight duty period regulations into account, Crew Scheduling shall inform the pilot of the reserve assignment by telephone before the end of the pilot’s duty period.
b. All flying assigned to a reserve pilot must be assigned by telephone during a flight duty period (FDP) or reserve availability period (RAP).
c. A pilot may request a specific start time, short call or airport standby reserve, or an open time trip via the reserve portal on the Company intranet website or via phone. Such request shall be made no later than 1700 ET three calendar days prior .
Example: The first day of the reserve block is a Thursday. The Company must post the reserve report time on the Company intranet site no later than 0900 ET on Tuesday. Therefore, a pilot who would like to make specific requests for his reserve report time or duty shall make such request no later than 1700 ET on Monday.
d. A reserve pilot who completes a flight assignment prior to the scheduled end of his reserve call out period shall contact Crew Scheduling as soon as practicable and may be:
i. released from duty; or,
ii. given another assignment; or,
iii. placed on airport standby reserve. The total call out period, assuming the pilot is not given an additional flight assignment, shall not exceed ten (10) hours from the beginning of his duty period.
e. Reserve pilots may request to trade first and last days of a block of reserve days and entire blocks of reserve days with other reserve pilots.
f. A pilot who has not received an assignment by the end of his reserve call out period shall not be required to be available for call until the start of his next reserve call out period. A reserve pilot may be assigned a flight(s) that may extend beyond or commence after the scheduled end of his reserve call out period. A pilot assigned to a flight that commences after the scheduled end of his reserve call out period shall be paid extension pay.
g. When a flight to which a reserve pilot is assigned returns to his domicile after 0200LT on a scheduled day off, that day off shall be moved to a later reserve day in the month. If there are no remaining reserve days in the month, it shall be placed in the ensuing month and become an inviolate day off.
h. When a reserve pilot is extended into duty on a previously scheduled day off, the provisions of paragraph 25.G.1.h. shall apply.
i. The Company shall maintain its current reserve bidding portal on its intranet site.
j. A reserve pilot who completes a split-duty period assignment on the last day of a block of reserve days shall not be assigned another reserve availability period (RAP) or call out period during the same calendar day.
k. If a reserve pilot has not been given an assignment by 1900 on the last day of a block of reserve days, he will be released.
2. Short Call Reserve
a. A short call reserve pilot shall report to the airplane (or other point of assignment) as soon as practicable, but not later than one hundred twenty (120) minutes following the Company’s first attempt to contact the pilot.
b. A short call reserve pilot shall not be on call in excess of twelve (12) hours.
c. A pilot may be rolled from short call reserve to airport standby reserve. The total duration of the pilot’s reserve call out period, assuming the pilot is not given a flight assignment, shall not exceed ten (10) hours from the beginning of his short call reserve duty period.
d. If a short call reserve pilot complies with a Company’s request that he report within one hour, he shall receive one hour of additional pay credit above guarantee.
3. Airport Standby Reserve
a. An airport standby reserve pilot shall report as soon as practicable, but not later than thirty (30) minutes following the Company’s first attempt to contact the pilot.
b. A pilot on airport standby reserve status shall not be on call in excess of eight (8) hours.
c. An airport standby reserve pilot shall not be placed on short call reserve.
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