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Old 02-28-2014, 08:31 AM
  #150291  
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Originally Posted by Cogf16
Are you serious????? SOPA SMAC fan are you? I understand sterile cockpit procedures but do you really think the Feds would care if you added a few info things to a PA? Like, "We're #4 for T/O, it's an hour and a half to XXX, we should be on time, it's clear and 70 degrees, since it's late, we won't bother you with any PA's. F/A's please prepare the cabin for T/O. Use a little judgment and common sense.........
Personal preference, I wouldn't say all of that if the aircraft was taxiing.

To each his own.
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Old 02-28-2014, 08:31 AM
  #150292  
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Originally Posted by Roadkill
Uhmm... does that say "ANAl 787" on the side? What exactly is an anal 787??
There was a similar issue ealier this year when the Weather Channel decided to name an approaching blizzard "Winter Storm Janus"

(yeah, it's juvenile, but it still makes me laugh)

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Old 02-28-2014, 08:34 AM
  #150293  
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Originally Posted by Cogf16
Cultural difference, imo. One airline didn't take everything written down (and much isn't written down!) completely literal and the other hung on every word and process EXACTLY. We seem to be slipping towards the rigid, verbatim way a little
As I've said before, this has nothing to do with SOPA/MAC whatever. It's an FAR interpretation that a lot of airlines abide by (just not Delta.) I'm a South guy and this is the way I've always done it.

But, again, you can do whatever makes you happy.
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Old 02-28-2014, 08:36 AM
  #150294  
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Originally Posted by Roadkill
Ed,
Yes they can staff at that level or leaner. The reserves are not actually being USED more, or not much... but the LIMITATIONS on the company using a reserve guy have been reduced, as they can force a guy up to ALV+15 vs. him being able to quit at 70, which can be almost a 50% increase in POTENTIAL productivity. Therefore, they can do without as many reserves available, therefore they can reduce the "lists" on each cat. Which they have! Look at the 320 and 73, and despite increases in flying, the TOTAL dudes in cat there have dropped by 3-5%! Because this ability comes from merely not having to staff as fat for possible use, not from ACTUAL use, none of the "reserve ALV use" triggers you often hear guys hype as a built-in-protection for manning will ever come into play.

As such, my current technique is to try to bid weekends off and get whatever crappy trips I can, anything, so that I can drop them on the 20th PCS run with sufficient reserve coverage during the week. Then I try to pick up anything in open time that is better. If it doesn't work out, I just make less $$, maybe 40% what I expected, and hang out with the kids enjoying life, and eating ramen and sewing kids clothes out of old sheets to make up for it.
The reserve max prior to this contract was not 70. It was the ALV for that category. Crew resources has not changed their manning assumptions with the new contract. The reason there are fewer FO's is because we were heavily overstaffed for FO's and they were carrying surpluses in many categories. The CA categories that were staffed properly have not seen reductions.
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Old 02-28-2014, 08:42 AM
  #150295  
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Originally Posted by HVYinRESERVE
The AE that was just awarded was mostly reinstatements for the ER. They are using us for the summer in our former positions and then sending us back to whatever we got trained in from our displacement from last summer, so it won't cost the company much at all.

I wish it weren't true but it is. I was optimistic when I asked the question to SD/network because someday I would like to quit commuting, but got an answer that none of us want, but it is also what they said in the Crew Resources newsletter a couple months ago. They are doing "just in time" training right now (their words), where they have just enough people to do the ER schedule for the summer, but will then need those people back in the 73N/320, etc for the fall/winter schedule.
So all the ones that won't even convert until fall? That dog don't hunt, sorry.

Now they offer even MORE positions that won't even train until LATER in the fall that they will need to displace before they even hit the line? Definitely not buying what you're selling.

There are lots of guys moving off the top of the ER categories into NB CA seats and to "super premium WB" FO seats that are vacated by CA upgrades, and that schedule is going to continue to require CA's at the rate of 5.5 aircraft per month (at least 25 CA's per month) for the next two years.... NOT accounting for the additional 5 A330's coming in 2015 and the 5 A330's/10 A321's in 2016.

Crew planning is always going to take a more conservative public stance so they don't have to backtrack on estimates that get construed as promises.

Keep being a Debbie Downer though, it's good for your soul.
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Old 02-28-2014, 08:46 AM
  #150296  
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Originally Posted by Roadkill
Ed,
Yes they can staff at that level or leaner. The reserves are not actually being USED more, or not much... but the LIMITATIONS on the company using a reserve guy have been reduced, as they can force a guy up to ALV+15 vs. him being able to quit at 70, which can be almost a 50% increase in POTENTIAL productivity. Therefore, they can do without as many reserves available, therefore they can reduce the "lists" on each cat. Which they have! Look at the 320 and 73, and despite increases in flying, the TOTAL dudes in cat there have dropped by 3-5%! Because this ability comes from merely not having to staff as fat for possible use, not from ACTUAL use, none of the "reserve ALV use" triggers you often hear guys hype as a built-in-protection for manning will ever come into play.

As such, my current technique is to try to bid weekends off and get whatever crappy trips I can, anything, so that I can drop them on the 20th PCS run with sufficient reserve coverage during the week. Then I try to pick up anything in open time that is better. If it doesn't work out, I just make less $$, maybe 40% what I expected, and hang out with the kids enjoying life, and eating ramen and sewing kids clothes out of old sheets to make up for it.
Roadkill about how far up the list are you? Is what you mention in your last paragraph something I might be able to pull off?

It's frustrating knowing we just gave more work rule concessions during the last contract after having already lost so much the previous decade. Is the pay we received really worth being forced to work more days or giving up flexibility to tailor our schedule based upon what our family might need. I certainly hope we reverse that trend during this next contract.
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Old 02-28-2014, 09:00 AM
  #150297  
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Originally Posted by GogglesPisano
But, again, you can do whatever makes you happy.
But, you can't do "...whatever makes you happy." The Vol 1 explains exactly what to say during the Before Takeoff PA.

"Notify the flight attendants to finalize preparations for takeoff with the following PA, “FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, PLEASE PREPARE THE CABIN FOR DEPARTURE.”"

I've been commuting for years on many different airlines and we are the ONLY airline to have pilots adding a bunch of extra stuff to this required PA. In my opinion, it is in violation of sterile cockpit and it is DEFINITELY in violation of our Vol 1 procedures. Leave the weather, ETA and other info for the gate or above 10,000 feet. For the record, I'm a South guy.
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Old 02-28-2014, 09:02 AM
  #150298  
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Originally Posted by Big E 757
Sorry to change the subject, but I just got an Alpa comm email and reading the headline on my IPhone, I read "JetBlue Election Update, all about the Money...".

Someone needs to proof read these headlines better, lest someone not like myself, might accuse ALPA of chasing revenues at the expense of representing its current dues paying membership.

Opening the email reveals that it is two different headers but out of context I laughed at the thought crossing my mind initially.

Peace
That is exactly what they're doing though. Its all cost and no reward for existing members too, unless you think they will be completely unmerged and independant in 10 years. Any other scenario and ALPA pays dearly and regardless of who they merge with they'd be ALPA or not at the end of the day anyway. And bonus, they could end up with a stronger case for full narrowbody relative integration. Plug in those numbers to the list, for great success.
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Old 02-28-2014, 09:05 AM
  #150299  
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Originally Posted by forgot to bid
So what did we decide?

“FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, PLEASE PREPARE THE CABIN FOR DEPARTURE.”

can be...

“FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WE'RE NUMBER THREE FOR TAKEOFF, PLEASE PREPARE THE CABIN FOR DEPARTURE.”

what about...

"“FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, “FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WE'RE NUMBER THREE FOR TAKEOFF, EXPECT AN ON TIME ARRIVAL, PLEASE PREPARE THE CABIN FOR DEPARTURE.”PREPARE THE CABIN FOR DEPARTURE.”

That on time arrival was something I did for a while because FAs would call and ask if we're going to be on time. I felt like heading it off at the pass, so to me I'm talking to the FAs and giving them information.

But maybe not.

Now the FAA guys I've dealt with, I do not honestly think they'd care about a small deviation from the standard. I think a 1 minute well rehearsed listen-to-myself diatribe while taxing could be ranked right up there with not putting your O2 mask on though.
I like to put my iphone next to my boom mic, blaring the opening music from Top Gun. I use my Donald Sutherland impression to give a complete description of the forces that will occur on takeoff followed by a short bio on the FAs, the weather, density altitude, and any famous people that live at the destination.
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Old 02-28-2014, 09:06 AM
  #150300  
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Originally Posted by PilotFrog
This Delta's way of opposing the pre clearance facility? Just don't clear customs, ha!

Delta Passengers Disembark International Flight at JFK, Skip Passport Control | Frequent Business Traveler
What's the difference, we're all "citizens of the world" these days anyway.
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