MtnPeakCruiser

Just as easy as any other airline I suppose. As long as the leave is legitimate you shouldn't have any problems. I wouldn't get caught trying to get some extra vacation.

Harry Canyon

Intel, although i obviously can't speak for MtnPeak, I think his remarks were tainted by one of our pilots who used Military leave in the past for far less than honorable reasons and not any real insinuation that you would be inclined to do so. The company is really good about working with Military leave. Thanks for your service.

Intel33

Thank you. I understand there are some who will take advantage of any situation. I won't say that I have not requested a day off for military reasons that was not canceled short notice. Depending on the situation, sometimes it is not possible to just "take back" the day. I try not to take more military leave than I have to. As much as possible I try to work my military obligation around my full time job. Some things are flexible and some are not. Not every thing we do generates orders, although any event will generate a pay document.

What most people do not realize, is that for an aviator, "One weekend a month and two weeks a year" is just not the truth. In the Army reserve components (Reserves and Guard), we have the same minimum flight hours as the active component. Works out to an average of nearly 10 hours a month. The "one weekend a month" is usually spent fulfilling a lot of the same training the ground guys do. Some worthwhile, some not so much. If we are lucky, we will get one flight for a few hours in a weekend. That means we have to do the rest of our flying throughout the month. Many units will let you split your "two weeks a year" into several shorter chunks. Some can not, depending on the units mission and need. I average four to six days a month wearing the uniform. Yes, it is a choice I made and yes, we get compensated for those extra days, but it is still quite the balancing act.

On top of all the "regular" stuff, we have schools. My aviation training for one job usually enhances the other, but I still don't get "credit" for it. I fly King Airs for my civilian and military job. I have rarely done it in a simulator identical to what I actually fly, but neither one counts for the other. The schools and training we do are usually less flexible than our drill and additional flight periods. Sometimes they can count towards our "two weeks" and sometimes not.

These forums are a great source of information. Many thanks to all the people who spend time providing others with VALUABLE information. What amazes me is that that sometimes 75% of the posts are people spouting off and making obnoxious comments to others, distracting from the thread. I am more than happy to help out another, but I only WISH I had the time some people spend bashing others.

I suppose I should have been more specific with my question.

Not knowing the whole bidding and scheduling process, do you have to drop a whole trip if it affects a required military day? How does it affect your minimums for the month? Both on reserve and as a line holder? How far out do you know your schedule or have to make the request? I guess a follow up question would include the same information about a sick day. (Obviously one can't "schedule" a sick day.)

Thanks

MtnPeakCruiser

Intel, H.C. is correct, I wasn't trying to insinuate that you'd abuse military leave. From my knowledge most airlines, including Frontier, are great about being flexible with our pilots that wear a second uniform. It is only in rare cases that I've heard someone's military leave being questioned due to previous cases of abuse.

My best friend is flying C-12s out of Baghram presently on active duty, and I'll be glad to have him back stateside. I most certainly appreciate your service.

zoooropa

You do not need to drop an entire trip if the trip returns to Domicile. For Example, lets say you have a four day trip that departs on Tuesday but you want to work Mil Leave on Friday. If the trip departs your domicile and then passes back through the domicile at any point later in the trip you can split it off at that point. Conversly, if the trip departs domicile and does not return until the last day, you have to drop the entire thing.

Anything dropped is unpaid.

You continue to accrue benefits like Vacation and sick credit while on Mil Leave.

If you are available for more than 15 days in one bid period you can bid for a line in that bid period. Once you have a line, you submit the request for Mil Leave.

Sick calls are usually made the day before (ideally before 0930 domicle time the day before so another pilot can pick up your trip).

Hope that helps.

Intel33

Thanks for the info. That is kind of what I was looking for. What are the bid periods and how far out do you know your schedule?

zoooropa

Bid monthly. Bid opens on the 7th the month prior, closes on the 14th.

hyphenF15

Hold down for any Eagle drivers at Frontier...

Intel33

So how much do you have to spend for lodging during training?

How much are crash pads in the DEN area and what do you get for your $$? Do you have to sign a lease?

MtnPeakCruiser

Most people stay in the Staybridge Suites, which is less than 100 yards from the front door of the G.O. (where they train for ground school). It is a clean hotel and each room has a kitchenette (so you can even save money by not eating-out every lunch-hour). Frontier's rate is $59 for a room with a queen and a pull-out sleeper couch, or for $69/night you can split a two queen bed suite with another commuter in groundschool. That includes a decent warm breakfast every morning and free dinner/beer on Tues, Wed, and Thursday nights. Most people stay 5 nights a week and commute home on Fridays after class. You'd pay for less than 15 nights before you start sim training, then you can bid for sims in San Fran or Miami, then your hotel is covered (plus you get per diem).

No time in traffic, no stinky crashpads, a room that cleans itself, and some food thrown in, I'd say that is your best bet.