Mesa
05-08-2015, 12:26 PM
#7801
Living the Dream
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,795
It's a staffing thing. If the reserve buffer is at, say, 18, that means on any given day they want a surplus of 18 reserve pilots working. By surplus I mean... If they have 2 trips that have been unassigned (so they're in "open time"), they want to be able to have enough reserve pilots to cover those 2 trips, and then still have 18 extra, meaning they'd want 20 reserve pilots working that day.
The implication is: the higher the buffer, the more reserve pilots they need. If they have less than the buffer, reserve pilots can't swap that work day for another and line holding pilots can't drop a trip that includes that day.
Basically, it's awesome when the buffer is low and the staffing is high because then all the pilots can do whatever they want. It's sucky when it's the other way around.
The implication is: the higher the buffer, the more reserve pilots they need. If they have less than the buffer, reserve pilots can't swap that work day for another and line holding pilots can't drop a trip that includes that day.
Basically, it's awesome when the buffer is low and the staffing is high because then all the pilots can do whatever they want. It's sucky when it's the other way around.
05-08-2015, 03:35 PM
#7802
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Posts: 977
It's a staffing thing. If the reserve buffer is at, say, 18, that means on any given day they want a surplus of 18 reserve pilots working. By surplus I mean... If they have 2 trips that have been unassigned (so they're in "open time"), they want to be able to have enough reserve pilots to cover those 2 trips, and then still have 18 extra, meaning they'd want 20 reserve pilots working that day.
The implication is: the higher the buffer, the more reserve pilots they need. If they have less than the buffer, reserve pilots can't swap that work day for another and line holding pilots can't drop a trip that includes that day.
Basically, it's awesome when the buffer is low and the staffing is high because then all the pilots can do whatever they want. It's sucky when it's the other way around.
The implication is: the higher the buffer, the more reserve pilots they need. If they have less than the buffer, reserve pilots can't swap that work day for another and line holding pilots can't drop a trip that includes that day.
Basically, it's awesome when the buffer is low and the staffing is high because then all the pilots can do whatever they want. It's sucky when it's the other way around.
The amount of block hours is not always constant throughout the month, and other things like historical absences, changes in route structure, etc. can shift what they do with that number.
Personally, I think it is totally insane how autocratic and unscientific buffer-setting is--it would make much, much more sense to algorithmically determine those buffers based on historical absences and reserve utilization relative to block.
It would be very easy to develop a formula that takes into account all of the variables affecting reserve utilization, and spits out a weighted number for every day of the month, but try telling that to anyone in Crew Line and VV will just say "no...bye."
Additionally, I find it insane how they determine swaps based on this "difference of 2 or greater" concept...if there are 9 reserves on one day, and 10 reserves on another day, who the eff cares if I swap out of the day with 10 to the day with 9? They're going to have 9 on one day and 10 on another day--why do they care which day has 9 and which day has 10 (assuming equal buffers)? It's a wash on their end!!! But nooooooo VV's rules say I can only swap from a day with 10 net reserves to a day with 8 or less net reserves, because they will only approve swaps if it the difference is 2 or greater. That policy has always made me think they can't do basic math.
05-08-2015, 03:44 PM
#7803
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Position: Ball Turret Gunner
Posts: 297
With refence to the buffer mentioned above. How long is it taking fo new hires to be able to hold phx as a base?
05-08-2015, 05:26 PM
#7804
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,666
Well, they are about to displace at least 10 FOs out of PHX, so I wouldn't expect a new hire to hold it for quite a while, especially if there any Captains that downgrade to stay in PHX.
05-08-2015, 05:35 PM
#7805
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2012
Position: Right side 76
Posts: 100
We all know if the Capt's downgrade, it will most likely be to get on the 175! But only time will tell...
05-08-2015, 05:54 PM
#7806
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Position: First Officer
Posts: 122
Anyone have an idea of how many captains are considering the downgrade?
05-08-2015, 06:35 PM
#7807
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,666
They updated the standing bid list at the same time they announced the displacement, so it probably doesn't accurately reflect the way everyone will bid. If the displacement had been run at that time, then about 4 PHX Captains would have downgraded. One hadn't update his standing bid since 09 though, so he may choose to update it before the displacement is run. It looks like the majority of "at-risk" Captains would go to DFW if the most recent update accurately reflects their wishes. I didn't even start to look at voluntaries. I only looked at the bottom 30 Captains on the PHX seniority list. I doubt there's any senior Captains in PHX that would take a voluntary displacement.
05-08-2015, 09:15 PM
#7808
Living the Dream
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,795
There are various reasons why they do this from time to time.
The amount of block hours is not always constant throughout the month, and other things like historical absences, changes in route structure, etc. can shift what they do with that number.
Personally, I think it is totally insane how autocratic and unscientific buffer-setting is--it would make much, much more sense to algorithmically determine those buffers based on historical absences and reserve utilization relative to block.
It would be very easy to develop a formula that takes into account all of the variables affecting reserve utilization, and spits out a weighted number for every day of the month, but try telling that to anyone in Crew Line and VV will just say "no...bye."
Additionally, I find it insane how they determine swaps based on this "difference of 2 or greater" concept...if there are 9 reserves on one day, and 10 reserves on another day, who the eff cares if I swap out of the day with 10 to the day with 9? They're going to have 9 on one day and 10 on another day--why do they care which day has 9 and which day has 10 (assuming equal buffers)? It's a wash on their end!!! But nooooooo VV's rules say I can only swap from a day with 10 net reserves to a day with 8 or less net reserves, because they will only approve swaps if it the difference is 2 or greater. That policy has always made me think they can't do basic math.
The amount of block hours is not always constant throughout the month, and other things like historical absences, changes in route structure, etc. can shift what they do with that number.
Personally, I think it is totally insane how autocratic and unscientific buffer-setting is--it would make much, much more sense to algorithmically determine those buffers based on historical absences and reserve utilization relative to block.
It would be very easy to develop a formula that takes into account all of the variables affecting reserve utilization, and spits out a weighted number for every day of the month, but try telling that to anyone in Crew Line and VV will just say "no...bye."
Additionally, I find it insane how they determine swaps based on this "difference of 2 or greater" concept...if there are 9 reserves on one day, and 10 reserves on another day, who the eff cares if I swap out of the day with 10 to the day with 9? They're going to have 9 on one day and 10 on another day--why do they care which day has 9 and which day has 10 (assuming equal buffers)? It's a wash on their end!!! But nooooooo VV's rules say I can only swap from a day with 10 net reserves to a day with 8 or less net reserves, because they will only approve swaps if it the difference is 2 or greater. That policy has always made me think they can't do basic math.
As somebody stated, a while. I have a friend who was just a few numbers shy of holding it a few months ago; he was nearly in and now he probably won't be able to hold it for months. It would be hard to hazard a specific guess though.
05-08-2015, 09:49 PM
#7809
New Hire
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: Line Holder
Posts: 8
In reference to the new captain and pretty new FO in PHX, the story is they were waiting for the gate crew, and in an attempt to reposition, they struck the winglet of a 757 with the left horizontal stab leading edge.
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
05-08-2015, 10:43 PM
#7810
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Position: Ball Turret Gunner
Posts: 297
who's 757? Ouch
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
