Fixnem2Flyinem

Not trying to feed the fire here, my first post on APC, but this exactly! I was terminated... Well, "allowed to resign" for missing a commute. I did not miss a commute prior to that. They also questioned my sick calls that I had (3 legit calls in 8 months) stating I was unreliable. Kind of a bummer, I liked the SkyWest crews that I flew with but after that situation I came to realize real quick the importance of a commuter clause and or policy.

Nevjets

Right, like not wanting a scope clause until you need one. How has that worked out? Anyway, think of a contractual commuter policy as a set rule that each side knows ahead of time what each is required to do. No having to explain yourself to anyone after the fact and hope they aren’t having a constipation day. Commuter policy, you follow the rule, nothing happens, no explanations, life is good.



All Skywest employees are at-will employees. They can theoretically show up to work everyday for ten years and the very next day, let them go.

Broncofan

There must be more to this story, I have missed a few commutes during my Skywest career, as long as I gave myself a couple options and it didn't happen too often, they handled it very well and even tried to positive space me if need be. I highly doubt they told you to resign for 1 missed commute. During probation I had 11 days missed and they told me good job.

Check Complete

On the other hand, this gives management the ability to crush outspoken people and look the other way at the one's they like. Call out management on something that is wrong or something that could be done better and now miss a couple of trips because you commute, you could easily be terminated as a result.

And while SAPA has some very good people among it's ranks, it's leader doesn't fly and is out of touch with the rank and file and has but one key objective. When the VP of Ops says our president is the best he's worked with, that tells me we are not being adequately represented. The fact that management hated MM told me he was doing his job, and well!

With no policy, management can do what ever they want to the pilots.

Oh wait, they all ready do.....

And I've been here long enough to have seen it!

Fixnem2Flyinem

The missed commute resulted in a flight crew cancellation since they had zero coverage for a standup. I also lived in PDX and was based in SEA, they were mad because I didn't drive. Honest answer, I was too low on cash for gas money and the flights looked good. That drive gets spendy when you do it multiple times a week. The Delta flight that was operated by SkyWest left me at the gate with available seats because I wouldn't pay 200 dollars to ride in the back, another glitch SkyWest had that they didn't seem to care about during my meeting with management. The next Skywest CRJ was delayed because of MX. QX filled up in the time I was waiting, so four flights that I planned for fell through. I ended up in Seattle an hour after my show on a SkyWest CRJ and they had already cancelled..

SAPA guys were not all that happy about it, tried to fight it but the big wigs wanted me gone, or so I was told. Glad it worked out for you all those times though.

Nevjets

He also said he had called in sick three times in the last 8 months. That seems to be the rest of the story.

Let me ask you this, how many flights is a couple of options? A couple sounds like two to me but is that really true? Will ALL chief pilots be ok with two options and no more? How much time before show is your second option supposed to arrive? Are you required to actively check weather a day or two ahead of time? Are you supposed to check for loads 24-36 hours ahead of time? Does commuter policy cover ground transportation and what are the unwritten rules for that? Will ALL cheif pilots rule uniformly for EVERYONE for all these questions?

Broncofan

Very good points. I'm no longer at SkyWest but while I was there R.G. in Denver was my chief pilot. Maybe things were more laxed back then compared to now. I missed one commute and he told me no biggie after I showed him I tried for 2 flights that would arrive an hour prior to show. He said keep doing that and he won't have an issue as long as it's not happening every week. But again with no contract that could just be his rule vs other CP's.

WesternSkies

Sorry about the termination. Probation?

I’ve had worse stats and give myself one flight typically.

Even flight attendants miss commutes.

amcnd

If anyone says they were “fired” there is more to the story.. last guys that were truly terminated was a stall and had multiple issues before that event.. if your saying you got “offered” to resign.. then you had other performance issues and were under 1 year at OO.. ask Sapa why we dont have a commuter clause... they insist were better off right now..

Fixnem2Flyinem

Well thank you for telling me that I must be lying or am a crap pilot, but I can assure you there were no other performance issues that I showed while there, no training issues and no commuting issues prior. Just the sick calls that were in my book legitimate sick calls. I get that a lot when I explain my situation, "there has to be more to the story?". I wish there was, so that way it would have made sense to me. Just thought I'd share the story since everyone seems to defend the no commuter clause at an airline where one is pretty much guaranteed to have to commute for a period of time, whether that's a bid or two or a year or two.