Mozam

Once again e6 says it perfectly

RJSAviator76

Bump for the newbies...

ak68W

Other than overlap conflicts, what are some other ways to reduce AOLT?

Caveman

Gonna bump this thread for all the new guys coming online.

Please pay this forward and keep this thread full of good info especially for the guys on first year, looking to maximize there earnings on reserve, often times while commuting.

Tip # 447 The Cap
Earlier in the month your Senior FOs are going to be slamming the Premium down, but later in the month after the Senior start to go over the CAP, you'll see premium go more Junior. Use ELITT (when you can) to your advantage here by clearing the later part of your bid period for a one or two sweet Premium opportunities.

Tip# 448 Manage your block and FDP
Straight bids will catch up to you, and when your Junior you may have no other option but Straight to pick up additional flying. As a guy that's has hit the 998 12 month look back limit, I had to learn this the hard way. Once you've piled on a bunch of block, especially if you're on Reserve, the buffer limits are going to severely restrict your ability to pick up. Think of the old bull and young bull joke. Do you want one or maybe two huge months, or do you want a big solid year. Sometimes Straight is the only option, we've all been junior and get it. But I wish someone had told me the FDP and block will begin to anchor your ship over the long haul. Manage your FDP and Block, so that you can strike Premium gold when the opportunity arises.

Tip#449 Reserve Extra Fly
Trips hung on a Reserve will be fully rigged 5.0/6.5/3:1/.74 rigged trips. When you pick up off a Reserve, it'll be afforded the exact same move up and reassignment pay as a line holder would. Look for those Reserve assigned trips that are low block and have a pile of DHs on them, or ones that have great opportunity to become irregular due to unrealistic connects on the first day, or go through the LGA, ATL, MDW, etc where trains go to de-rail.

These aren't even the best tips, I'm just bumping this up, to hopeful encourage the real smart guys to chime in, and give up some more good tips to our latest and greatest at Southwestern Trailways
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e6bpilot

I think the tips above are the three main ones that will help probies maximize their dollar per unit of work.

The only possible error I see is if an unrigged trip (DAL-HOU turn that pays 3.5P) is extra flown, it will not "gain" rigs. The P indicates a broken trip and partial pay.

I will add that adjusted line total as discussed above in this thread is also huge and something nobody ever explained to me.

Also, if you are unused or returning to base and want to give away a single or two day block of reserve, these will often get snatched up and you can use that time off to either go home or pick up flying now or later.

Caveman

Thank you E6
Can you further breakdown the adjusted line total nugget you mentioned above.


And how to recognize the unrigged reserve assignments

Smooth at FL450

If you have a carry over pairing into the following month that results in the lead in pairing being pulled, that reduction in TFP will reset your starting point. Anything above that pays 2nd year. Monthly overlap correction can be beneficial if done correctly.

Unrigged reserve trips are anything short of 6.5/day. You'll see them in open time frequently as a result of legality, overlap corrections, STCs or partial trip giveaway

Caveman

Get these #s in your phone
Your Domicile SWAPA Reps- when you read Comm you don't like or understand, don't let the guy next to you be your only resource for answers. Text them, tell them what you like and don't like with YOUR UNION. Keep them accountable and stay engaged. Additionally while on probation, these fellas will be your advocate and ally if you find yourself in a tough spot.

Your Contract Admin- same on above. Reserve work rules are extremely complex and multi-layered here, and often in conflict with each other. There's a good chance the guy your flying with hasn't even flown Reserve under the current Contract. Use this resource, put it in your phone.

Your SWAPA SRC Products- review them all, and frequently, even if you don't think applicable to you now, you later will likely tie a new insight or correlation with a product you've previously overlooked. Be data driven in your schedule management, base these decisions on facts, and if you see a product improvement, or a missing product that needs to be there, ENGAGE the SRC, and let them know your thoughts.

e6bpilot

Adjusted line total is exactly as explained above. It's a result of an overlap or legality correction and is the new baseline for second year pay.

Any trip you see the pay total with a P behind it has at least one unrigged duty period.

That may or may not be a bad thing. If it affects the total pay of the trip, I generally avoid those at all costs since I don't like donating my time. If they are flown for premium, they will get rigs added in (as reflected under the premium pay column). If they are flown straight time or extra flown, the rigs will remain as is.

The exception to this is if they are flown by a reserve pilot. In that case, the rigs will be added back in as well.

Clear as mud?

The rules are complicated and took me a while of trial and error (mostly error) to learn. The best thing you can do is ask questions to people that know and refer to the contract since it tends to have the answers. As mentioned above, don't be surprised if the guy with 20 years here has zero clue. Plenty of "I just fly my line" guys and even a few senior open time players who just have their heads in the sand.

As a rule, in a target rich open time environment like right now, the best way to make money and maximize your days off is to clear as much of your schedule as you can and pick up premium open time. It can be done at all seniority levels to some degree.

Cyio

This thread is gold. Thank you to everyone that is contributing.