Sailor

That '20 flew back today, 602 i think. But it is very hard to estimate the number of crews, funny, we are the smallest of them all!!

Merry Xmas all.

Normann

Based on the bid packages, the highest number I have seen was 442 on the list with 28 frames. That would be 15.8 crew per plane. However after all the management, training pilots, leave, etc it was really only 409 pilots active for a 14.6 average. This btw was in June 2009. In May 2010 before the strike we were down to 12.5 actively flying pilot per plane. Ultra short and resulted in cancellations but management was trying to make a point. 13-14 is spot on, it is hovering between those two. I expect that to go a bit higher with the transition language, and perhaps the new rest rules. The new DO expressed that he wants to staff the place properly. LOL. Perhaps the bean counters rang him up with the bill for the 300% that was paid out since this summer. Franky's black American Express might have bounced on that one.

On a side note, initially 14 per plane seems high compared to others who fly without a relief pilot but our daily utilization is 14h per plane. Which is higher than most places. We fly the crap out of these birds. And that is good.

captscott26

From Flt Ops:

We are hiring 17 pilots per plane for the foreseeable future, probably to catch up to proper staffing levels.

obx41

So has Spirit actually hired anyone? I know they've exhausted the furlough recalls, but I haven't heard that they've actually hired anyone or assigned new hire class dates.

captscott26

1st new hire class is set for Jan 31st. I have a buddy that has been assigned that class, and I believe it is already full.

Sailor

What is this thing about paying taxes, or deducting taxes Per the IRS on our per diem.

I cant find much on it on the IRS site.

Is there a %, or is it going to be included as salary the taxed.



Thanks,

northdakota

It's simple...all per diem on daytrips is taxable. If there is an overnight in the trip it will remain tax-free. I know that it is correct, as all other airlines that I have seen do the same. To answer your question specifically, what I have seen in the past is two per diem tables...one for tax free and one for taxable. Your taxable pay remains separate, I do not know how per diem is taxed...but I think it is about 30%.

Left Handed

It is taxed at whatever your marginal tax rate is. (your federal taxes and state taxes) In other words, it is included as ordinary income. The IRS takes the position that on a day trip, you are the same as any other type of worker, and you buy your own meals. Therefore if the company pays you for this, it is income. On an overnight, the IRS concedes that you will have to buy a meal that you would ordinarily not have to buy, similarly to how someone on a "business trip" is allowed to write off certain meals as a business expense. If the company pays for this, it is reimbursement, not income, thus not taxed. you will have 2 columns; one for taxable per diem, and one for non taxable. In my opinion, just another thing we have to double check to make sure it's right. I'm surprised Spirit is just starting this, my last carrier did this almost 10 years ago.

Disclaimer: I am not an accountant, but I play one at home. And I did sleep at a Holid...............nevermind. That joke is getting old.

captscott26

Looks like on our website we have added a second ORD-LAS and we will be starting ORD-LAX in April.

Sailor

Any news on 605nk?