indytestdude

FLASH UPDATE:

CAL Space Cowboys and UAL Engineering Pilots are still doing your flying.

Man Up ALPA, and put a stop to it!!!

oneflynfool

You wouldn't want to help a brother out with a little bit of specifics, would you?

Riddler

Did UAL and CAL just decertify ALPA? Sounds OK to me!

Daytripper

Maybe the geriatric squadron at Cal that does paint repo's and mx flights?

strfyr51

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Why?? Engineering pilots do quite a bit at UAL that Line pilots can't or Won't do.. How many Line pilots are going to ferry airplanes and accomplish the test functions like shutting down Hyd Systems to fly manual reversion, going into Overhaul (HMV) and 'C' check or fly the out of check Test flights? How many Line pilots have BEEN through the test flight school?? We had a Lightning strike A320 at LGA that needed to be flown to DEN to complete final repairs where Capt was Aghast that HE should be assigned flying a Type II ferry. I told the Capt. that We're REQUIRED to offer TYPE II flying to ALPA crews when there are no flight restrictions. Had he refused? The FODM could have released SAMC to use an Engineering Crew. So?? If what you're proposing is true? Then ALPA crews wouldn't be able to REFUSE flying test flights and out of major repair flights. Many times we can't get Line Pilots to even idle run engines for 5 minutes to assess leaks or help service engine oil without a call from the FODM. Line pilots Should be REQUIRED to fly test flights. To Assist maintenence when needed to give THEM a safe reliable airplane because it's in THEIR best interest to do so. But NOOO! You know and I know that's not the case so you're just Blowing SMOKE in saying so.
Were it My opinion? Were a line pilot to refuse a legally deferred airplane? They'd be going to the showers WITHOUT PAY. (and possibly without a JOB) So luckily? It's NOT by My OPINION ! Guarantee that Test flights and ferry flights will be flown without REFUSAL? OR? Take the requirement OUT of the ALPA contract!! You Can't have it Both Ways!

syd111

Wow another spot we could get rid of fodm, what a waste of space that is, another one of our hundreds of pilots that don't fly.

oldmako

Dude, you need to chill. There are PLENTY (there, I used all caps like you do....pretty childish don't ya think?) of reasons why we don't fly that crap, don't do runups etc etc. How bout we don't get paid and are putting our licenses / jobs on the line for starters. I don't work for free. Plus, if we do runups, they just lay off more mechanics right?? The current system is just fine. Why rock the boat? Have you ever read how restrictive the FOM is regarding exactly what we can and cannot do when flying other than a perfectly airworthy airplane on a standard 121 flight plan?? There are plenty of valid reasons for the way things are, and many of them were written in blood.

Let maint pilots do maint flights. That's their job, that's what they are trained to do. We are not. And I might add, we're barely even compensated for the training we currently do, so let's not add to that burden.

This is an idiotic thread. The fight is with management outsourcing revenue flying to other carriers, not with the test pilots.
Not going to waste any more time on this.

HSLD

Not so fast, outsourcing flying is outsourcing flying, no matter who does it. The OP failed to provide details, so I'm not goiing to assume to know what he was talking about. However, if engineering pilots are performing repositioning flights to put a "clean" aircraft into position for a revenue flight then that is absolutely infriging on UA pilot's scope of work.

I agree that the fight is with management, and I admire the work the engineering pilots perform, but if we don't defend our contractual flying it will continue to be eroded.

iahflyr

That is exactly the way it should be.

HSLD

UAL has a history of using maintenance pilots to perform flying that contractually belongs to line pilots. Certain types of ferry flights and aircraft repositioning before and after heavy maintenance (to include new paint jobs) belongs to ALPA pilots. If happening, this practice should be fought as vigorously as any scope infraction.