NO MORE A DAYS
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Western Hemisphere
Great follow on to the Boeing Chief Pilot's email about how they want to improve USA Based Freighter Rosters.
Rumour has it several yanks are leaving and several more with interviews.
This A Day debacle will not help the situation
Rumour has it several yanks are leaving and several more with interviews.
This A Day debacle will not help the situation
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: HK
A days are more important to the company than they let on. A lot more flights will be be cancelled due to lack of crew and lack of reserve coverage.
Not a good move IMO not that my opinion counts for anything.
Not a good move IMO not that my opinion counts for anything.
Joined: Jul 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 172
From: with the ex-CX pond scum (a zoologist was once head of Flight Ops)
My sentiments too. Less window to 'get you' for a duty. I was thinking of changing from A's to R's anyhow. The vast majority of my A Day callouts over the years have been notified the day before at 'log in'.
Bring it on.
Bring it on.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 43
From: US
The A days actually benefit the company more than us to some extent (they're free and don't start the FTL clock ticking).
But I'm sure this will have the net effect of pushing the 'fence sitters' off the fence. If one has to pull reserve one might as well do so at a company with a sane non-revenue commuter policy as well as the ability to ride in the front of the jet.
It will also have the net effect of ailenating those who previously always did suit up and show up.
This place is the only place I know who bluffs with a set of deuces.
But I'm sure this will have the net effect of pushing the 'fence sitters' off the fence. If one has to pull reserve one might as well do so at a company with a sane non-revenue commuter policy as well as the ability to ride in the front of the jet.
It will also have the net effect of ailenating those who previously always did suit up and show up.
This place is the only place I know who bluffs with a set of deuces.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: uk
I was just another slightly jaded CX driver. Now I am so p!ssed off with the whole thing I'm looking elsewhere. Yes it's still on the whole not a bad job once the gears up but this death by a thousand pecks wares you down eventually. Oh and to the union I started my contract compliance on receipt of the GMAs letter..
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Down South
SOPS, "A" days are basically long-call reserve but with no rules governing them. They are not considered duty but, the day before an "A" day is rostered the pilot must contact the company between noon and 2pm to check if there is a duty for him or her. If so, he or she has a minimum of 10 hours to report. If not, he or she must be immediately contactable on an "A" day between 0600 and 1400 and be able to report for duty within 10 hours of being notified.
Now, that "long-call reserve" is gone. All there is now is short-call, which is a duty and is covered by many rules as well as requiring being able to report for duty within 2 hours and 15 minutes of notification.
Reserve can start and end at any time of the day. Pilots accrue no pay for reserve unless they are rostered for more than 30 days of it per year.
Unlike normal airlines, where generally only the junior pilots do reserve and only reserve, at Cathay everyone does reserve, mixed in with regular flying.
Now, that "long-call reserve" is gone. All there is now is short-call, which is a duty and is covered by many rules as well as requiring being able to report for duty within 2 hours and 15 minutes of notification.
Reserve can start and end at any time of the day. Pilots accrue no pay for reserve unless they are rostered for more than 30 days of it per year.
Unlike normal airlines, where generally only the junior pilots do reserve and only reserve, at Cathay everyone does reserve, mixed in with regular flying.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Down South
Freighter Reserve Coverage?
So, checking the roster for 747 freighter captains in November there are in
ATL 5 R days out of 4 CN (5/120 man-days)
ORD 6 R days out of 3 CN (6/90 man-days)
JFK 4 R days out of 3 CN (4/90 man-days)
LAX 0 R days out of 4 CN (0/120 man-days)
Total 15 R days total for 14 captains
15 R days out of 420 man-days
I guess they're counting on G day workers.
ATL 5 R days out of 4 CN (5/120 man-days)
ORD 6 R days out of 3 CN (6/90 man-days)
JFK 4 R days out of 3 CN (4/90 man-days)
LAX 0 R days out of 4 CN (0/120 man-days)
Total 15 R days total for 14 captains
15 R days out of 420 man-days
I guess they're counting on G day workers.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 657
Likes: 47
From: Asia
Contract compliance - yeah right
Wonder how a certain a MEL based Kiwi captain will get around this one...more deals with crew control?
Unfortunately for commuters this will lead into more pilots constantly calling crew control to get a trip allocated in advance rather than spending days and days in a hotel at their base port.
Unfortunately for commuters this will lead into more pilots constantly calling crew control to get a trip allocated in advance rather than spending days and days in a hotel at their base port.
Last edited by AQIS Boigu; 16th October 2014 at 12:30.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 381
Likes: 7
From: CLK
NO MORE A DAYS
It is always a risk on a base if you choose to live greater than 02:15hrs away from the report location. Just as it is if you choose to commute to/fro HKG. The A day is simply a non binding agreement to ameliorate the risk.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Not in JFK
By being on a base CX accepts less pilot flexibility in exchange for no housing allowance and no 13th month. If they want to have the based pilots available like the HKG pilots it's only fair they give everyone the same benefits.