Jazz and Family Life

joe driver · Post by **joe driver** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:20 pm

Hello Everybody,

A couple more Jazz questions. Any help is greatly appreciated.

1) Is it realistic to assume that a new hire (on a new hire schedule) could commute between bases until being able to bid and hold their desired base? (ie in case the family had to stay behind).

2) What is your minimum reporting time when on a reserve day?

Thanks :D

bcflyer · Post by **bcflyer** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:05 pm

Its been a while since I was a new hire but I'll do my best to help you out.

1) As a new hire you will likely be on reserve for at least a few months. That generally means you will be on call for at least 16 days a month. (unless you have vacation, training etc) If you were to commute during that time you would likely be away from home a fair bit. Having said that, the way things are moving right now it wouldn't be long before you could either A) hold a block, which would help out alot with commuting, or B) be awarded the base you really want.

2) When on reserve you are required to report for duty within 2 hrs of being called out.

Hopefully some of the new hires on here can give you a better idea but thats the way I see things.

joe driver · Post by **joe driver** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:54 pm

Thanks a lot bcflyer, that's great info.

Full Ins · Post by **Full Ins** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:19 pm

When I was new and based in YYZ, the fam was still in Alberta. I was awarded YYC on a bid before training was up, so I was only in YYZ for about 3 months on reserve. It's not ideal, but it always worked that I could go home for at least a couple days here and there. The guys higher up on the reserve list can bid to work for example 10 days in a row and get 8 off in a row. Same when you can hold a block, may be harder at first but as you move up it gets better for a commuter. But if things keep going as they are, I'm sure it will only be a few months to get to the base you want. Good luck! It's a great job!

Blue Yonder · Post by **Blue Yonder** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:51 am

Full Ins wrote:The guys higher up on the reserve list can bid to work for example 10 days in a row and get 8 off in a row.

I'm not sure if this is entirely true, unless things have changed in the past year. I was not allowed to be on reserve longer than 5 days in a row. A real pain if you're commuting.

That being said, it was only temporary...I commuted for less than a year then, got the base I wanted. After 12 months of being home I'm in the top third of the equipment list getting all the days off I ask for.

Full Ins wrote:Good luck! It's a great job!

This is true.

Blue

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:42 am

On reserve you can only do 5 in a row. Commuting while on reserve would be difficult. If you get a block your commuting will be easier.

There's also a rule about needing to have 2 flights to get you back to base. This could eat into your time off. I'm not sure how it would work on reserve. If you could have a pairing assigned to you prior to leaving home, you may be able to commute on the day of work if you can meet the 2 flight criteria, otherwise you would commute the day before. With only 12 days off on reserve, and those days off will be spread out due to the max 5 on rule, you can see the difficulty.
Time flies though, you'll have a block or base soon.

joe driver · Post by **joe driver** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:36 am

Thanks very much guys. Much appreciated.

Full Ins · Post by **Full Ins** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:18 am

Sorry didn't remember about that 5 days on reserve thing. When bidding, the block builders seem good about days off, obviously they can only do so much, if you put on there that you are commuting and want as many days off in a row as possible. It gets better every month as you'll have 30-40 new people below you a month! As said, you'll have a block in no time, prob 6 months if things keep going as they are. Good luck