LCC Monthly Schedule

[LeakyFloats]

Hi Guys, trying to get an idea on what the monthly schedule will be like at the LCC. So far I understand "fair share" bidding process with 16 days maximum worked per month and no reserve. Has there been any new info?

If you were a new hire commuting to YYZ would this be the best position to try for?

[bcflyer]

There has been no indication of what the schedules will look like at LCC. Your guess is as good as mine at this point however judging by the way other LCC's operate it will likely be long days of Carribean turns in the middle of the night. I don't imagine there will be many layovers anywhere warm.

As for bidding it, my advice is to avoid it like the plague right now. There are far too many uncertainties. (scheduling, vacation, bidding rights back to mainline if it tanks etc) The last bid showed vacancies on both the EMB and 320 at mainline. Given a choice I would stay at mainline unless forced to LCC. But thats just one persons opinion.....

[yycflyguy]

There has been no indication of what the schedules will look like at LCC. Your guess is as good as mine at this point however judging by the way other LCC's operate it will likely be long days of Carribean turns in the middle of the night. I don't imagine there will be many layovers anywhere warm.

As for bidding it, my advice is to avoid it like the plague right now. There are far too many uncertainties. (scheduling, vacation, bidding rights back to mainline if it tanks etc) The last bid showed vacancies on both the EMB and 320 at mainline. Given a choice I would stay at mainline unless forced to LCC. But thats just one persons opinion.....

Make that two people. Given the choice, take mainline.

IMO, take the biggest plane flying position you can at mainline. If both the Embraer and Airbus are available to you, take the bus.

[Johnny#5]

But wouldn't you move up the emb list quicker than the bus list? Better to go to bus when there's say 20 or so below?

[LeakyFloats]

How many people do you generally need below you to be a blockholder? Does it vary with type?

[LTD]

Make that two people. Given the choice, take mainline.

IMO, take the biggest plane flying position you can at mainline. If both the Embraer and Airbus are available to you, take the bus.

yycflyguy,

When you say "take the biggest plane flying position you can at the mainline"; what about RP vs. 320?

[Johnny#5]

What's the average airspeed of an unladen swallow?

[TrailerParkBoy]

What's the average airspeed of an unladen swallow?

For those interested, they can read:

http://style.org/unladenswallow/

Or watch this interesting bit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2R3FvS4xr4

[DBC]

Hi Guys, trying to get an idea on what the monthly schedule will be like at the LCC. So far I understand "fair share" bidding process with 16 days maximum worked per month and no reserve. Has there been any new info?

If you were a new hire commuting to YYZ would this be the best position to try for?

IMHO, take mainline FO positions and tell everyone on your course to take mainline FO positions. Once the embraers start moving to Sky regional and the 319 shift really ramps up, the bottom of the list is likely to start getting pushed into the LCC, but this grandfathers your pay to mainline which is 7% higher for the first four years.

[flyincanuck]

Interesting point. Yes, if force reduced to Rouge, one would be pay "grandfathered".

There is no guarantee one would be force reduced.

Don't forget airplane-for-airplane.

The company still has to crew the new 777s and 787s.

[TheStig]

But wouldn't you move up the emb list quicker than the bus list? Better to go to bus when there's say 20 or so below?

This would have been good advice under the previous contract, but due to the 4 year position freeze and fixed pay scales for all FO and RP positions (for those 4 years), the rules have changed and this option is no longer available. Both positions (and all RP positions) have subsequently become entry level positions, and as of this time, have numerous vacancies.

The current vacancies have been outlined on this forum, Air Canada usually has a number of courses set up prior to the start of the Pilot Indoctrination Course, those options are presented to the pilots when they are attending the PIT course, seniority numbers are drawn from and hat and then the pilots on course have a 'mini-bid'. My advice, bid for what you'd like to fly, and enjoy.

[notmyrealusername]

question,,,, Say things go back to like years ago, and upgrade times come way down. After say 2.5 years (example only) you have the seniority to bid and win a Capt on EMJ, but you are frozen, seems easy if you an FO on EMG but aren't you screwed if you are on the 320?

[TheStig]

question,,,, Say things go back to like years ago, and upgrade times come way down. After say 2.5 years (example only) you have the seniority to bid and win a Capt on EMJ, but you are frozen, seems easy if you an FO on EMG but aren't you screwed if you are on the 320?

Without pulling out the contract I seem to recall that if you can bid and hold a higher paying position (Captain) within your first 4 years, that you'll either be trained into that position or paid accordingly should the company decide not to train you (for some reason).

[Sea2Sky]

Interesting point. Yes, if force reduced to Rouge, one would be pay "grandfathered".

There is no guarantee one would be force reduced.

Don't forget airplane-for-airplane.

The company still has to crew the new 777s and 787s.

Pay is grandfathered only if you bid reinstatement rights with every equipment bid.

Airplane-for-airplane? Only widebody, which means each new widebody is not necessarily an addition, but a replacement. Narrow body fleet replacement will likely see 100 airplanes replacing 140 at mainline (albeit, larger narrow bodies).

[DBC]

Interesting point. Yes, if force reduced to Rouge, one would be pay "grandfathered".

There is no guarantee one would be force reduced.

Don't forget airplane-for-airplane.

The company still has to crew the new 777s and 787s.

10 Airframes by the end of 2013
32 Airframes by the end of 2014

That's alot of LCC crews within 21 months. Especially since the fleet will go from 205 -> 193 planned Airframes in the same time period.

[ratherbee]

Also something to think about is that with no reserve positions (on call) at rouge, a junior pilot will be getting a block and is guaranteed a higher minimum salary than mainline - and more actual flying hours in the A319.