De-linking Pilots, F/as And Aircraft

[Boomer]

Several years ago, AA began de-linking crews and equipment during the day in an attempt to lower costs and increase flexibility.

A recent company publication indicates that a test program which re-integrated crews and equipment improved dependability.

What say you--crew?

 

[AAStew]

We have been telling them this doesn't work for years! How many times haven't we waited and taken a delay for arriving crewmembers! I think the ONLY reason they did this the de-linking is because us flight attendants are able to work, or sit, or in a nutshell our workrules are pretty crappy compared to the pilots, so they can't utilize them as poorly or as much as they do us

 

[operaations]

Several years ago, AA began de-linking crews and equipment during the day in an attempt to lower costs and increase flexibility.

A recent company publication indicates that a test program which re-integrated crews and equipment improved dependability.

What say you--crew?

[post="171849"][/post]​

It is actually called co pairing. Example. The Cockpit the Flight Attendants and the plane all go with eachother on the entire sequence. No waiting for different crews or planes.

I have no idea why the ever got rid of it but we need it back 100 percent

 

[mjk]

The test of linking S80 pilots and acft up thru ORD has worked pretty well, especially on days where there's a ground delay program. Late airplane goes thru, late cockpit crew goes thru with it. Less sit time allows the cockpit crew to go longer before going illegal due to weather, mechanical, etc.

If cockpit and flight attendants had the same work rules, I'd bet that the test would have been expanded to tri-pairing (cockpit, flight attendants, and aircraft stay together).

Some f/a crews have been scheduled to stay with their aircraft and cockpit crew thru ORD, however, since f/a's can be scheduled to higher duty and duty aloft, it wouldn't be as cost effective to link them up with the cockpit crews for the entire day.

 

[jimntx]

however, since f/a's can be scheduled to higher duty and duty aloft, it wouldn't be as cost effective to link them up with the cockpit crews for the entire day.

[post="171979"][/post]​

Operaations, here is the reason why you will NEVER see true co-pairing at AA. Pilots can't be kept on duty for 12-16 hours with no meal like f/as.

 

[LiveInAHotel]

Operaations, here is the reason why you will NEVER see true co-pairing at AA. Pilots can't be kept on duty for 12-16 hours with no meal like f/as.

[post="171991"][/post]​

jimntx...

You nailed that one! I just hope we can get certified like the pilots and this s*** will stop and the company will have to change plans.

 

[mjk]

jimntx...

You nailed that one! I just hope we can get certified like the pilots and this s*** will stop and the company will have to change plans.

[post="172183"][/post]​

How exactly would getting certified change your duty rigs?

 

[FA Mikey]

It wont as far as layovers go. The FAA feels pilots also only need 8 hours block to block. At least until there is an accident based on lack of rest. But the pilots did have jw negotiating for them. Hence they have a longer rest period.


Dont get me wrong I am not complaining. I bid the super short layovers.

 

[Boomer]

Hate to burst your bubble regarding duty regs...

Aircraft Maintenance has a duty reg per the FARs...3 continuous 24 hour periods EVERY THIRTY DAYS.

Yeah, that's right...an A&P Mechanic can work 24-7, for 27 of 30 continuous days before taking three days off: and, be legal.

It happens more often than you think.

FAR 121.377

Maintenance and preventive maintenance personnel duty time limitations.

Within the United States, each certificate holder (or person performing maintenance or preventive maintenance functions for it) shall relieve each person performing maintenance or preventive maintenance from duty for a period of at least 24 consecutive hours during any seven consecutive days, or the equivalent thereof within any one calendar month.


Good luck with obtaining limits that are more restricitve; many of us will be cheering for you.

 

[jimntx]

Hate to burst your bubble regarding duty regs...

Aircraft Maintenance has a duty reg per the FARs...3 continuous 24 hour periods EVERY THIRTY DAYS.

Yeah, that's right...an A&P Mechanic can work 24-7, for 27 of 30 continuous days before taking three days off: and, be legal.

It happens more often than you think.

FAR 121.377

Maintenance and preventive maintenance personnel duty time limitations.

Within the United States, each certificate holder (or person performing maintenance or preventive maintenance functions for it) shall relieve each person performing maintenance or preventive maintenance from duty for a period of at least 24 consecutive hours during any seven consecutive days, or the equivalent thereof within any one calendar month.
Good luck with obtaining limits that are more restricitve; many of us will be cheering for you.

[post="172347"][/post]​

No one ever said that we (FAs) were the only ones. However, unlike the mechanics, there are no limits whatsoever on how often FAs can be worked without meal breaks. The only FAR regarding flight attendant duty periods states that we can be worked a maximum of 6 days straight without a 24 hour rest break.

A friend of mine at STL just worked a trip where he went from 0600 one morning until 1800 the FOLLOWING day without anything to eat other than bags of pretzels. He arrived at the layover city late after everything was closed and left the next morning before anything opened. If you stop in the concourse while changing planes to get something to eat, and you walk up to the gate area late carrying food, the gate agents charge the FAs with delaying the flight.

 

[FA Mikey]

I say let them. Got in to a disagreement with a supervisor over that. We were flying PHL-MIA-CCS-MIA. He came on to tell us to clean and be ready to board. I said we need a couple mins to get something to eat. Claimed we didn't have time. Said sorry I have all the time in the world. If you cannot provide us at least a m/c meal. I am sorry I have to eat or go home ill. I cannot go from waking at 4am until 630pm with out anything to eat, and be expected to be 100% on the ball. Yea I am smart enough to carry shelf stable stuff. It gets old fast and I just hate ultimatums. In the time it took him to give up. We could have walked across the from the gate bought out little pizza and been back to board. We actually could have left on time, but MR. bug up his but came on to lay down the law. Saying no food and kicked cabin service off the plane who were cleaning so he could make us do it.

 

[jimntx]

Hope you wrote it up. I was semi-famous at DFW for writing up incidents and turning in my report before it filtered through the system as my fault. Pre-emptive strike, don't you know.