The Bid Process

Prior to the Monthly Bid Opening

To understand how we get to the SWW process begins with first understanding our Monthly Bid process. Prior to the beginning of the Monthly Bid process, the Company via its Network Planning Department determines the scope of flying that is necessary to meet its requirements for domestic and global freight demand. Through this complex process, Network Planning determines the appropriate routes, fleet, and capacity needed to meet the planned demand for the following month. Once Network Planning completes their requirements, Crew Planning begins their optimization process by generating Trips that account for their operational needs as well as factor in constraints from the SIG/PSIT while maintaining compliance with FARs and the CBA.

The PSIT, SIG, and FERC

Once Trips are generated, Crew Planning establishes a line build criterion, typically established in hours, for each base/position/fleet. These Trips are then provided to the PSIT, SIG & FERC to construct and optimize lines based on a multitude of factors which indicate here the list is long include contractual parameters, fatigue, historical pilot preferences, etc. It is important to note that Secondary & Reserve Lines are also incorporated within the scope of Line Bidding. The number of Secondary and Reserve lines are determined based on forecasting of staffing needs as well as Planned Absences for the month.

The Conflict Window

Eligible Line Holders may participate in the Conflict Window where Trips can be Conflicted typically with Carry-Over Trips, Vacation, and Training Events. Upon completion of the Conflict/Input Window, these Conflicted Trips are placed in a pool where then pilots that are eligible, may participate in the View/Add Window. Pilots in the View/Add Window may reconstruct their lines with Trips and Reserve Blocks that were Conflicted in the Conflict/Input Window.

The View/Add Window

Pilots in the View/Add Window may reconstruct their lines with Trips and Reserve Blocks that were Conflicted in the Conflict Window.

Prior to the opening of the Secondary Working Window

Post the View/Add Window, Crew Planning establishes the Secondary Line Range (Low/Target/High BLGs) by incorporating into their calculation the remaining Trips and Reserve Blocks to the number of Secondary Line holders in each crew position within a range not to exceed 13 Credit Hours between the Low and the High. These ranges do not apply to trips available in open time for secondary line construction, which by themselves and without regard to carry-in credit hours, exceed the high secondary line BLG.

The Secondary Working Window (SWW)

The SWW begins no less than 115 hours beginning at 1700CT the day the following the posting of the View/Add Processing Window results. During this time, a secondary line awardee may build a secondary line as well as the first 62 hours, a pilot may do the following;

1. Slide the pilot’s vacation footprint, up to 5 days measured against the greater of: a. The pilot’s awarded vacation period; or b. The pilot’s vacation period, as adjusted in the View/Add window; Provided, however, that no slide may create a conflict with a pilot’s recurrent training or known absence (e.g., jury).

2. Shrink or eliminate the pilot’s vacation footprint; and/or.

3. Elect to waive or protect the pilot’s vacation buffer.

4. A vacation period which, as originally awarded, was wholly contained into one bid period may have its footprint, but not its credit hours, slide into an adjacent bid period (except into November or December, or into the current bid period).

5. A pilot’s election to slide, shrink, or eliminate the pilot’s vacation footprint, in accordance with Section 25.E.6.b.i. or ii., has the effect only of enhancing a pilot’s flexibility during the SWW window. That election does not change the credit hour draw against the pilot’s vacation bank as determined by the View/Add window.