A Question for Crewmembers

[flyastrojets]

A serious question for pilot/flight attendant readers. This topic came up today at work (aviation related government entity, but not FAA).

Question is: what is the effect of weather/maintenance related cancellations on pilot pay? If you push back from the gate, but return with a mechanical, sit for an hour and then re-depart, do you lose an hour of pay? Is there pay protection for mechanical/weather cancellations? Would a mechanical/weather cancellation reduce your pay below your minimum guarantee?

Sorry..just curious, and I couldn't think of a better place to ask.

 

[USCREW]

Question is: what is the effect of weather/maintenance related cancellations on pilot pay? If you push back from the gate, but return with a mechanical, sit for an hour and then re-depart, do you lose an hour of pay? Is there pay protection for mechanical/weather cancellations? Would a mechanical/weather cancellation reduce your pay below your minimum guarantee?

You would not lose an hour of pay for this scenario. You would get paid from the time that you pushed back initially and returned, and then for the subsequent planned flight as well, so you would actually be gaining in flight time. If the flight is cancelled, then it would depend on the duty-time guarantees and other flights that are flown on that day as well as the total trip. There are different duty-rigs which are contractual to protect crewmembers from pay loss due to no fault of our own.

 

[fr8tmastr]

It is done that way mainly for safety. Unlike some contract carriers, most companies (union forced) dont want crews pushing things just to make their money. This way the crews know that in most cases they are paid and will do their jobs to the safest level, without any pressure from the worry of "If I dont make this flight happen, I cant make my mortgage this month."

If they can make their mortgage payment even with that protection is another thread.

 

[autofixer]

However, you could lose pay due to being rescheduled downline due to the tardyness of the flight. There are a lot of "ifs".

 

[nyfly]

A serious question for pilot/flight attendant readers. This topic came up today at work (aviation related government entity, but not FAA).

Question is: what is the effect of weather/maintenance related cancellations on pilot pay? If you push back from the gate, but return with a mechanical, sit for an hour and then re-depart, do you lose an hour of pay? Is there pay protection for mechanical/weather cancellations? Would a mechanical/weather cancellation reduce your pay below your minimum guarantee?

Sorry..just curious, and I couldn't think of a better place to ask.

 

[BoeingBoy]

As you can see, there is no single answer for most of your questions. There are literally pages of the contract that cover the various situations and which circumstances will trigger pay protection. The topic would make good fodder for about 6 beers worth of discussion.

Jim

 

[TheWatcher]

As you can see, there is no single answer for most of your questions. There are literally pages of the contract that cover the various situations and which circumstances will trigger pay protection. The topic would make good fodder for about 6 beers worth of discussion.

Jim

Only 6 beers? Ah, you must be a former USAF guy, we former USN guys call 6 an appetizer

 

[Walmartgreeter]

"You would not lose an hour of pay for this scenario."

Nope, not always true. In fact, the particulars of rescheduling might cost you the original pay for the trip, and at least deprive you of extra time earned on previous days..even so called extra time could actually, in some cases, knock you out of your next trip and put you behind for the month, paywise.

This is a bigger onion than can be explained on this forum.

Good question, however, and thanks to whoever asked. And again.... I do not think it can be fully explained via email or forum postings.

Best, Greeter.

 

[flyastrojets]

Thank you all for the replies. I knew this wasn't going to be simple. 😀 My long ago piloting experience consists of only regional carrier time, so trip/duty rigs were not something I had.

Thanks again for the answers. Very informative!

 

[Crzipilot]

Although some airlines, have in the contract, full pay for cancellations. I.E. flight cancels, no matter how your rescheduled downline, you get paid for all the cancelled segments. Or, If you are rescheduled, you are paid the better of what you were scheduled or what you actually flew. This is irregardless of any rigs or such.