Source: www.unitedafa.org 

Earlier this week, Inflight Scheduling communicated changes to Unimatic programming related to standby (ONSB) positions.  The feedback from our Members suggests that this communication may not have been clear on what the change involves or how it affects Flight Attendants.

Inflight Scheduling has made changes to OPNTRP displays in Unimatic that will now reflect the number of days associated with particular ONSB positions. ONSB positions will now be displayed in a manner similar to how Open IDs have traditionally been displayed in the Open Trip file. The number of days associated with the ONSB position will be displayed in the “D” column of the OPNTRP screen in Unimatic.

These changes are to Unimatic programming only and are intended to ensure proper coverage for the operation.  The new automation provides the company with the ability to ensure the Reserve assigned to the ONSB period has the number of Reserve days of availability necessary to cover the longest ID departing during the period covered by the ONSB assignment.  Previously Crew Scheduling did this manually.  This change does not modify the way Flight Attendants on Reserve are assigned to ONSB.      

In the past, ONSB was built with the “+” indicating an open ended assignment.  Based on the new automation, while the ONSB may indicate a specific number of days for desired coverage, your availability will still be governed by your schedule of Reserve availability days in that block.  The result could be an assignment to an ID with more or less days than those designated in the ONSB period.  In every instance, however, the company must observe the number of scheduled day of availability in the Reserve block.