You can set these parameters for both run templates and queued runs.
Template Parameters | Explanation |
Name | |
Category (runs only) | |
Schedule Parameters | Explanation |
Max Iterations | The maximum number of pairings the N-PBS Scheduler is allowed to try awarding a block. The N-PBS Scheduler divides this number by the maximum possible completion attempts that can be made to determine the maximum number per completion attempt. When the N-PBS Scheduler reaches the maximum number, it stops the current completion attempt and moves on to the next completion attempt for this block. Minimum value: 1 000 000. Maximum value: 99 999 999. Suggested value: 5 000 000 to 10 000 000.
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Max SLG Iterations | The maximum number of pairings the N-PBS Scheduler is allowed to try awarding an SLG block. The N-PBS Scheduler divides this number by the maximum possible completion attempts that can be made to determine the maximum number per completion attempt. When the N-PBS Scheduler reaches the maximum number, it stops the current completion attempt and moves on to the next completion attempt for this block. Minimum value: 2 000 000. Maximum value: 20 000 000. Default value: 4 000 000.
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Max Pairing Lines | Bidder is shadow on every day of the period and all awards are shadows. Does not Count. Bidder is shadow on some days of the period (not all), but all of their pairing awards are shadow. Does not count. Bidder is shadow on some days of the period (not all), they get a mixture of shadow and non-shadow pairing awards. Counts toward Max Pairing Lines. Bidder is shadow on some days of the period (not all), all of their awards are non-shadow. Counts toward Max Pairing Lines. This will be configured for ASH only.
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Max Swap Depth | The maximum length of a swap chain consisting of pairings being moved among various blocks and open pairings. Minimum value: 0 (zero); no swapping is performed if set to 0 and schedule quality will be lower. Maximum value: 5001000. Suggested value: 250.
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Max Reserves | The maximum number of reserve blocks that the N-PBS Scheduler is allowed to award. If the maximum number of reserve blocks has been awarded, Crewmembers that the N-PBS Scheduler can’t create a block for are given empty blocks. If this run template is not used for parent runs, set the maximum number of reserves to more than your total number of crewmembers. If this run template is used for parent runs where Crewmembers may need to be moved to the associated child run (i.e. ICs that may need to be bumped to the FA run), only set the maximum number of reserves you need to accommodate Crewmembers who specifically bid for a reserve block; any crewmembers who don’t receive a block are automatically moved to the child run and receive a block from that run.
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Min Open Credit | |
Max Followed By Time | |
Use Language Assignment | Check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to use language assignments and restrictions when awarding pairings. This option is checked by default, and should remain checked; it should only be unchecked if you are certain that you want no language processing to occur.
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Max Stat Day Bank | |
Use Only Sys-Gen Bids | Check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to ignore any bids submitted by Crew members and do a run using only the default bid preferences (Award Pairings and Award Line Reserve). A Use Only Sys-Gen Bids run is usually done for analysis purposes, and provides feasibility information as well as a baseline for comparison with runs using crewmember bids.
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Credit Window Parameters | Explanation |
Normal | |
Max Credit | |
Min Credit | |
Max Min Credit Honored | The maximum number of Crewmembers that can bid for and receive a minimum credit block Any crewmembers above this number receive a block within the regular credit window Suggested value: more than the number of Crewmembers, unless you want a specific restriction.
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Max Max Credit Honored | The maximum number of Crewmembers that can bid for and receive a maximum credit block. Any crewmembers above this number receive a block within the regular credit window. Suggested value: more than the number of Crewmembers, unless you want a specific restriction.
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Reduced Lower Limit (RLL) | The minimum (low) credit value, maximum (high) credit value and threshold for all RLL credit Crewmember blocks. The High value cannot be edited, it is directly tied into the Normal high credit value, and always has the exact same value.
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Max RLL Lines | |
RLL Cutoff (Eligible Bidders) | Indicates the cutoff person - all bidders below this number will have their RLL bids ignored . Senior people down to and including the cutoff person can be awarded a RLL block. The cutoff person is identified by counting all eligible bidders in seniority order - a bidder flagged as Ineligible is not counted, a reduced-block bidder is counted but will not receive a RLL block.
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Normal Reduced Block | |
Min Credit Reduced Block | |
Max Credit Reduced Block | |
Fill to Threshold with Award Pairings | Check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to try and fill blocks to the threshold value, rather than the minimum value. Blocks that reach the minimum value but not the threshold value may have shuffling performed on them to get them above the threshold. As long as the block is above the minimum value, Denial mode will not be triggered to get the block above the threshold value if this option is turned on.
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UnStacking Parameters | Explanation |
Use Unstacking | Check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to force pairings onto blocks as a result of stacks. If this option is turned off, the N-PBS Scheduler considers stack height when awarding pairings, but won’t force pairings on to blocks.
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Max Passes | The maximum number of passes through the data that will be attempted by the system in order to achieve acceptable results. This number is dependent on the size of the base and the parameters set for stack height, threshold, etc. The first pass is usually the slowest, and subsequent passes are much quicker than the first pass. Suggested value: 20 to 30.
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Max Stack Height | Maximum allowable number of mutually exclusive open pairings in any given critical period, at the end of the run. This value is also used as the maximum number of mutually exclusive open pairings requiring any specific language (language pairing stack height), and the maximum number of total lines-worth of open pairings requiring any specific language (language credit stack height). Minimum value: 2. Suggested values: 4 for categories with less than 300 people 8 for categories with 500 to 1000 people 12 for categories with more than 1000 people larger max stack height values result in faster runs, but more pairings left in open time.
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Priority Stack Date | Check box that lets you set the triggered stack that is forced onto blocks first, before any other triggered stacks. The priority stack date only affects the order that pairings get forced onto blocks after the stack associated with that date is triggered. This option helps to ensure that seniority for a specific date isn’t violated by unstacking.
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Min Open Credit Percent | |
Min Open Credit Time | |
Note:
The Max Passes value limits the number of attempts the N-PBS Scheduler makes to satisfy the other run parameters.
If the N-PBS Scheduler can meet all of your run parameters (i.e. max stack height), it stops after the first successful pass. Once the N-PBS Scheduler reaches the maximum number of passes, it completes the run and returns the results from the pass that came closest to succeeding.
Language Unstacking Parameters | Explanation |
Language | A list of languages that use max stack height values that are different from the standard max stack height Languages listed here are usually those languages that have either a very small number or a very large number of qualified Crewmembers, and need an adjusted max stack height in order to be processed most effectively by the N-PBS Scheduler.
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Max Stack Height By Language | |
Disallow language credit unstacking for all languages | |
Disallow language credit unstacking for selected languages | |
Suggested Formula for Setting AM/PM/ER Reserve Parameters
To calculate your reserve parameters, multiply the number of reserve line holders by the maximum reserve days an FA can be awarded, divide this number by the number of days in the period and subtract 25 percent from this total.
The formula can be represented by R * D / P - 25%
You will need to use this calculation twice, once for AM/PM coverage, and once for ER coverage.
Values
R = the number of reserve line holders (AM/PM or ER)
D = number of reserve days a FA can be awarded (15 AM/PM days and 3 ER days)
P = number of days in the period (30 or 31)
25% = 10% for pre-assigned activities and 15% for system flexibility
Pairing Rule Parameters FAR 117_11 | Explanation |
Enforce Max Block From Exceptions Table | When checked, the N-PBS Scheduler will enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that is subject to an exception value and has been constructed illegally to exceed that exception value will be illegal to award in N-PBS. When unchecked, the N-PBS Scheduler will not enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that is subject to an exception value and has been constructed illegally to exceed that exception value will be legal to award in N-PBS.
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Enforce Max Block For Augmented Duties | When checked, the N-PBS Scheduler will enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that has been constructed to exceed the maximum on an augmented duty will be illegal to award in N-PBS. When unchecked, the N-PBS Scheduler will not enforce the max flight time from the Exceptions Table - a pairing that has been constructed to exceed the maximum on an augmented duty will be legal to award in N-PBS.
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Suggested Formula for Setting Reserve Parameters
To calculate your reserve parameters, multiply the number of reserve line holders by the maximum reserve days an FA can be awarded, divide this number by the number of days in the period and subtract 25 percent from this total.
The formula can be represented by R * D / P - 25%
You will need to use this calculation twice, once for AM/PM coverage, and once for ER coverage.
Values
R = the number of reserve line holders (AM/PM or ER)
D = number of reserve days a FA can be awarded (15 AM/PM days and 3 ER days)
P = number of days in the period (30 or 31)
25% = 10% for pre-assigned activities and 15% for system flexibility
Reserve Parameters | Explanation |
Weekday Minimum / Maximum | |
AM/PM/ER
Min and Max Reserves Per Day | |
Weekend Minimum / Maximum | |
Priority Stack Date | Check box that lets you set the triggered stack that is forced onto blocks first, before any other triggered stacks. The priority stack date only affects the order that pairings get forced onto blocks after the stack associated with that date is triggered. This option helps to ensure that seniority for a specific date isn’t violated by unstacking.
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Use Unstacking | Check box that tells the N-PBS Scheduler to force pairings onto blocks as a result of stacks If this option is turned off, the N-PBS Scheduler considers stack height when awarding pairings, but won’t force pairings onto blockslines.
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Unstacking Method | |
Max Passes | The maximum number of passes through the data that will be attempted by the system in order to achieve acceptable results. This number is dependent on the size of the base and the parameters set for stack height, threshold, etc.. The first pass is usually the slowest, and subsequent passes are much quicker than the first pass. Suggested value: 20 to 30.
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Customized Min and Max Reserves Per Day | |
Number of Day Off Blocks | |
Number of Reserve Days in a Row | |
Number of Days Off in a Row | |
Parent Run Parameters | Explanation |
Reserves | A value used to increase the minimum number of reserve blocks assigned to members of the parent category; if the number of reserve blocks assigned by the parent run is less than this number, the N-PBS Scheduler assigns additional reserve blocks to the most senior available parent category crewmembers, before launching the run. If the N-PBS Scheduler can’t find enough ICs without a block to assign additional reserve blocks to, it dumps the pairings awarded to the most junior ICs into open time and awards them a reserve block instead.
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Run | |
Notes:
You can only have one parent for a run. However, depending on how your categories are configured, you can select a parent run that has a parent run of its own. For example, if you need to create a Captain-First Officer-Flight Attendant chain, the Flight Attendant run can have a First Officer parent run that has a Captain parent run associated with it, creating a chain with three links.
You can only have one parent for a run. However, depending on how your categories are configured, you can select a parent run that has a parent run of its own. For example, if you need to create a Captain-First Officer-Flight Attendant chain, the Flight Attendant run can have a First Officer parent run that has a Captain parent run associated with it, creating a chain with three links.
Call Types Parameters | Explanation |
| Use - select the checkbox inside the name of the call type to award the call type in a run. Once Use is selected, the fields in the pane become active. Target Height - enter a number in the Weekday and Weekend field and select the Apply Defaults button. This automatically adds the number to the date below based on whether it is a weekend or not. Awards will not exceed the number you have chosen.
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