Can a pilot build or make his/her own roster by placing requests through the Preferential Bidding System (PBS)?

Can a pilot build or make his/her own roster by placing requests through the Preferential Bidding System (PBS)?

The PBS feature does not let a pilot build his/her roster. The PBS feature allows a pilot to place specific and general bids for trips/OFF’s and destinations. However, a pilot must understand that the PBS allows them to influence the outcome rather than building their own roster. Some suggestions provided below may lead to higher bid satisfaction for pilots. •    A pilot should avoid trying to build his/her roster by putting specific bids for trips on each day. Specific bids limit the system to only ONE option which is the trip that is requested. As opposed to a generic bid which would allow the system to choose from multiple available flights in the selected time period. Specific bids for flights should be used when a particular trip is important for a pilot. For example, let us consider a case where one pilot bids for a specific trip in the evening versus a pilot who bids for late finishes - the system would have more options for flights for the latter case.  •    To sum it up, the PBS works best if it has some maneuvering space. It may be beneficial for a pilot to place several generic bids based on the characteristics of the work they prefer and perhaps a few specific bids when a particular flight is important to him/her. •    The above is not to discourage a pilot from putting a specific bid but to help understand that specific bids for a trip are dependent on several other factors such as, rotational seniority, other pilots requesting for the same trip, etc. •    All pilots are encouraged to utilize the PBS as it is a great tool to help influence the final outcome of your roster. The system is designed to provide the best possible bid satisfaction for pilots keeping their bids, rotational seniority, and operational coverage in view. •    It is highly recommended that pilots review their bids before the closing of the bid period. This can be done using the “bid evaluation” feature in the PBS module in iCrew.    •    Please refer to latest C-NOTAM on the subject.