So far, I have not been very happy over the last few years with the pairing construction from KK (remember he's in charge of the pairing construction). But I also don't want Crew Services running the pairing construction either. KK has been too bias toward FLL and Crew Services would build the most unproductive pairings seen to date.
Why do I say Crew Services will build the worst pairings seen to date? Well, you see, the perfect schedule for Crew Services would be for each pilot to only 4-5 hours per day, with everyone working 16-18 days a month. Why? Everyone will still fly 80-90 hours per month (because they have to, to survive on our pay scale). This will not require more pilots, but it will result in more pilots being at base each day (because it will take 30-50% more pilots to fly the same number of hours each day). Each and every one of these pilots will have lots of duty day and rest and never time-out early or go illegal for the next days trip. Every pilot will then be available to be "junior manned" to help with IROPS for 1 or even 2 legs (depending on the leg). It is the perfect schedule for Crew Services and a nightmare for pilots! Plus we have no rig or daily guarantee to force productivity in the schedules. We will become servants with no quality life. Plus, it will solve the reserve problems we currently have. No need to increase reserves, just junior man as many pilots you need to fix the schedule. Just plain scary!
I would much rather have a group of pilot(s) building the pairigns than Crew Services. However I think this group of pilots should be like our Asst Cheif pilots. Removed from the bidding process, so that they are not influenced by the fact that they are directly affecting their own schedule. They should not have a dog in the race if they make the schedule. They should get their 90hrs per month (just like Asst Chief Pilots), but fly a minimum number of trips/days per month with trips assigned by Crew Services from opentime the day prior (like a reserve augmentee). That way no bias on the pairings, and we keep pilots in charge of the pairings.
If Crew Services starts building the pairings, watch out!
Just my opinion....
FNG