Originally Posted by
acl65pilot
Yes, but if the more senior pilots are smart, they will bid off the last 12 days of the month. This is the most likely time that the more junior pilots RAW's will be below theirs.
I understand what you are saying, but there will always be a group that gets flow more. Junior guys will always go first in the first part of the month, and the more senior pilots will go second. Lets say the most junior are off the first half and the most senior are off the second half, it means that the most senior sit the first half well the bottom 1/3 with no bidding authority sit at home and the middle 1/3 work. In the next 1/3 of the month the senior pilots are still senior and the most junior start to filter in. They work first. Once we hit the last 12 days of the month the most senior 1/3 are off well the 1/3 most junior work and the middle 1/3 sit.
I saw it last month and for the senior guys that are paying attention, I am seeing it this month. You can tell from the wide report which senior pilots already figured out the game and strategically bid their off days.
Will it guarantee you not to work? No, but it greatly reduces you changes in months with there is little to no flying in the pot. As we get shorter in the spring and summer, it really does not matter.
That's exactly how a senior pilot should do it, but in your category with the size of some of your trips you can probably do it better than mine. The key is not to be available on a weekend on mine, if you are, you're flying. So you just have to bid weekends off and as many days off at the end. It can be done but there is a limit.
Because the thing is if you get, and this happened to me last month, if you get lumped in with the weekends ON group during the week (say only be available for 3 days starting mon) then out you go. You want to try and hide in the 4+ day available crowd for as long as you can if you're senior.