Originally Posted by grasshopper

I read it....FTB is right. It is entirely possible to downgauge mainline and create the ratios that are our "protection."

I understand block hours but do you really think they are going to just let some airframes sit around doing nothing? They are going to fly the crap out of every piece of metal here just like they should. Domestically it should be pretty close all around.

So if I retire 767-300 and fill it's capacity with 737x3daily...I've just helped meet that ratio. Also if I then terminate some of the uneconomical routing to small communities, I further improve the protection ratio. So I want to know where this big movement is going to happen.

I've never heard anyone say anything about "growth." We may hire a few prematurely but it will be more to flatten the hiring bubble at mainline. Overall it will be a permanent net loss as we are outsourcing more airframes permanently. If they don't have it, they won't use it. I just wonder how much then new work rules will really reduce the expanded mainline frequency manning requirements.

I'm not saying there aren't merits to this TA...it's just that it ain't nearly as rosy as everyone is trying to sell me.