Originally Posted by
Sink r8
Offhand, I can't think of a better fix, to a more hated part of Section 23, than going to the bucket system vs. straight RAW scores. Along with other minor improvements, such as being able to high yellow only specific trips, it's actually made Reserve livable again.
The biggest thing that needed work was SC. We improved. Then added more SC. I'm not sure if that's a one step forward and one back.
Originally Posted by
Sink r8
If there is flying, the senior guy can't sit out the whole month at the "expense" of junior guys, not for long anyway, because the bucket system eventually catches up. The only exception occurs when we are very fat, and other pilots are very hungry, at which point there is a difference between guys that hold week-ends off, and those who don't. The difference isn't about the bucket system, since the senior guy in the lower bucket IS first to go. The difference is that the guys poach-swapping the open time don't have as great an appetite for week-end flying. Fix the cap, fix the PCS/SB/SWF issues, and the Reserve system works as intended. Hell, progression works as intended, hiring works as intended, the US government probably starts running a surplus, and SW pilots even stop butchering kittens.
I know flying and staffing levels will eventually catch up and nobody will get the celebrated month off, but, when it comes to domestic categories I also believe the company will catch up.
But the more I think about it the more I'm okay with senior only but if we're going back to "the way it was" then I want the bow wave back at the same time or no dice.