I'm no expert on what numbers go into the manning formula, if it's based on block hours in category, there should be no change regardless of how many hours each pilot picks up, right? BUT...if there is a component in the formula that measures reserve utilization, well, that will only cut manning.
If a bunch of guys are flying 124 hours by swapping their 29-32hr. trips for two 62 hr. trips, there won't be as much open time to be covered by reserves, (roughly half as much) so they won't be flying nearly as much, not that they fly all that much anyway. Most don't fly at all from what I've been told.
A couple years ago I had three F/O's in a row who had not flown a trip in:
7mo., 9mo. and 12mo.!
They have not replaced -any- of the Captains who have retired this year, what does that tell you? Either we were over staffed a year ago, or they are shrinking the category, or both. But if guys are going to be allowed to fly 124/mo, well...
