This contract changed the summer bid periods to 30 days from 31, eliminating an extra day off for reserves. This doesn't sound like much, but it had a significant effect on summer manning requirements. In fact, the most manning-limited month this year was March, not a summer month.

This manning concession may very well make it possible to keep instructors in the sim over the summer. However, I have also heard that manning will be "critical" on NB fleets.