First, don't get me wrong --- I think the new duty rules should apply to cargo pilots for safety reasons, but my statement is just about the much more general debate on...how guys hired behind you effect your QOL ---- IMHO they don't

My QOL is a function of my "bid power"

How much of the bid pack, which I want to fly, can I control...??

For me, as a commuter, it's "hard lines"

So I'm concerned about "hard line bidpack control"

If one also likes sitting Reserve, an increase in the choices there would be a valid improvement --- but if you like B reserve, and they just add on more A reserve and R24 lines that won't really affect your QOL

You could argue, others more senior to you may take those A reserve or R24 lines, and that too would be a valid argument, but my point is too many guys get caught up in what they're bidding percentage wise --- or even the raw number

My question to them --- but how is your bidpack?

...stable, growing, declining??

Many senior guys in the 727 who tried to ride that plane into the sunset found out the hard way --- and many Airbus & MD-11 guys are slowly learning that too

Of course, if some of our trips were to change because of new limitations --- no more 2 leg trips into and out of a hub turn --- then yes, that improves QOL, but that's changing another variable in our discussion --- my statement was more about ""with all else equal"

If I recall correctly, the FAA duty limit for our most common hub turn trips would be reduced to about 11 hrs

Many of the trips would still be flyable/turnable, but there wouldn't be much wiggle room

Pilots would "time out" much quicker when bad weather affected the sort & outbound launch in MEM, IND, EWR etc...and the company would have no magic "operational emergency" wand to increase your duty day.

The company would be forced to have a lot more guys sitting Reserve --- most likely A Reserve

Or R24 guys sitting Hotel Stbys

I believe Fedex stated they'd have to hire about 800 more pilots and that's how they showed such a large increase in costs

Some Bottom line thoughts relative to the statement being debated...

I see a lot of guys starting to get excited about the 200 pilots Fedex mgmt is "authorized" to hire next year

OK --- that's an increase in my job security

However, I'll truly get excited when I see the retirements reach/exceed that same number

IMHO, that's when I'll see my "hard line bidpack power" and QOL truly increase

(...all else equal, of course)