Originally Posted by gooddeal

Humbly put...I see 6 distinct characteristics within the pilot group (ranked smallest to largest):

- Union reps: always quick to defend what they do and justify how they do it. Truth is, in an labor group that's all about more for less, it's just one avenue to gain while usurping seniority. So if you can get yours there, go for it I guess...can't hate that system as long as you can claim your stake there too. Want it changed? Get yourself elected and make the changes...can't wait to see the system improve.

- Over age 60 pilots: soaking up the cream of the cream under the current system; barely affected by union reps, management or check pilots. Free to fly like its 1999 and usually worst offenders of the statement "I'm pretty much a 'by the book' guy". Classiest moments are boisterous complaints of flying 1.5x Premium Pay, overlaid on vacation pay but picked up on Saturday or Sunday....boo hoo.

- Ages 50-55 pilots below top 50 seniority: could be the bitterest bracket in the group. Should've had theirs by now, not made whole post-Kasher, can't hold weekends off still. How many position reports left until LIH do I have left to endure some of the blackest hearts in the cockpit? LIH, KOA, OGG at $200+/hr on a day that touches a weekend sounds a lot better than any a.m. show for OAK-ABQ-TUL-STL-MDW...but I probably do not have the big picture. Oh, you still have a retirement? Cool beans man....oddly you're not worried about scope protection...noted.

- Hired post-Kasher thru age 65 enactment: battle hardened and accepted life as it is. I have to get less while doing more? FML....at least you people in front of me had time in the sun getting paid with trip touching and the likes. We fear and expect nothing...just hope someday it will improve.

- New hires circa 2013: rose colored glasses and for good reason too. Came in under newest contract, only seen growth and expansion, record profits, only with the threat of not receiving the 8th JD Power award. Wear a hat? "I'll wear two, sir!" They are the future of the company and still believing they won the lottery...hope they never lose that momentum.

- Everybody else: meatiest part of the group who show up, do their job and go home. Less about PA announcements or single-engine taxi and more about flying that safe jet. Keepers of the motto "Don't fix what isn't broken" and bored to tears being managed with the lens brought on by the worst 2% offenders. Accustomed to the frequent visits by the Good Idea Fairy from management into the FOM or FH and usually shrug off its impact. Once more unto the breach, dear friends...

Still a good place to work, regardless of your group. Anything I may complain about has about 1.5% total weight compared with idea of working elsewhere. The grass isn't greener, just sometimes talked about more. Just make the way we do our jobs easier and maybe management show up at gates around the system and tell crews good job, even for ordinary events. (Because right now if you show up at a gate, would likely think the worst, first).

I'm probably wrong...fire away...I'm logging in to buy a new free hat now.