Originally Posted by
MaxKts
Hey Ham, I didn't see a lot of guys bailing out of the FLEX jobs because the system was gutted. These guys are still making more than the average line pilot, they just aren't making it as easy. So, I don't think there is a problem filling FLEX jobs with line pilots.
The problem is the company doesn't know what to do with all the herpes that won't go away. If they make them all FE's then they only get to use them once or twice a decade because they can sit reserve, call in sick and use vacation to never actually see a 27 Panel. By making them FLEX they actually get some use out of them for the money spent keeping them around.
Let's hope the age 60 retroactive issue gets resolved one way or the other soon.
So you're saying that only the over 60 guys are sitting reserve, using their earned sick time (that the company won't pay them for otherwise), and their earned vacation to not work? Sort of sounds like a lot of guys I know, who live in domicile and are fairly senior. As you well know, that's been going on here since before you hit puberty.
As for over 60 guys (or any other guys, for that matter) being qualified on one jet and flexing on another, I had called FedEx ALPA about this issue and DM got back to me last night, saying that: "there's only one guy in this situation; the union knew about it; and besides it's allowable in the contract."