I think the reason it's suddenly become a major issue is that combined with the September pullback and PBS it created the perfect storm that wreaked havoc on schedules across the system. The most junior lineholder FO anywhere in the system was around a March 18 hire. The number of FOs on reserve more than doubled in almost every base. This would not have happened even with the September pullback if the trips were not withheld.

This is something the pilot group needs to make clear is a central issue for the next round of negotiations. The company withholding-for-training clause disappears. Check airmen bid their seniority within PBS. If they are bidding for training in that given month, their trips are then bought away from their lineholding FOs when needed. End of story.

Our committees are unlikely to make this a priority because, as previously mentioned, the current system directly benefits many of them.