Originally Posted by
hoover
Probably because that senior FO takes a vacation bid from another FO.
Except that by not upgrading to Capt, the Lance allowed the next person to upgrade, so it made no difference to the people junior to both of them.
Takes a very good line then gives it away and flys cpt trips
So? It's their line. Lots of folks bid "good" lines and give/trade them away. I haven't flown my awarded line since before ELITT started.
[quote]and also takes a spot away from someone who wants to upgrade for technically forever, until it was changed to one yr max. /quote]
Umm, if a lance bypasses a capt slot, the next guy gets it, and so did all the other folks below him until that person made the jump. Every lance meant another capt slot for someone junior to him/her. They also get last dibs at upgrade training, because regular capts get priority.
The purpose for the lance program is no longer there. We have plenty of guys who will upgrade and aren't short captains that we cant make.
Still if given the opportunity and I want to wait that long I'd lance for a yr.
It was a loss for the entire pilot group. They truly were the grease that kept the flexibility machine going. I haven't been a lance for over 18 years, and I am still bummed that we destroyed it in 2009. Everyone is working harder for less flexibility these days.