To answer 3 of your questions:

1. No one knows for sure if 4000 hours is our share of the sacrifice in DCI flying or if 4000 hours is the total block time to be spread out amongst all DCI carriers. One person says one thing, and one says another. I have RG next month and I'll ask the question directly then if we don't have a definite answer before then. I remember reading (sorry I can't remember where or provide a source) that DL was parking CHQ's E-135s sooner than projected. I believe they have 15 flying for DL. Someone from CHQ correct me if I am wrong on that, please. 15 airframes is quite a lot of flying certainly more than 4,000 hours worth, so CHQ will be sharing some of the pain, albeit short lived because they are supposed to be getting more 170s/175s shortly. Not sure if that has changed yet, though. So perhaps 4,000 hours is our share of the cuts.

2. QOL improves exponentially when you get off reserve. I sat CVG reserve for 2 years to the month and once I started holding a line, it was like a completely different job. No checking in with scheduling, no waiting on the pager to go off or phone to ring, no more sitting 6 ready reserves per month. The only time you talk to scheduling is during a displacement or reassignment; and even then if you play your cards right, you don't even have to talk to them. There is a good trick to self-notification with SBS anytime you want if you see a change or modification -- just check out and then check back in. I do that all the time (and I did it all the time on RSV) with no problem. Just check out, get notified, and check back in. Voila -- no talking to scheduling. Now, I must say that sitting RSV in CVG is a world of difference from JFK because you actually do fly on RSV in CVG and break guarantee -- including deadheading to JFK to fly JFK trips while JFK reserves are just sitting around doing nothing.

3. As far as an "announcement" coming on Tuesday -- if you hear a rumor here at Comair which is followed by "...and they'll announce it on Tuesday..." you can rest assured it's pure b.s. I've been here almost 4 years now and I've gotta tell ya, I have heard it all here. Everything from opening DFW, ATL, BOS bases, the Muellers buying us back, buying JetBlue/Being bought by JetBlue, Mesa buying us, Republic buying us, CVG closing all together (which may happen in a DL merger), getting E-170s (around pay freeze time in early '05). I could go on and on and on.

Take it for what it's worth. Comair really isn't all that bad if you don't hang around the crew lounge and listen to the moaning and griping and complaining. Pilots really are their own worst enemy when it comes to rumors and low morale. I make it a point not to hang out in ops just for that reason. The last thing I need is to hear something completely false that is going to ruin a 4 day trip for me.