Originally Posted by
Proximity
Disagree...STC in good, if used properly...which is to break long trips into chunks that more pilots are legal for.
My observation is that the company is using it wrong. They purposely split trips, export to other bases, create unneeded DHs that risk mis-connects and reduce available seats to sale. Often times they will burn through reserves needlessly and create trips that cost the company more then just having one pilot flying it premium.
All of the above is currently benefiting me. I don't mind going out for 4 days to block 6 hours and start late/finish early for 26 trips. Or bidding all pieces of a STC trip and being paid for all the DH. However, The reason I support SWAPA's idea to rig all open time is that what is currently happening is wasteful and measures need to be enacted to protect the company from itself.
I completely agree that rigged open time would make STC a completely different animal.
But we didn't have that when STC was injected into the contract, and like most of the stuff we've saddled ourselves with over the years, the results were completely predictable, and not in a good way. All STC has accomplished is to ensure max reserve utilization.
FWIW, when we voted for the current rigs in '02(?), the vast majority (sound familiar?) of the group thought they'd apply to ALL flying. Of course, SWApA did nothing to allay that notion.