Originally Posted by
Skyward
Exactly! It seems we’re opening up negotiations on Section 1 in exchange for the senior guys to remain high flyers. It’s nice that the cargo flights will pay premium, but I don’t believe it will equate to more flying for the group as a whole. It will just be absorbed on a senior pilot’s days off. I would rather see it built into the bid packet so more pilots would be required to stay on the seniority list to cover it.
Never flown a charter as my seniority can't hold them, but if you think cargo is a bad thing because it will only go to senior guys, then I think you need to re-examine your thinking.
First - any extra revenue flying is a good thing. It all trickles down the seniority list, as it is designed to do.
Second - check out the open time cap in the contract. I have been awarded many trips where I was not even close to the senior bidder. I have been "out bid" by 140000 number guys for the same reason.
I am pretty open time savvy, and I have watched for years as the supply and demand have ebbed (mainly) and flowed. Any and all flying is good. There will be some who game the system, but the damage done by these individuals is far outweighed by the good that extra flying brings to the whole group. Any time we restrict ourselves out of jealousy, we only hurt the 99 percent of us who are doing things right.