Originally Posted by CX500T

Dude, half or more CAN roll thunder. I did it in April as 100% in category. There was NOBODY junior to me that was actually flying (some in OE/Sims/Converted but none actually flying)

Manning is so bad that you don't have to be a top 10 percenter. I was just very flexible with days off, wanted a day off (that I worked it to have a PB day on) and was honestly trying to make up for being out on Mil Leave for over a year which was a 40% paycut from ER FO pay. . (I am not the usual paygrade you would expect a reserve pilot of my age to be, to put it mildly)

I could have rolled thunder 2 more months since if I cared to, but I valued the days I had off more. I did take a couple tactical GSs to get PB days on days I wanted off in July and August. This "only half can ever roll thunder" is a crock of crap. Maybe in some senior category, but not in NYC NB Captain, any NY FO except maybe 330, and ATL FO. Have friend who are somewhere in the "can't hold a line if they wanted to" seniority range that could roll thunder. Manning is that bad.