You get 1080 hours a year obligation to AA and once past that in a rolling 12 months, your schedule drops.

Doing the math it's 90 hours a month credit. If you can exceed that, you get months off. Example, if you can do 98 hours a month for 11 months, you get a free month off. Somewhere on CnR someone wrote with 102.5 hours a month, you get two months off. Not quite sure how that works but that is what they wrote.

People bag on IMAX but what most don't realize is guys get the credit by trying not to fly, vs flying hard block. Someone working a hard block line of 75-85 hours a month will most likely operate (ie FAR block time) more than the guy shooting for IMAXing at a higher credit. FAR block is the enemy of IMAXers, and since the company staffs on FAR block, they don't really impact the company ability to staff.

Another benefit is IMAX is essentially unpredictable. The company can meter vacation, training (less in summer etc), but when people hit IMAX the SHTF and the company has to scramble to cover (potentially causing additional IMAX timeouts).

It takes effort to achieve but is most certainly doable. Being in a large bid status with options for trips, along with weather cancels etc really helps.

Many do not want to put forth the effort to hit it, this is fine but it's a pretty powerful tool if used. If you elect to work over the IMAX months, you can pick up premium all month long and really supercharge your earnings if that is the direction you want to go.

The wb guys have a good shot at it, because of less FAR rules and credit times. I knew a 777 FO who was doing something like 150 credit a month. He can hit IMAX in eight months and then take four off. Crazy stuff like that. NB guys more have to rely on weather cancels and timing out conflicts.