I agree it sucks for most people and how they spent, I know it will suck of 80 more pilots regardless of the number of open time that is left untouched. Have you seen the average block at TSA, even the reserve guys at your airline would not take that line. I am like Ryan Reeve I do all I can to fly the bear minimum, if you look at the company trip trade/drop site my whole month schedule is available if anyone needs to fly more to save their job.

My point basically: We can encourage pilots not to pick up open time. But when it has to do with putting food on the table for their family, paying bills, having medical insurance screw everyone else they will do what they have to do. The guys in Bridgeton do not care and have never cared, so whether you pick up open time or not we are all going to be screwed from the behind.[/QUOTE]

THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS A QUOTE AND NOT MY WORDS

That is the exact same justification that people make for joining alter egos and crossing picket lines. I am not trying to say that not picking up open time will cure all the evils of this industry. If you have to put food on the table and it is such a dire situation, then you friend probably needs to consider a different occupation, regardless of how much he believes he loves flying. If there is so much open time available then it is a staffing issue and there doesnt need to be downgrades and furloughs. By picking up open time from a company that is actively participating in these practices all you are doing is encouraging it and showing them that they can operate on these reduced levels. Bottom line is companies that do this put pilots on the streets.