I was jumpseating into ANC today, and saw a couple of Atlas 747s on our ramp. I couldn't help but think, why are we still using charter planes to carry our freight, when we are on the brink of furloughing (4a2b excuse) pilots. It seems to me, that the company has always said, that they only use Atlas, and other charter companies, in order to compensate for seasonal increases in freight, that would otherwise be lost. That in itself is acceptable, if all our available planes are flying, and all our crews, regardless of aircraft, or domicile, are flying normal schedules. But, if we are so strapped for freight, that we are overmanned, and are parking our own planes, and cut most pilots wages by 30% plus, then it also seems to me, that there should be restrictions on the use of these charter planes, during these tough economic times. Just as 4a2b is written to prevent a furlough, why can't the charter contracts be written such that during thin times, THEY have to take a reduction in their flying as well, in order to prevent them from losing their contract. Where is the priority here? Protecting our own flying, or protecting the flying of the contract carriers? I feel that if our flying is down 30%, then they should cut loose the charter carriers, and let Fedex pilots do the flying of Fedex freight, until it gets to the point again, where we don't have the capacity to carry that freight. How about, in the next contract, replacing 4a2b with, "In order to prevent a furlough, all charter contracts are cancelled first" THEN, have some version of 4a2b, that is not so easily abused. Well, back to doing my November bid, and select amongst the 55 credit hour lines......

And I was in such a good mood after the Phillies beat Colorado last night.....