Ferd;
As I read it, Sailings point is that we by nature of what we are doing requires large shifts. His point that marketing may not want to commit like that is what is salient.

I have worked under an APA type system, and it looks four months out. With a shift as large and drastic as this, we would be in a lot of hurt with a a four month window. The AE system allows large fluctuation and changes that they are seeing in to late this year or next. Perfect? No, not at all, as we can see with all of the reinstatement bids. What this does though is allow anyone that was MD and reinstated a chance that they will not get converted from the old bid. Many of those pilots were not to train till later this year.

Under an APA type system the pilots are awarded then trained in a more near picture sort of scheme. The AE process allows them to plan training in the winter months, months out. APA would not allow that. They would be looking at Dec staffing in Aug. As we have seen that changes and it would result in many people training then converting again. AE awards allow a ton of flex.

I process in between would probably work best for all.