You know I will be honest...

In thinking about the flow, I think more than 20 for all of 2010 is extremely optimistic. With the DAL furloughs and Poolies - I can't imagine that there will be many of our people going up to DAL. At least this year.

Now don't get me wrong while I am NOT a proponent of the flow, I want anybody who wants to go to DAL to be able to. I would also be lying if I didn't say I benefit from the flow because I think the number for me to stay a Captain is between 30 and 40 flows. More than that and I may get the 900 in MSP.

My age, background, and education prevent me from flowing. Plus I really am not that interested.

I know that a lot of people outside Mesaba think we are getting some kind of "Free Pass" with the flow. Maybe. But what most outsiders don't know is that DAL, DALPA, and Mesaba were the major players in the flow agreement. While the MEC helped with the language, the pilot group was never really part of the flow agreement. No matter what anyone says it was imposed on us.

I think it sets a bad precedent to have outside groups influence our hard fought labor agreement and I was very vocal about how I felt the pilot group should get to vote on the Flow. We didn't get that opportunity. So mainline gets furlough protection while we can get booted to the street or out of our position without the chance to vote no. Gets me mad thinking about it. I knew about seniority, long upgrade times, blended rates, commuting, and low pay. The flow wasn't a risk I signed up for.

Now for a flow, we have done pretty good. However at 9 a month it will take many years for the middle of the seniority list to get their chance. Funny part is Mesaba is going to be furloughing yet the company will not even discuss the option of increasing the number of flows. How can the company be afraid of flows under these circumstances? 9 flows a month yet furloughing 20...doesn't seem reasonable.

Anyway we have the flow. We are downsizing. And again we find ourselves the enemy of the free world for circumstances beyond most of our control.