Originally Posted by Kingbird87

The Flight Release issue, so well dredged up here is indicative of the concerns I have about Flight Operations Mgt. as a whole. The top portion of the Flight Release is signed by the Captain and the Dispatcher that it is safe to operate the flight. It contains information critical to immediate decision making, communications with ATC regarding emergencies, weight and balance, fuel minimums and routing. It ought to contain alternate requirements, MEL items and contact numbers, but the one I get does not. I use it to brief the cabin crew, when I walk back to talk to the agents, when I call dispatch and to record changes in routing, clearances, MEL updates and anything I want to use to increase my S.A. If I should have any sort of abnormal, deviation from plan or incident, I take it home with me to record items for follow up items like ASAP, ASR, Security incidents, and crew management problems. I record oil monitors, reference MEL items without digging, and call my dispatcher and talk to him If I leave the cockpit. And in spite of all the good reasons for each pilot to have a copy of the release, there is only one that comes off the printer when I prepare to fly.
It has been called whining, it has been called unnecessary and somehow I don't get it. It is in my opinion, a good idea and one that is a no or minimal cost fix. If you don't think the uses I described are of any value, don't bother. Until something as obviously positive as this is implemented, the merger synergies are just lip service.