I, personally, take issue that bids open on the tenth, close on the 14th, and awards can't even be out until beyond the 20th...leaving VERY little room to fix problems found during the award process - or even during the bid process.

I've made my issue with that known to those I'm close to.

However, like I said man, the folks who are volunteering on your behalf need to know your concerns. I'm not trying be firm on this, but the reality is that our pilot group is some of the most passive pilots when it comes to actually picking up their phones or sending an e-mail out to their elected representatives. A great deal of work is being done to improve on this, but your MEC can only make new forms of communication tools available to the pilot group...that if the actual pilots don't take advantage of them, then what good has that work accomplished?

In the end, the Association can only work within the boundaries the Company's crew planners (KH and team) have established. It should be made perfectly clear that the Association's PWG spent A GREAT deal of time trying to find the best solution for EVERYONE. Sure, some made out better, and some made out worse.

I knew from the first month snafu with PBS that the Association would have to step in for MANY months to come. Problems will continue to come up. Issues will still develop, and personally - I feel a large part of it is the timeline we are working in, from bid to award, and finally reserve additional days off bidding and awards. However, I made a few phone calls, spent some time looking over the data and came away with a much better understanding of what has happened, and can possibly happen during the whole process.

So hey...I can only suggest it to you once again. Not in a cynical nature, but in an honest to goodness - pilot to pilot - discussion. Pick up your phone, open up your e-mail, and reach out to a few folks who might be able to shed some light on WHY reserve staffing is up, and who is responsible for that decision...and how that decision was reached, and WHY it was reached.

Otherwise, you'll never know. Only an idea my friend. Take it if you want, but the door is wide open...and the phone numbers and e-mail addresses are out there for you to use. It's up to you to actually reach on out and get the information you really need.

When I'm ****ed about something at this Company, I can only run around in circles so many times before I need to sit down and get a better understanding of WHY. I have no reservations about calling my elected representatives or volunteers and putting them on the spot as necessary. You shouldn't either.

Good luck. Maybe next month will be better for you. Equipment and seat though? I'm a fairly junior CR2 FO and have been able to be quite happy with my PBS awards over the past few months...and haven't ever had to rely on Select All Remaining Pairings to build me a regular line.