Had the chance to meet our 757 oversight Fed at a speaking engagement last spring, who advised we'd love the 757 AQP program. He referred to it as "..no pilot left behind..." I've been chuckling on that one ever since.

 

Something to think about here. The Boeings are drawing down, correct? I think we're down to less than 160 lines or so in the bidpack. I think most of the junior F/O's will be leaving for other airplanes if they can hold them while the dinosaurs stay until they get excessed. Your percentage is likely going backwards between now and 2012. I think I'm going to switch to the bus, but not for a while (on mil leave til Oct 08). I have no hope of holding my hometown until the two guys currently flying it get hip replacements and go on disability.

 

I'm bidding off on the next bid. But, that could be two years from now. Who knows.

 

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Or load their bags in Indy without checking six.

I was there that night--it sucked. Life lesson # 238,328 I picked up that night....Don't ever turn your back on vehicles in loading zones. IMHO, if you sit your bag down 3 feet out to the side of the car, hand over a tip, and then get in, the limo driver (especially if at Indy) will understand. Never get between a parked car and cars still in motion. (Sounds obvious in hindsight but it wasn't....)

 

Albie, are you staying on the Boeing?

 

Purple,
Atleast you won't have to figure out all those strange 3 letter identifiers throughout the world, since you are staying on the steam gauges. You should come to ANC, sandy beaches and all, plus you'll be junior to me!!! R24's! TPE is great by the way. H

 

I didn't hear about that incident. I take it someone was hurt? I was trying to get a laugh, but not at someone's real-life misfortune!

 

No, I know you meant no harm. I am still in shock after seeing Exxxss Mxxxx get hurt in Indy a few weeks back. His crew and my crew rode the bus from the jets to the security exit point. He was leading the line, I was in the back, and while loading his bags in a hotel van a limo came up behind him and crushed his legs. A solid crew and a helpful MD-11 captain kept him as safe as possible while we waited for the ambulences. All I could do was offer a few reassuring words and encouragement at the time--felt absolutely powerless. A young, fit, and vibrant dude--hurtin' like hell after the most routine of things we do nightly on the line... After 2 back surgeries and a few (wow, that was close!) type stories in fighters, to see a guy hurt so bad doing a bag drop was both tragic and ironic. Good news is prognosis is good--you may have seen some emails or FCIFs. Lesson learned (and not being a wise @ss here) is head on a swivel at ALL times and don't get between pieces of moving equipment as a matter of routine. We darn sure ain't the only ones fatigued at 1 am....

 

Yep. I like the cities, the crews, and the jet. I can't hold Christmas vacation, but I get the weeks in the summer I want and really cannot complain about my life. Only complain I have is losing day flying and some nice cities to the bus, but not sure I could hold those trips on the 'bus yet anyway. MD-11 has appeal as a JET, but not really interested in Dubai, Hong Kong, or much longer than a 3 day trip with horses and daughters to supervise. I also have a faint hope of being a 727 captain one day, and rather than leave and come back I'm waiting a while to see if I get lucky on one of these bids. However, age 65 legislation may put me in the "stuck a while" category, so I'll roll with whatever happens.