The answer to your question is that it's irrelevant/does not apply to a CDO since it's all one duty period.

Not getting involved in the pro's/con's of CDO's argument.:)

Denny

Does anyone have any thoughts on how CDOs would affect staffing?

Denny,

It is relevant. I'm not asking about the legality. I totally understand how a CDO is legal (although not safe).

Sleep science has determined that the average person needs 8 hours of sleep in order to function best. The FAA has determined that this is applicable to pilots and flying. It was part of the thinking that went into FAR 117.

If you want to answer my question, you will need to answer it from the standpoint of safety, not legality.

You don't get 8 hours, but after years of actually doing SDTs, I know what makes a good one vs a bad one. We have many SDTs at 9E where you get 8 hours of sleep too. The key is the legs have to be under 1 hour, otherwise they are a nightmare.

Watch them. This will be ratified by the MEC without our input and the first time we see it will be after their vote.

Yes, it allows them to transfer even more flying from DCI to the mainline.

It's discouraging when "our" "union" acolytes here insist negotiations must be "give and take" when the company is this profitable.
If we can't make gains ...straight gains without offsets... now, then we are in a "death spiral."

Why do we need to give up anything?

I'd rather take it to a grievance than roll over again with what is obviously not a home run. If it was a home run, there would be no need to release it with a slick "notepad" or worse...after the MEC vote.

I wouldn't have a problem with it as long as you have the opportunity to get 8 hours of sleep at the hotel. But that's going to be at least 9 hours in the hotel room and, unless it's an extremely short flight you're now pushing the max duty limit. Doesn't seem very practical.

Just sent an email to my reps. CDO's are a bad idea and I don't think we want to go there. Since when is sacrificing safety ok if there is a financial reward for flying the trip? I don't see any scenario in which I would be able to honestly sign that fit for duty form in the morning after flying a 2 hour "redeye," getting 4 hours of sleep, then being back at the airport again at 0500. For the few guys that might like these trips, many of us will get to fly them by force. No thanks. Oh yeah, and any concession by this pilot group in the current financial environment is totally unacceptable. That being said, I will wait to analyze the the LOA before I say up or down. (Better yet, I'll let you guys that are smarter than me analyze it) ;-)

Oh yeah, how's that? (Btw that's a good/great thing if true.... But I don't know that I buy it to be true) If a city pair requires an MD-88 or 717 vs an RJ that's the aircraft that's going to fly it. The staffing issue is more whether the MD88 guys end up doing a 30 hr overnight vs a CDO.