Did you fly any of them?

Because they don't have to? Maybe we can put on our big boys pants, and not need such "reassurances"? All we have right now is a few rumors of LCA's pushing the argument that our sick usage is out of control. It's the company's job to look for vulnerabilities, and reduce costs. The only thing you can rest "assured" of, is that they're trying. This is one of the angles they're evidently working. Or not. BFD.

This has come up every contract, and every TA, including during CH11. It changes little, because the fact is that pilots cannot perform their jobs while sick, and it's difficult to have a system that filters out all abuse, while allowing legitimate sick calls.

From an accounting perspective, it's an constant source of frustration that us meat-based flying units fail sometimes, and our downtime costs money. Maybe this frustration over our ridiculously human failings is what's causing them to underinvest in human maintenance and repair? It' not like we can't deliver seats our backs can tolerate, intercoms on the loudest aircraft, OJI procedures designed for human beings, healthcare that actually works in this century. They simply choose not to.

Next topic.

Not domestic, and not back-to-back. You do remember 30-in-7, right?

Yes, anytime I could hold them. Really loved going to Europe and bounce around for 10 days. The Polish flt attendants were enjoyable to fly with. Nice change from the norm! We had other long trips through CVG that typically ended up back in CVG bouncing to FCO, FRA and CDG with a DH home. Great as a west coast commuter. I did not get to fly the PDX trips on the L1011 but heard those were fun also!

30 and 7 did not apply to international.

Which is why I said "not domestic".

I will go you one better. The rumors are started here and then they demand answers and assurances to their own baseless rumors.
We are in critical contract negotiations. Everything is under scrutiny or will be by the NMB. Professionalism is important. There are multiple airlines seeking release to self help with no success. We may well need that release and how we have conducted ourselves to that point will be critical.

Dear Capt. Spackler,

We are in receipt of the underboob you sent us on May 4th, for which we thank you.

With regards to the issue of "Sick Time", it appears that we, and others involved, concur on several points:

1) The issue (like the underboob) is largely manufactured.
2) There have been no demonstrations of systemic abuse requiring any panties (of which your picture contained none) to be damaged.

It appears to us that it would be just as foolish to try to prove that there has not been any abuse at the individual level, as it is to equate anecdotal reports of abuse with a systemic problem.

We will close the file.

Sincerely,

Sink r8 & Company

Seems rational to me. I don't know that the NMB cares about individuals on APC, but if not for the sake of professionalism, let's calm down at least for the sake of self-respect, and reason. We're giving far more mileage to this issue than a few guys on a few jumpseats. I'm done on this topic, and the OE removal hysteria.

Anyone have a infrared bbq? Worth the extra $100 over regular propane?