I may have this backwards, but I think actual are trips that were never assigned, or have been successfully dropped into open time. Qualified is someone trying to drop the trip and the reserve coverage isn't adequate. They still own the trip and are required to fly it unless someone picks it up.

That's true and unless rsv. Coverage changes they'll never be able to drop it. If they are smart enough they should have also listed the trip on the pilot swAp board where you can pick it up despite rsv coverage. In my 88 days though some were not aware and would only put in a pd and not post on the swap board. If it's really a good fit you can sometimes educate said pilot through email or text from their name and info in Icrew.

Bolded part is not true--SWP works fine with Q trips, so long as there is good reserve coverage for the day(s) of the trip you're looking to drop. SWP is essentially a combined PD + WS (but it gets run after both of those).

Still not following you. Are you saying that you only need 10 hours of rest and you're good? Or are you agreeing that you still need to make sure you get the required 8 hour sleep opportunity?

Just for clarification, the 8 hour "behind the door" was never in the rules. The FAA has always called it an 8 hour "sleep opportunity" that must be met. The minimum "rest" period must be 10 hours and must encompass at least an 8 hour "sleep opportunity" not 8 "hours of rest". The company and ALPA may have said "behind the door", but the FAA always called it an 8 hour sleep opportunity.

Rest is defined as not on duty/doing a required task for the company. Sleep opportunity is where you actually have an opportunity to sleep. Different things. Rest is not always a sleep opportunity, but sleep opportunity is always part of a rest period ;).

The 8 hours sleep opp. seems pretty cut and dried to me. The rule of thumb I've been using is when I slam-click I start a 9 hour countdown. When that gets to 0 I leave my hotel room. I think that it is reasonably defensible in front of a court of inquiry that I had 8 hrs of pillow time in that 9. YMMV

I think your determination is more plausible with the rule. I guess it was coming off from Rhino that the 10 hours of rest means you are guaranteed you will get a 8 hour sleep opportunity in there, when the they are both different requirements.

Ok you got me there. The question usually pops up "I put in a SWP for a 3 day on XYZ day and I have a 3 day on XYZ days so why didn't I get it." If you are swapping from days that have good coverage it will work.

One percent of profit to charity now...profits we produced! Just giving money away! Still though, they could only afford a nickle for per diem. I thought I'd seen it all...!!! Sweet baby Jesus! Can I write that off my taxes this year?

This gives 'I gave at the office' a whole new meaning! Will we have any say as to where *ahem* our money goes? After the scandals at United Way and other organizations, I'd sure hate to think that 3k per year per pilot is going to the Mercedes fund of some VP at those places.

By the way, EBITDAR doesn't include charity, so this is coming straight out of our pockets...IOW, they'd rather GIVE it away than see you get it!

Charity begins at home, or something like that. Time will tell. Believe in karma?

That's about how I see it. Pre-divorce stuff here.