I can see you didn't like jig saw puzzles or connect the dots as a child...:D

Yes, even I need to read some of it now and then. Heck I forgot we still had 900 rates in it. Me bad. But don't worry there were plenty of people to jump on me too!

Where are you finding the march bid packages?

Is it bad form to call crew planning and ask them if they know when I will be going to qual training on the 88? The projected training award says I am going in March but they haven't put anything on my schedule yet. I know they have to give me 25 days notice but I sure would like to know before I bid for March.

Call crew planning. If they know they will tell you.

Malaria Prevention
 

Glad to hear the pilot who contracted a case of malaria was able to pull through. Obviously a very harrowing experience. As to preventative measures hopefully some consideration will be given to properly medicating those who are exposed to this threat. The DOD typically prescribes doxycycline (mefloquine is an alternate) for its members while they're deployed (and for two more weeks after leaving such an environment), as well as primaquine for two weeks upon return from malaria risk locations. Those in the military whose duties require them to continually travel in these threat areas stay on doxy.

Delta gives employees whose job duties take them to areas where malaria is present, Malarone, however, it's use is voluntary. The issue with anti-malarials is that to be effective, you need to take then prior to deploying. And long term use has certain risks. A reserve pilot could find themselves flying to Africa with as little notice as 12 hours. Most crews also don't spend more than 48-72 hours there. Best bet is to use preventive measures; DEET, long sleeves and pants, netting, etc along with Malarone if you want.

I read in the contract that ER guys can pick up domestic open time. What is the process to do that?

It is unlikely for that to actually work, unless the domestic time is already in your category.

For example, in ATL there are several categories, M88, 757, 7ER, 73N, 777

The 757 category is "domestic" in that they do not cross large oceans. They fly the US, Canada, and Caribbean and possibly parts of South America (northern edge) and they fly the 757/767.

The 7ER category is "international" in that they have been trained to cross large oceans. They normally fly Europe, Africa, and all of South America and fly the 757/767.

A 757 pilot cannot pickup time from the 7ER category because they are not trained for the international. The 7ER category cannot pickup time from the 757 category because, well, it's a different category. The PWA does allow scheduling to move domestic trips to an international category, but it is so far down the sequencing (#27 of 28), it is unlikely to happen. (I'm in Section 23.N and 23.O)

For example, an out of base white slip (ie: NYC 7ER pilot wanting to pickup a 7ER trip in ATL) is rarely approved, because there are plenty of other people ahead of you, and it's only #6 on the sequence.

HOWEVER, when times are slow, like the winter, the ATL 7ER category can have domestic trips be placed in the category. However, they are now "international trips" and must be flown by 7ER pilots. A domestic 757 pilot (even reserve) cannot pickup or be assigned a domestic trip if it's in the 7ER category, unless scheduling has exhausted the 27 other choices (out of 28) that they have and moves the trip to a domestic category.

ACL,

Sorry if this was covered before but have you heard anything about Delta's plans for it's stake in Midwest Airlines or how that operation might be involved with Delta's. I live in Milwaukee so I've been following it closely. Thx!