Company needs are based on block hours, not the level of stress the 19 year old crew schedulers are feeling because of flying they're trying to cover. My company hasn't furloughed, but I would pick up open time without thinking about it. When you think of the number of pairings being flown on any given day, 3 trips a week in open time are a drop in the bucket.

If the Union was telling me not to do something, then I'd respect it, but like you said, people signed up for this job and this industry and this is one of the known risks. This isn't the first time furloughs have gone out industry wide. Unless there is an official consensus of your group of pilots on the issue, I would come to my own conclusion.

I understand that you're frustrated and probably hurting a bit, many of us are, but taking your anger out on various forum goers has made you sound more arrogant than anything. Just because somebody passed ground school and has been on the line for a year doesn't entitle them to a soapbox.

The union can't say anything because it would be considered an illegal job action per the RLA.

With that said, I feel that open time shouldn't be picked up when there are people on the street. Yeah, you might have trouble paying your bills without crediting 90 hours a month, but consider how much harder it is when you're crediting 0 hours.

amen brother

ok than my comment wasnt directed at you

of course not, but right is right and wrong is wrong. picking up open time while pilots from your company are on the street is wrong!

than i hope you dont ever furlough at your company, and yes i am entitled to my soapbox

See thats the great thing...... we can all just agree to disagree on this subject. Both sides have been presented, and frankly I doubt any minds changed. The fact remains there are those who think its wrong to pick up open time while guys at their carrier are on the street and those who dont care so who will pick up open time.

Why not post names? If it's no big deal and you dont care what other people think then No worries, right?

You're right "buddy."

But thankfully some of us consider this a profession, meaning we consider ourselves professionals. As such, we respect the hard work accomplished by our peers. Further, when our peers are down in the gutter, there is no point in kicking them while they're rolling around in filth trying to find a gig because our respective companies failed to appropriately forecast staffing needs.

It's not about being black and white, it's about ethical professional behavior and treating your fellow professional aviator with some sort of dignity and respect.

Thanks for playing "buddy."

Me and 727 may have had our differences in the past... but I agree wholeheartedly with this statement ( the only problem for me is that I don't fit in a 152.. so 172 for me!)

I can't agree with you 100%, we are professionals, i fly as such. But no one has explained as to why it is unethical to pick up open time. Just stating that it is wrong doesn't have any merit.
Convince me that it isn't right. I believe if you want those pilots back here working then we need to increase our labor costs. PSA is one of the few airlines that pays 1.5X for SDO. This is how we can hit management hard. Increase labor costs and our bean counters will bring them back faster than if no one picked up open time. Remember there are still many reserves and most F/O's fly only 30 hrs a month. Captains maybe a little more. If noone picks up Open Time all that will happen is that the reserves will get abused more.

While there are exceptions to every rule, airline pilots tend to be conservative in their personality and actions, and many times, in their political beliefs.

It is this observation that causes me to shake my head at pilots who don't aren't financially conservative and plan their monthly budget based only on their guaranteed pay.