I would bet that you are wrong. I have yet to meet anyone here that shares your opinion. Wait I take that back, a buddy of mine did share your opinion but then he went and picked up two trips in open time last month so I don't know what his official position is these days. And yes, I called him a hypocrite.

FOs not picking up open time is exactly why I've received a recall letter that I was told wouldn't come until April at the earliest.

Bassslayer et al,

If you were on the street, would you feel the same????

This is the problem.

Most at the regional level feel the it's a box needing to be checked. You never know when that 3 year plan to get the 1000 PIC will turn into 6 or 7+ years. It's on the shoulders of the MEC to organize people and get them on the same sheet of music (I'm not talking an organized action). I feel it's like an election, if you don't vote, then you don't get to complain. In this case, if you are not involved with your MEC, then you do not get to complain about min days off, poor lines, etc.

I do like the bit about it costing the company 6.0 for 1.5, but can they extend you after the 1.5? I can't recall and don't have a copy of the contract handy.

Absolutley. I said that in one of my earlier posts. I only concern myself with what I do not with what others do. I know the reality. If I was on the street I would spend my time looking for another job. Not worrying about whether Joe Blow picked up an out and back last Friday. I can see in some situations not picking up open time might bring some back but not here, at least not right now anyway. there isn't much open time out there to begin with and this airline is more the adequatley staffed to cover the flying. In fact, there is less open time now than there was before the furloughs. So, in a way, we are all picking it up in every trip. My whole point was more about it being wrong to judge others based on what they do when you know nothing of their situations, and less about whether picking up open time is right or wrong. I rarely ever pick anything up and could care less whether people do or not. The MEC sent an email out a while back asking us to ask our fellow crew member how they were assigned the trip if it is someone other than you normally fly with. Most of us know why we were asked to do this. If the Captain says he picked it up in open time, feel free at that time to express your displeasure with his decision to do so. I know a few senior captains here that love being told what dirt bags they are for picking up open time from a 1st year FO who was flying a 152 6 months ago.

The problem I see with your logic, is that people who are making judgements have a pretty good grasp of the facts.

You are correct in that not everything is black and white.

However, many people see this as a strictly ethical issue, on on that basis, feel it is ok to judge another.

In regards to your last statement, it is what a person DOES that determines his value, not who he IS.

You are entitled to your opinion, and to act accordingly, but there are consequences.

Really? Who are these people who have a 'good grasp of the facts"? I posted the facts a few post ago with regards to the amount of open time this month and the number of FO's in every base. Anyone with a "good grasp of the facts" can look at the numbers and hopefully do a little math. Feel free to take a look. they will run this place as lean and as long as they can. It wouldn't surprise me if they furloughed a few more. Our reserves for the most part are way under utilized as it is. I feel lucky to be able to work with so many that not only have such a "good grasp of the facts" but who were also born perfect enough to be able to blindly place judgement upon others. BTW, I always act accordingly and will be the first one to step up and face any "consequenes" for my actions. this topic is getting old. I've more than givin my .02 cents. Have a safe new year and fly safe. ..out..

It doesn't matter whether min sked/no ot has any significant or practical effect on whether/when recalls occur.

It is principle.

So basically, these people should forget about their own life, their own needs and obligations, and not pick up open time so your principles remain intact? Loooooove the union mentality.

No. They should do it because its the right thing to do....kind of like pilots being principled enough to not cross a picket line, in spite of their "own life, own needs and obligations".

I have no sympathy for somebody who fails to create and live within a budget based upon their monthly guarantee. While I'm as much a capitalist as anybody (and those pilots picking up open time are capitalists getting financially rewarded for additional work), I understand its far easier to meet one's financial obligations when you're "only" making guarantee than when you get furloughed and have no paycheck at all.

A little shared sacrifice when times are bad, in order to have shared gain when times are good. THAT is the crux of "unity" and the idealized goal of a union...and what the selfish "me first" attitude pilots fail to comprehend.

ALPA and IBT may still exist, but unionism within airlines (especially regional airlines) is dead. And its not dead because of management...its dead because the pilots that make up the unions are apathetic, selfish, and unwilling to accept a little shared sacrifice to the benefit of the entire group.