If you don't want to conflict with those 10 R days then bid for the training so there is no conflict. Bid smaller blocks of R days if you have recurrent that month. You just have to manipulate the system to your advantage as best you can. There are more options under this contract and I think the new system is an improvement.

FJ

I was thinking the same thing as USNFDX....it's all a wash basically. I dont think it gives us more manning at all. Some guys may pull the trick to get a block of days off for the month and it just goes into their MU bank. I know I did it a few months ago. Now you've lost a man for possibly a whole month if he does a span of 12 or 16 R-days in a row............

Of course, the guy has to realize that if he drops those days for recurrent, and doesn't pick up something, he's not going to make squat for the month. Those 4 or 5 days of reserve become his new BLG.

And some guys may not want to make squat because he has another job on the side. To each his own..........

Like being a gigolo in Subic?

Different strokes for different folks..........

Just remember that the optimizer can't do anything that's not in the contract. Of course what hurts more is guys flying DPs.

Tried to delete. Sorry, wrong thread.

Just making sure they know. You'd be amazed at some of the complaints crew pay gets from guys who have dropped large amounts of flying and then are angry that they aren't getting paid.

Disclaimer - Wife did a 1 year stint in crew pay, before moving on to better things.

Just saw that 3 200s are scheduled to retire by Oct, with 1 more in Jan, 08. Looks like your info was right on.