Reviving this old thread instead of starting a new one ...

We're not officially in 4a2b (MD-11 Capt BLG average is only 66 hrs next months) but I just looked at the secondary line values ...

How come the FDA's and 777 have higher values? Why shouldn't we have system averages instead of individual a/c BLG's. Why not just make the 777 average 110 hours and the MD-11 average 40 hours? After all we all know the 777 folks are special (just ask them). Is that next?

Do you want the real answer or is it just rhetorical ?

As long as they are buying up the lines to 68 hrs, I'll gladly take the 40 hr line

word to your mother

In the 2006 contract, we gave the company a larger BLG spread. This is how they have exploited that "little thing" to the detriment of the crew force. What do you think a give away of a "big thing" like PBS would look like?

Wow! And heeeeeerre we go....popcorn machine is warming up.

Finally someone who said what I was thinking,

I'd much rather "work" 30 hours and get paid 68 and than work 98 and get paid 98.

Work is a four letter word.

So is 4a2b.

Glad I kept my part-time job after the last time we funded the company's dividend.

I don't know why people make such a big deal out of buying up lines.

It was done at both of my former carriers. Sometimes system form requires pilots at odd places and odd times of day.

Regional pilots fly "naps" all the time - late night leg out to an outstation, sit for 4-5 hours, fly the first leg back in the morning. Sum total block hours for the month were 40-50, so you got guarantee.

ACMI carriers too... on a long skinny international route, they may sit for two days at each city, waiting for the plane to make the circuit and get back to them. Never broke guarantee there either.

This is why we should not have pilots doing our negotiating work, too much at risk for the rest of the pilot group , too much temptation for the negotiators to make themselves "look good" ............ in the company eyes

Mark,
Most of the time your posts are pretty reasonable, however I disagree with you here. Personally my experience in the right seat of the 777 has been better than it was in other jets. Yeah there are some "tools" but I've encountered more guys that treat you well and offer to by the first, second and third rounds than I did in other equipment.