Cargo will almost assuredly be good for the company.

Will it be good for the pilot group or will it be good almost exclusively for a small segment of senior pilots? The cargo trips will be charters. That means they will pay premium but be bid on as straight. That means there will be no sniping from junior guys and no opportunity for junior guys to swipe the trip from a more senior guy going for the premium - because the senior guy will bid the straight pay column and get paid premium. Junior guys, excepting ones in cartel situations or getting lucky on occasion, will not directly reap the benefit of cargo flights.

I’m personally all in favor of cargo flights for several reasons. But I’m opposed to them as it stands now (haven’t seen the wording of the MOU yet) if it means we’re not getting something that benefits a wider portion of the pilot group. Many have suggested resolving X number of grievances in exchange for us approving cargo. That’s one possibility. Or, just spit-balling: how about a not-insignificant bonus for every pilot on the seniority list on the date of approval of cargo-only operations after the company achieves a set of very specific profitability measures? That would mean even if you end up furloughed, you still get the bonus.

 

how about every month of cargo means a month they cant furlough?
or at least the jelly of the month club

 

It will pay POT , if that helps

 

I agree 100% about the China Virus...Chhhinaaa and nobody could have predicted this. On the other hand this is a business and a business goal is to grow and prosper and take advantage of opportunities.

 

China couldn’t have “predicted” this? Where have you been?

 

Lol you're correct. They couldn't have predicted that their man made virus would be such a success.

 

An accident whether at a wet market, lab, or natural occurrence is one thing. Hiding it for 6 weeks, silencing medical professionals and censoring information is something else. They knew of human to human transmission in early December. They refused to acknowledge it until January 20th. All while locking down within China while permitting their citizens to travel abroad. You don’t see any problem with that? Had they spoke up (you know, like you are trained to do in the cockpit?) this could have been greatly minimized. It’s inexcusable. Nothing “unpredictable” about it. All this in the recent wake of SARS and H1N1.

But hey, thousands of pilots hit the street over this and you get a faster upgrade. Taking advantage of opportunities. It’s all good. Congratulations.

 

Exactly! It seems we’re opening up negotiations on Section 1 in exchange for the senior guys to remain high flyers. It’s nice that the cargo flights will pay premium, but I don’t believe it will equate to more flying for the group as a whole. It will just be absorbed on a senior pilot’s days off. I would rather see it built into the bid packet so more pilots would be required to stay on the seniority list to cover it.

 

Never flown a charter as my seniority can't hold them, but if you think cargo is a bad thing because it will only go to senior guys, then I think you need to re-examine your thinking.
First - any extra revenue flying is a good thing. It all trickles down the seniority list, as it is designed to do.
Second - check out the open time cap in the contract. I have been awarded many trips where I was not even close to the senior bidder. I have been "out bid" by 140000 number guys for the same reason.

I am pretty open time savvy, and I have watched for years as the supply and demand have ebbed (mainly) and flowed. Any and all flying is good. There will be some who game the system, but the damage done by these individuals is far outweighed by the good that extra flying brings to the whole group. Any time we restrict ourselves out of jealousy, we only hurt the 99 percent of us who are doing things right.

 

I do agree that it does sometimes trickle down, and overall I think it is a great thing. I am in favor! I just question the way trips will be awarded via open time charter vs via blank line, the regular bid or some other method to justify more pilot positions. I think an agreement could have been reached to have greater coverage.