1.Yes
2. Fixed 5/3/5/4 pattern runs for 16 weeks then you have a 4 week "reserve" month. This reserve month has been abused in the past but as we get up to correct manning levels it "should" be mainly SBYs - watch this space.
3.See above
4. 25 bookable leave days. - No difference
5. April - March
6. Open bidding period ( all done via internet access in crew room or from home ) then closed period - Succesfull bids published in AIMS then open bidding ie you can self book in the system if it is available - Closed period and how they allocate is a mystery to many - is a points based system that few understand and it seems to be down to luck if you get what you ask for and then a severe lack of availability thereafter. If you take a cross section of us you will probably find an uneven mix of " I got everything I bid for ", or " I got some of what I bid for" or " I got none of what I bid for "
During open bidding you can book what u like as long as you dont leave a single duty day, pretty handy if the day you want is available - but more often it isnt.
Bottom line on leave - its a shambolic mystery and the woman in charge of it does not answer the phone or answer emails - most of the time.
As for counting up annual days on / off etc sorry cant help never bothered to do that.
Hope that helps
EZYDRIVER