Sqwak, the biggest issue I had with the freighter contract was RA55. after 40, the ears start clickin' by 10000 fpm. Don't **** on guys for wanting that opportunity...do you **** on the current CoS 08 guys? If you have something planned after 55, good on ya - stay on 99 and the higher FO pay while you're an FO. But it's not like you're going to get a 20K salary reduction in year 5, etc (more like 3K). Look at it as a reduction in salary INCREASE over that next year as an FO (you'll then be about 6K behind the B scale). But in return, if you think you need airline work past 55, in return you get 10 more years at 200+K.
Nobody's retarded if they take this - and there hasn't been anything better offered or worked from our end.