EK Overtime

[buzz&sntch]

Dont worry everyone, I have faith that management will eventually do the right thing, they just have to exhaust all other options first. Thanks Winston!

[mensaboy]

I think it is fair to say that pilots at EK are screwed. We will not 'band together' at all. Take a look at Alwayzinit's post. He epitomizes what is wrong in this profession.

Nothing at all will change, except for the worse, until they cannot fill seats. EK will fill seats for the next 2 years, solely based on world-wide events. We have to sit back and take it, until the time comes when we can leave. That time is a long way off in my opinion. Where the hell am I going to go? I would leave here tomorrow if I had job with half the perks and half the bull**** of this company.

I started commenting 2 months ago about the general attitude of the office morons towards pilots. Where do you think this attitude comes from? OUR BOSSES !! They honestly believe we are overpaid and underworked ! In this environment, we cannot overcome this attitude, because we have no one with a brain or backbone in management to support us. ED is the biggest joke of a manager I have ever come across in all my years of flying. He is a YES MAN who believes he is a good manager.

Seriously... ED once said that Captain America taught him a lot about what is involved in being a Captain! That might be the most insane comment ever made! Well maybe the line about ''what planet are you on?'' is equally insane. We are up against morons, in a location that does not allow us to present our viewpoints in an effective manner, and ....... pilots are self-serving individuals. I would gladly call in sick on a given day, except for the fact I know that my colleagues would not do it in unison. Damn, the Pakistani and Indian drivers united, yet pilots can't seem to figure that out. We are our own worst enemies.

I don't even care anymore. I'll do my job and get on with life. Bring it down to 4 days off a month, we will still cave in.

You should seriously give your head a shake if you are considering coming to this nightmare in the sand. I have revised my opinion that pilots out of work might want to consider this place........ I now believe ANYONE coming here is dillusional.

[BOEINGA380]

Aviators

I have seen the sh^ft P*le growing in the last couple of months and my biggest question to us is what's waiting for us next?
It is a reality that everybody including EK and DXB are facing the global effects but hey: did not this country and airline wanted to be "part of the WORLD" so now they -we have to suffer with the world!

What can we do since we do not have a union but I do not believe in the union on its own but I believe that we have to THINK and ACT PROFESSIONAL but UNITED in these times. And I know I am talking horse Sh#t but trust me if we do not stand united as a group of pilots we will continuously be shafted. 60-80% of the guys complain down the route or during cruise but if we can do something that is total legal and within scopes of airmanship and S.O.P's we choose to follow the SOP's blindly which in a way is correct but not just the rules / laws but also the recommendations.

Folks we have to let the people who sit behind their desk know that we are the last line of the operations and that we do count in keeping this business safe and profitable. We are pilots but do not forget we are actually flight deck managers- we make and execute decisions and communicate this to senior flt ops management. Not the opposite! Look how we became in the last few months regarding taking fuel decisions just because we feel intimidated of Management. Taking "just" 500 kilo's extra -common 500 kg is not 2 -4 minutes extra with LD config. If you want take fuel and you can justify it take it!

Fellow Airmen and Airwomen please do not compromise safety at all cost but do collectively your part so that the company can "feel" who is in command. Whenever you sign a plan (as a PIC) you are in command of the entire operation of that mission-flight and not some office dude. Follow the FOM since that is the highest level of the airline law we have to follow and respect only the "SHALL and MUST" rules - remember Should is a recommendation and information is just advisory as long as it does not say SHALL- MUST- SHALL- NOT PROHIBITED! Off course observe other fcom limitations and placards as well.

And please do not tell me that this is unsafe and illegal and it will make the situation of EK worse. EK is making less then it was used to and wants but it is still not as bad as many other carriers. I know one word for this: GREED Btw that is the reason of the current global sh^t we are right now!

I do not mind working harder for less money if you can convince me with numbers and promise me that you will stick to this and not other surprise sh^ft in a few months/year from now under a mutual agreement. Remember a contract is according to the dictionary: (this dictionary is banned from the bookstore here

a legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself:
a contract of employment
At least I figured that the pay rises of 2006-7-8 are back in the pockets of our masters now and in the future. Wannabe's now you know why you have to wait in the holding pool and we need less manpower in the future. Stay pending for more!




My suggestions without compromising safety :

1) Whenever you get approached to do your alco-blow test at CBC- refuse and tell them to come back 60 minutes before ETD because then your official duty clock starts running. Don't care if they think it will delay the flight because if you know that you are going to be fine just insist you will do it at the proper check-in time. This YOUR right to tell them this. Follow the law-rules as per FOM- that is written on your piece of paper you signed that is now worth less then paper you use every day for a nice part of your body!
2) Why bother with these stupid time lines 1 hour and xx minutes before you officially sign in at CBC here in dxb. Go get your mail and have coffee and a chat with your friends-> no ,we all do and I will do the same and give EK the credit Take your time to do your checks and briefings and if you’re delayed it is not your fault because there is not enough time to do all required items in the legal time before a flight! Next time you write an ASR about fatigue mention the time EK wants you to be at the CBC to perform "pre-flight duties" and send a copy to GCAA and keep a copy for the record.
3) Taxi the airplane safe but not faster than 10 kts so you use more fuel during taxi and the engines run longer before and after a flight. Add more fuel if you have to for this- 200 -300 kgs And yes up to you single engine taxi: slow the bird down to 2 kts then rev the single engine up( advise Atc prior to avoid damage to other a/c ) to use more fuel then it would have cost for one engine taxi- hey it is not very comfy but it is still not an unsafe thing and please don't come with the poor airmanship crap! Or taxi on 2 engines all the time but max 10 kts and do not bother ticking the box on the back of the VR. It is not a law in the FOM, is it :-)?
4) Step climb 30 min to 45 minutes later then FMC allows the new optimum- yes burn some cont fuel- it is allowed and legal to do so- I mean if Bombay ATC does not give you 350 you’re stuck anyway so now you call the shots and stay lower longer. As long as you remain legal with your fuel numbers! You are allowed to use all your cont fuel! it is available to use if you "have to".
5) No block level changes just do "normal" step climb even consider point 4- it is legal to do so since your ofp is not calculated based on block level climb but step climb.

6) Use of Reverse: airplane is certified without use of Reverse- unless I am wrong- sorry then . Idle reverse just where noise sensitive airport mandate this. But the FCOM says to select reverse so USE IT as much as you like and yes do not worry to use full reverse it there to be used! Use full reverse with reasonable Auto brake and roll safe to the other exit from the runway instead of trying to make M9 for instance. Use more runway means engines will stay on longer since taxi time is more so engines will burn more fuel. Why worry about the fuel: you already landed at your destination!! And remember to taxi 10 kts instead of 20-30 kts. Just expedite if ATC instructs it.
7) Select configuration as per manuals or a bit earlier (2-4 nm). Plan 10 nm GD with FL 20 on the 777 and drag it in instead of for instance 2000ft.Whatever flaps and gear it is on the bus. If asked to reduce speed 210 KIAS and Clean is 213- put the flaps down! And if ATC wants higher speed during app ( 160 to 4 ) just drop the bloody gear as long as you observe Mr. boeing's or Airbus's limits and meet the stable app criteria! Have seen this once and it makes a difference of couple of extra 100's KGS:-)- imagine an extra consumption of an extra average of 300 KG per flight and now multiply this per year...next year we will xx % above fuel consumption! Remember we are still working professional and we will always still be LEGAL! Just follow THE book and not the recommendations to save $$. Lawyers write laws and accountants count the beans and pilots fly an aircraft.
8) Do not refuse direct routing from ATC but do not ask for it- why bother?
Poor airmanship: No- your OFP covers you and what if you ask and ATC says Negative follow the route? Same Sh#t right? Remember follow only the laws and rules you have to.
9)High speed below 10? No just fly 250 kts! It does not make a bloody difference anyway it just feels nicer and better because a jet is designed to fly faster than 250. Do so only if ATC instructs you to do so but do not ask for it!
10) Commit to dest if it is within parameters: why? Just continue normal to dest and stick to dest required fuel amounts and when you reach the minimum req fuel just divert- you are legal to do so check 11.3.4
11) FTL's: go into discretion- yes use it as you feel like but never compromise safety because if you screw up a nobody will back you up! So use it now as a 'weapon'. If discretion has to be used unify and use fatigue as the real name of the game - you are legal and protected to do so. I know it easy to write this but it sucks when you are in the middle of nowhere with 400+ pax but in away a message is sent- hopefully. Do whatever you want but remember end of the day is ops has to be normal or restored no matter what if you screw up it is your "beloved job" ( I should say profession and career that is gone not the office dude's. Remember: Nobody is here to back you or me up so never compromise safety especially on the fatigue sectors and ULR and diverts early morning.
12) Use Full thrust for takeoff since it is allowed / legal and certified to use it - I love every of the 115 thousand pounds- feels like nice Porsche hehehe
13) select Climb thrust at 1500' and acc at 3000' every take off- uses more fuel anyway at least you are quieter all the time
14) Working on an off day: big no-no- when they ask you to fly tell them you are not fit- that's it halasz forget the flight tip or call out thing. Enjoy the day OFF with your loved ones NOW because if we continue to work like this until RA65 we won’t have much health left to live on this planet!So no point making the extra retirement buck- !

My question to you guys n gals is: what's next? But please be careful what you put here because you give the bean counters brilliant ideas how to extend the p*le longer with hot chili and peppers.

My 2 fills worth- feel free to comment and criticize and "eat me a live" for my "poor-airmanship"- that shows how "united we are" hehehe

Anyway I sell Vaseline to grease the p*le -special unlimited edition /recession discounted: Sand Vaseline by J&J - Good news 50 % discount for EPC members ( only if you fly over 90 hrs ) ...so hurry because we will all need it and there is plenty of stock (2 A380's full!) and more on order


Halasz
To whom it may concern thanks for reading this and extending the nice and shiny p*le- we will have the longest, biggest, thickest,most shiny one ( sounds like dubai huh

[Wiley]

it is time to wake up and smell the coffee

Thread drift alert, but can someone tell me WTF that ridiculous phrase means and WTF it comes from?

[Von Richtofen]

Don't be fooled.
The economic slowdown was created by the same people now screaming that there is an economic slowdown.
It happened already and someone is making loads of money.
EK managers are just playing along with local arrogance.
WTF needs 58 A180?
The cloud was visible from a distance.My grandmother knew something was wrong.... too many indian buying Porsches...!!
They managed to place the biggest airplane order just before the biggest economic bust of the 21st century my best compliments!!!!
Now who has to make sacrifices ? You!!
Well ask your "managers" to show you their compensation packages.
There is only way to go there.... OUT AND AWAY !!!!

[Thylakoid]

Kennedy, I suspect that it is going to happen as soon as the new tram thing becomes operational. It will pass right in front of the COC

[Thylakoid]

Hey "downandoutagain," where is this "bootiful" country you live in?
What is wrong with you? Why don't you "compalint" like all the others?

How many hours do you have on your "lugbook?"

[BYMONEK]

I've just finished helping my 7 year old with her reading and spelling homework.

Then I come on here and spend 10 minutes reading this nonsense. I do wonder, sometimes, whether I expect far too much from my kids.

[allaru]

What to do

Things that are not going to work because sadly we are not, and never will be a united group.

*Go slows, extended briefings, cockpit prep, taxiing, ext, as all of these things will show up immediately, and action will be taken against individuals, who will get little to no support from the rest of the pilot group.

*Using extra fuel, ie no short cuts, levels, t/o and appr config see above

*Rated thrust t/o..just gona increase my chances of a failure

*Going sick... yeh right...how many times are you gona do that

*And many of the other hair brained schemes proposed in this thread.

As I have said before the airline depends upon the voluntary support from line pilots who fill a myriad of management and technical positions. The vast majority of those pilots never joined EK as such, so should be free to resign and return to their positions as line pilots. If they did so the airline would come to a halt in under a week. Imaging just a delay of a week for PPCs alone, every week that went by would mean X number of pilots unable to fly........Sadly we have too many among us with visions of management grandeur, or a bright star and a special set of wings, so it ain't gona happen in numbers sufficient to make a difference.

The fact is that we are in unprecedented times so things may have to change for ALL of us for the time being.

The days of plenty that allowed arrogant, one man banded, daygo suit wearing, mont blank pen wielding, manager spivs who saw it as their right to steel from their employees , and pay themselves exorbitant amounts of money at the expense of tireless employees ARE OVER.

If you've been one of those managers I propose you clean out you desk and slink off back under the rock from which you originated, before you get kicked there by a workers size 9s steel toe safety boots. Then when everyone has forgotten you (a day later) you may re emerge and join the queue and look for a real job. You should pray that you get a real boss who puts his employees first above all else.

Enough ranting so what to do.

Sack all of the idiot managers who refuse to, or who are incapable of communicating with their employees. This is a basic management function so if they can't do it they should f%$k off. In this game they are a safety hazard.

Sort out the huge number of superfillous office activities, and associated staff and significantly cut their numbers. I'm sure the office bunnies work like Heather Mills in an ass kicking contest but I would question what is being done, and does it really need to be done. Do we need a huge flight ops and training department to re invent the wheel all the time, issue stupid and useless notices and FCIs (which hardly anyone reads anymore) and micro manage pilots with annoying phone calls over minor misdemeanors. Send them back to the line.

To go would be

HR

What the hell do we need HR for anyway, I think flight ops, and every other department can recruit and administer their own staff with a bit of cheap software. And do a better job. Another invented and unnecessary creation of modern failed business culture which we did perfectly ok without before. HR is the biggest con job of the past 20 years

PHYSC DEPARTMENT

Total waist of space and money. Don't need them for recruiting, or anything else. Crazy people can be sent to a specialist as per any other problem.

ACCOMODATION DEPT

Not a definite on the to go list but the empire that has been built over recent years, although improved since the departure of the orderly Corporal Q-cumber is probably in need of massive review.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT

Great staff, and fantastic support when things really go wrong, but it just doest work anymore for day to day issues, too many tom dicks and harrys going there now so rarely can you get access when you need it. Close it down and give private insurance appropriate to ones level.

WAGES PILOTS AND OTHERS

EVERYONE must share the pain. If the company loses money the boss and his cronies get $1 a year till its fixed. (and no bonuses)

For pilots reduce basic salaries down to a level representing 50 or so hours of flying, then pay overtime on a sliding scale for every flying and duty hour above that. The scale would mean significant remuneration when hours go above high 80s. It would mean a significant cut now, but lots of days off, but we should be allowed to clean up when the good times return. A pay system relieves the company of financial burden when times are bad and allows them to pay **** loads when they can afford it. It also reduces sick days, and makes pilots happy to fly when times are busy as they make lots of money.

As opposed to increasing the overtime limit to an un unstainable level and adding to an already serious fatigue problem...YOU IDIOTS

Introduce similar productivity based systems for all other employees.

ROSTERING

Let the bid system run as is STOP MESSING WITH IT.... friggin children!!. If its oversubscribed remove the junior cabin crew. New joiner CC wouldn't know the difference anyway, and most only stay a couple of years and leave. Extend it to SFS and above. Remove childish ,vindictive and ridiculous restrictions which make the system impossible to administer. If we do our 50 or 90 hours whatever is required and we get 20 days off, tuff titties. We might need the rest as we may spend the next two months flying our rings off.

Allow commuting rosters...Derr

BASINGS

Probably do able but not so easy for pilots to be honest due to lack of flexibility in substituting types and so on should the need arise. But a definite possibility for Cabin crew for the following reasons. Base as many as pos off shore and pay local wages plus 15-20%.
Crew the flight with a maximum of 30% or so off base crew from the destination or origin base....please don't divert this thread into a basings issue.

*There are significant numbers of them, so cost savings are significant.
*A high proportion come from parts of the world where salaries are low.
*If they get together and decide not to front for a flight for whatever reason, with only 30% from the base the flight can still go, leave them behind.
*They are happy as they stay at home and earn better money that they would get with their local carrier.
*Those from the low cost countries that would be targeted contribute little to the UAE economy and remit a large proportion of their salary anyway.

LOADS FLIGHT SCHEDULES

Low cost carriers are doing well now as business travelers seek to save costs. Seize this opportunity now!!

Accelerate fly Dubai and re paint some of our wide body aircraft including the white elephant in fly dubai colours. Issue all pilots with a new set of wings, and sell them a leather jacket (it is low cost you know) leave the hat at home, and second them to FLY Dubai when required. (Less recruitment, training ext required, and eliminates costly retrenchments from EK should things get that bad.) Introduce the narrow body aircraft as and when required.

Reduce flights NOW to places where demand has dwindled, and substitute a proportion of flights with FLY Dubai aircraft. Say out of 6 LHRs offer 3 as fly dubai. Offer bucket price fairs using all economy A380s on AUS-UK (via Dubai so they spend some money here) and AUS-US routes (lets face it V Australias gona fail ). Use the 380 all economy to JED and BOM, least it might make some money on those routes. No grog and basic food.

Watch the market closely and do the required preparation now to be able to seize route opportunities immediately as other carriers fail.

LEAVE
Make all staff use up their leave. Offer limited unpaid leave if required.

LAYOVERS
Can't be messed with as they are marginal as is, and have significant implications on morale, and fatigue. OFFER minimum rest layovers to those who want them to places where it is legal and feasible to do so so. Offer 12hr LHR, 24hr IAH they suit some people but you can't force it as it has serious fatigue implications. There's one thing offering, as it may suit some people, but its a totally different thing mandating it. This should be done in conjunction with removing limitations on days off ext. NOTE TO MANAGERS don't try this trick with the silly limitations you have imposed on our days off, as obviously it wouldn't work.

TRAINING
Adopt train to proficiency. The present system is useless, unnecessary, and a waist of sim resources, trainers, and pilots time. After initial type rating/upgrade space the first 2 years of TTPs at 6 months, then go to 12 for the next few years, and eventually 18mths between TTPs for those who are experienced, and have demonstrated consistent competence. Do away with checking its old hat. Savings would be significant.

HUMAN MANAGEMENT

ENOUGH OF THE CRAP WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PLAY CHILDISH GAMES ANYMORE THE WORLD AND DUBAI ECONOMY IS IN DEEP **** - WE ALL NEED TO PULL TOGETHER NOW, and with a bit of luck we could actually profit from this crisis.

Human relations issues which could be implemented to help ease the pain.

-leave the rostering system to run its course (NO COST)
-let us use un occupied pax seats on long haul (NO COST)
-let crew use the jump seats (NO COST)
-offer basings for cabin crew (MAKE MONEY)
-Offer commuting rosters (NO COST)
-Support your pilots, there a valuable and more useful asset than you realise (NO COST)
-Communicate regularly with your pilots and go on a few multi day patterns every now and again. Even you TC, you are welcome ....( NO COST)
-Listen to your pilots and pay serious attention to safety reports before we have a serious incident. (NO COST)
-Re write FDLs to mitigate fatique, not to suit EKs patterns. As is they are an absolute joke.
(NO COST)



AND THE BEST YOU COULD OFFER IS LIMITING OUR DAYS OFF TO 12 WITHOUT ANY VALID REASONING.....GREAT MANAGEMENT...BEND OVER AND ACCEPT MY VIRTUAL SIZE 9.

[145qrh]

There are plenty of opportunities for IFS to save money.

DOH,MCT,BAH,DMM,KWI: cancel the in-flight service, F and J eat in the lounge anyways, take min crew.ie enough to cover the doors and no more..save a fortune.

Will it happen?

Should it happen ?

[White Knight]

Then it wouldn't be a 'full service' airline would it?

And things aren't that dire anyway - still making a profit boys and girls, but as has been pointed out, 'greed' of those at the higher levels is the main problem.

[kingoftheslipstream]

White knight

I agree with your post. EK is still makinn' a **** load of money. This is management gouging us to take advantage of a global situation and introduce new working conditions. They're just exploitin' the old 'fear' and 'greed' paradigm in a different way. We ain't ever goin' back to the ol' productivity rules.

I don' reckon we've got any choices though, other 'n industrial type actions which mosly make me feel uncomfortable.

I really don't know what to do m'self. I just feel 'turnstiled and junkpiled' in the words of the late great Townes Van Zandt...

happy contrails

[Craic Ore]

It's easy

......just press 2 when tired and call fatigue. AND don't work on ANY days off no matter what. For free? Why would you?

I'm a company man, or former company man that has been lost by the latest policies. It's too bad that it came from a great gig to this.......

[LHR Rain]

When was it a great gig?

[Fart Master]

I have to agree with many of the sympathies expressed above, I used to think it was somewhat of a symbiotic relationship, sometimes they helped me, sometimes I helped them.............

............but now I feel absolutely gutted, the 'management' if that's what you want to call them have sh*t on us from such a great height that they can p*ss off if they think I'm going to help. Number 2 is going to be my friend from now on, and before someone says that I means someone else gets called out, just remember you are a one man/woman rostering unit, the company doesn't give a sh*t about your fatigue and health levels just as long as you fly the tube from A to B and then back to A, we don't get paid enough to retire early, so as with a long run you have to pace yourself carefully.

I wonder how much TCAS's and that American morons' T's & C's have changed over the last 3-4 years.

As a friend of mine doing an economics degree told me, "Mate, all the good managers get hired by Banks, Law Firms, Drug companies, Electronic companies etc., what's left i.e. the second and third tier managers get hired by the airlines, they are just not good enough to work for companies that require ABILITY, I mean let's look at their salaries in comparison to the good guys...." I think that says it all

[Volverine]

7500 In The Box

Allllllll those great good (and bad) ideas here on this public forum, open to everyone even Competitors...Administrations...Media...Customers...And others good fellas waiting for some crunchy stuff. They are well served now.
What if an "incident" does occur ? OUPS !
This is a brilliant demonstration of an absolute and hazardous EK internal communication failure (Transponder code to use in this case is 7500, for non pilots, I know there is plenty)
Oh how much cost this departement to the company ? Hum to much.
Please wait for the latest glossy Najmfull SAFAR edition about pilots sacrifices acceptance.

[disconnected]

Mad as I am with this latest development, I can't condone sabotage by way of increasing costs. We are professionals and the airline itself is not the enemy. Its our very livelihood.

I agree that this was a kneejerk reaction to a situation that put pressure on those who devised this scheme. IMHO it is is badly thought out, unfair and does not address the problem they claim it was set up to solve: "the current hourly block figure that triggers Productivity Pay is no longer appropriate in rosters containing these (LR and ULR) flights."

All rosters are different in the amount of LR/ULR flying they contain. Likewise even the same pilot has a differing component every month. However some do little to no LR/ULR for various reasons, including their freedom to chose.

The solution should have been to factor the LR/ULR block hours for productivity credit purposes while requiring the whole amount to be logged (licencing purposes notwithstanding). I understand that this is in fact the law

This would be fair and would also deal with the problem they posed in their letter. After all 5 hours in a bunk cannot be compared with 2 sectors at night to BOM.

This way the original Block Hour Thresholds could have been maintained, the problem solved, safety preserved and the requirement for efficient rostering maintained.

There would also be a sensible limit on time in aircraft, while addressing fatigue issues on rosters not containing LR or ULR flights.

The original Block Hour Thresholds had previously taken into account the loss of credit for time before and after flight, reserves, sims etc. It was a stretch in itself.

In fact the letter indirectly admits that the previous Thresholds were entirely appropriate in the case of rosters without LR/ULR flying.

There is nothing like fixing things with a sledge hammer. True technicians

"we will only succeed if we work together". I'm still trying to figure out how the "we" includes those who don't actually fly but dreamed up this scheme.

Of course if the problem posed is not actually the problem but simply a guise to increase productivity thresholds for all time, while allowing complete latitude in inefficient rostering and then marketing it to the boss as a budget cut for purposes of personal remuneration - Well that's a different story.

[fo4ever]

Disconnected:

I am with you on this one:

I can't condone sabotage by way of increasing costs

It will do no good to use extra fuel just because we are pissed off!!!

[Saltaire]

Isn't this just a typical brushstroke excuse to cut high levels of productivity primarily targeting the training department? I have worked barely two productivity months in the past year and I would imagine most line pilots to be similar. I do know of the vast majority of trainers work a consistent and comfortable 90-100 hours. Not that they don't deserve compensation and incentive pay, but I do have an issue with some of the pre assigned flights to OZ for example. Questionable training value for 27 hours in 3.5 days...10-15k drms per month in extra hours is likely the cause of this draconian decision.

[mensaboy]

Two overtime months in the last 12 months for me: total less than 5000dhs.... yet they still manage to fatigue me.

Lets face facts, this is a cover-up for the incompetence of scheduling and not just a bean counters 'cost savings'. How often do we get a return to DXB at 0630, only to be placed on a flight the next day at 0800? I go from red-eyes, to afternoons to early mornings without ANY consideration for the health affects.

If you saw my last RESERVE month, and the numerous and absurd changes, then it would be quite clear how messed up the department of crewing is. They are incompetent that is for certain, but they are also saddled with crazy restrictions which have no basis in what is healthy for pilots. They have become a vindictive and jealous department that believes the bull**** spouted by the likes of the utimate moron; the foaming mouth talking Horse.

I think we might be best served with 'LINES' in our bidding system. Lines, simply put, are 2000+ rosters offered and we bid on them according to which one we desire. I have not been a fan of such rostering in the past, but in THIS place, I think it would better than what we have now. Screw the AD days, screw the max DO's and come up with the 2000+ rosters that fill the schedule. I swear, It has to be more efficient and give us more options, rather than bidding and not having a clue.

Clearly the bidding system does not work for the vast majority of pilots here, except of course if you are one of the two CRS 'experts' and get what you want each month, or perhaps a long-serving 'local' who basically makes up his own roster.

The bidding system is a nightmare. The rules are insane and the people who are tasked with looking after our best interests (sorry I had to stop typing to laugh, because in truth they are 'tasked' with being incompetent YES MEN), and also those people assigned to deal with our skeds on a daily basis, are idiots.

To hell with this crap. List a thousand LINES for Airbus and 1000+ for Boeing, and we can look at them and bid them accordingly. The advantages would be; stopping changes, a better idea of what we will awarded almost entirely based on seniority, and it also precludes so many Reserve and AD days. The other added benefit, is the idiotic Training Department (scheduling), might actually have to use a few brain cells to design a sked.

Sorry to rant, but things are getting stupid here.