2cylinderdriver

Agree 110%, but that is what a "cruise pilot" entails, from the Company point of view. We can't even entertain such thoughts ! Ask BOYCAPTAIN, he will tell you that is what is being "tossed" around based on his friends in low places contacts.

FreightDawgyDog

"What I did say was that we currently have a number of cruise pilots, or at least guys who are more than willing to suck up the best trips, commercial around the world, do almost no flying, and then still have the audacity to snivel a landing. Personally when I was captain, their request always fell on deaf ears, because I wouldn't give them my landing, and I felt even more strongly about NOT giving them my F/O's landing."

It's no wonder we have issues with unity around here. I try to help pilots who need landings when I can. I always ask the F/O if it is OK with him first. While I agree with AA about the RF2 he encountered, I think denying RFO's landing out of spite just divides us as a crew force even further. As an RFO, on the rare occurrence I had to resort to this, I always emailed the Captain about the landing in advance and bought the first round in the bar the night before if he let me. One thing I will never be short on with the MD-10 around is landings. In fact, if there is an odd leg, I always offer the RFO a landing. Why not give the guy the landing, find out why he/she might be in need of one, (sometimes military duty and vacation play a role) and offer suggestions as to how to avoid running short in the future? Landings, much like jumpseats, make better tools than weapons in my book.

Oh and so the thread doesn't drift too much, I think cruise pilots are a bad idea. I can see why FedEx would want them though, especially for the 777...

Albief15

Any amendments or changes to the contract will require an LOA. Any LOA will have to be signed on and approved by the membership. (Not the MEC, ALPA National, or anyone else...YOU.)

I'm sure there are people making all kinds of proposals to "fix" various issues, both on the line, in the various departments, and in management. Watercooler chit chat doesn't mean something is going to happen--all of that will take place under negotiations and any changes will need to be ratified.

I'm trying not to jump in every food fight I see here--but breathe through your noses and relax. The company can do excess bids per the CBA. The company has many options it can use. But someone waking up and deciding to re-define crew members roles, responsibilities, or pay scales isn't something anyone can do unilaterally.

I know we aren't used to much beside great news at FDX, but as a crew force everyone needs to put a little iron in their guts and chill out just a wee bit. We all knew a DC10 excess bid was coming, and that 3 man crews were going to shrink to 2 man crews. I think the rapidity of the FCIF last week to the subsequent week's bid caught everyone--this guy included--off guard but the bottom line is the change was probably only about 6 months.

cma2407

Agreed. To generically thump your chest and play Captain Ahab even when you're sitting on 32 landings is lame. AA's example where he gave that RF2 goon some heat was plainly deserved--and then some. A case like that, I'd probably suggest he go fill up a plastic cup.

But if the circumstances warranted it, and on occasion they do...it wouldn't hurt to throw a guy a bone. IMO

Jetjok

You're absolutely correct and please don't misinterpret my comments as a slam against F/O's, because it wasn't meant that way. I'm sure that we have a few captains who would enjoy increased seniority and perhaps (I'm not so sure about this one) a little less pay, to just jet around the world, having no responsibility, except perhaps to make sure the coffee is black and hot, and that the fuel log times they compute match the expected. Again, it might allow for some upwards mobility. It's amazing what stupid things one can think up when one doesn't have to go to work. (Me.)

Jetjok

So when was the last time you said to the F/O "I'll fly this leg" and he replied "No, you won't because I really need it." I'd suggest it never happens, or if it does, it happens very rarely. So when you "ask" your F/O if he minds if you give away his landing, what do you really expect him to say? I preferred to not put the F/O in that position in the first place. If I were going to give away a landing, it would be mine, never the F/O's, because that wasn't mine to give away. If that caused "issues", than so be it. On single leg trips I also never gave landings to non-members. Sorry, I frankly didn't care what the excuse was.

FreightDawgyDog

"So when you "ask" your F/O if he minds if you give away his landing,"

I never ask them to, but I always ask if they mind letting the RFO fly from the right seat when they take my landing. I also always make sure they understand there will be no hard feelings either way.

When you use words like these "and then still have the audacity to snivel a landing" to describe your fellow company pilots requesting help with their currency I guess I thought I would offer another way to handle the situation. Obviously you aren't interested. Maybe you'll get a chance for the double whammy and be able to say "no landing for you" to some "sniveling" RFO that was bumped off the bottom of the left seat due to over 60 pilot's coming back? Now that would be sweet huh? LOL.. Ladies and gentleman the Soup Nazi is dead..long live JJ the "Landing Nazi"! "NO LANDING FOR YOU!!" Hope you are feeling better JJ..

Piloto Noche

And in the event this should be put out as an LOA vote, I have three questions:

1) Will it be the "right thing to do"?
2) Is it going to be "the best we can get"?
3) Will I be able to "change my vote"?

fdxflyer

I wonder how DW sits around justifying his actions now in fighting for RETRO.

Did he : A) NOT think it through and realize only as long ago as NOV/DEC that it would cost the rest of the crew force in a slowing economy.

OR

B) He did think it through and did it anyway!

jagplt

Rumor on the bus from the those closer to the top than I, say it's about political aspirations, at the national level.