Originally Posted by 1900luxuryliner

I generally agree, but I guess I'm not as bitter about it. Things are definitely different around Lakes than they were a few years ago. Maybe not significantly different, but when people aren't getting out of Lakes after a few years, it makes all the crap a lot less tolerable. I've found that if you fully expect to be broken, canceled, delayed, extended, etc., it makes it all much easier to handle when it does happen. It's when you put faith in Lakes to actually operate as scheduled, that you get yourself all frustrated when it does not. I freely and openly write up things at outstations, like all captains, knowing full well that I may be spending the night there, or ferrying the plane to CYS, because of the prior expectation that the contracted maintenance may be on a fishing trip, or sitting at home drunk...or doesn't have access to the parts we need to get fixed. Don't put any faith in the maintenance/ scheduling system, and don't blame yourself for the total cluster freaks that happen daily....hourly, actually. These airplanes are worn out, and scheduled to their limit, which is half the problem. The other half is lack of planning, and lack of giving a crap on the crew planning side of things. Once we weasel our way out of St Louis, we will free up a few airplanes, and get caught up....somewhat; but, until then, our planes and crews will be stretched to the limit. Expect your 90 hour line to end up below guarantee, and life is good....maybe not good, but tolerable. I try not to get frustrated over things I can't control, even though I do, occasionally...