Original Message

"Retire" to EMS. Ha joke

Fly the same aircraft and have the same mechanic maintaining it. I've flown 3 different airframes from/to 3 different baes in the same day as a pool pilot.

Fly with the same crew.

10-30 minutes from home. Quicker and more complete local situational knowledge.

Sleep nights at work. Home every night/day, whatever.

No more half hour to 14 hour commutes and sleep in crappy pilot quarters.

Finally, my opinion- it ain't a job for new guys. The hardest thing in a pilot's life is turning down or abandoning a flight. WE ALL WANT TO FLY. Or we wouldn't be there.