"Chris" wrote in message
Its interesting. The major low cost carriers in Europe have developed
business models where they have a number of bases with the aim that crews
get to their own homes after each duty session. As well as cutting out the
costs of paying for accommodation, crews are in better shape from having a
stable home life.

How many of those pilots actually live in those bases? Just like in the US,
many pilots commute to their assigned base. The end result is that they are
in a crashpad talking to their families on the phone during trip sequences.
The crews don't neccessarily have a more stable home life. Think about this-
How stable is family life when the pilot has to move his family every time
his base is reassigned? When will European airlines extend the professional
courtesy of allowing off-line pilots to jumpseat? That would be about the
pilots instead of the bottom line.

D.