Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
03-02-2013, 04:19 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,113
03-02-2013, 04:55 AM
Back on TDY
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
If you didn't like the follow-on post about the middle break, we might be reaching the limits of my cockpit introduction stories.
I did show up at the aircraft way early, one time, to find the Captain strapped in to his seat, shoulder harness on, and he had completed the interior/exterior preflight. He was loading the box. I said "Hi, I'm Sink r8", and held out my hand. He could shake my hand, because of the spacesuit, but he removed his helmet, took a ling breath, and went into his anaerobic routine: "Zoomie"/everything by the book"/(a bunch of stuff that might have been in his diary, but not Delta's book)/"let's have a lot of fun"/!(to show enthusiasm). It wasn't too long, maybe four minutes, but it sure felt like a long time for me to keep a straight face.
It's true that I'm sitting on a treasure-trove of uber-tool material, but they all belong to one guy, and are so weird and specific that I will out myself and make an enemy for a long time.
All kidding aside, we're not dogs. When I meet the Captain, I don't want to smell his bunghole, and I don't want him to smell mine, for a couple of minutes. The initial briefing is therefore not an interview, nor an opportunity to showcase your greatness, relative to the rest of the Captains in category. It's simply an opportunity to shake hands, try to get the other guy's name right, break the ice, and move right into the standardized environment that we trained professionals should all know.
The greatest Captains are the most average, in a sense. The coexist with you in Delta World, and don't try to force you into their particular universe. You then can get to know them as individuals in a relaxed conversation, because your brain power isn't committed to trying to reconcile their reality with the world that you and the other 95% of Captains live in.
I guess I have one last one that you don't really want to hear in the first two sentences: "Viper Community".
Best Regards,
Sink r8
I did show up at the aircraft way early, one time, to find the Captain strapped in to his seat, shoulder harness on, and he had completed the interior/exterior preflight. He was loading the box. I said "Hi, I'm Sink r8", and held out my hand. He could shake my hand, because of the spacesuit, but he removed his helmet, took a ling breath, and went into his anaerobic routine: "Zoomie"/everything by the book"/(a bunch of stuff that might have been in his diary, but not Delta's book)/"let's have a lot of fun"/!(to show enthusiasm). It wasn't too long, maybe four minutes, but it sure felt like a long time for me to keep a straight face.
It's true that I'm sitting on a treasure-trove of uber-tool material, but they all belong to one guy, and are so weird and specific that I will out myself and make an enemy for a long time.
All kidding aside, we're not dogs. When I meet the Captain, I don't want to smell his bunghole, and I don't want him to smell mine, for a couple of minutes. The initial briefing is therefore not an interview, nor an opportunity to showcase your greatness, relative to the rest of the Captains in category. It's simply an opportunity to shake hands, try to get the other guy's name right, break the ice, and move right into the standardized environment that we trained professionals should all know.
The greatest Captains are the most average, in a sense. The coexist with you in Delta World, and don't try to force you into their particular universe. You then can get to know them as individuals in a relaxed conversation, because your brain power isn't committed to trying to reconcile their reality with the world that you and the other 95% of Captains live in.
I guess I have one last one that you don't really want to hear in the first two sentences: "Viper Community".
Best Regards,
Sink r8
Carl
PS... Of course later on I ask: "Did I ever tell you about the time I caddied for the Dalai Lama?"
03-02-2013, 05:03 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Position: MD-88 F/O
Posts: 1,004
03-02-2013, 05:06 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,530
03-02-2013, 05:08 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,919
03-02-2013, 05:23 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Position: Decoupled
Posts: 922
Deleted because even I was disgusted.
Last edited by orvil; 03-02-2013 at 05:34 AM.
03-02-2013, 05:27 AM
Da Hudge
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Poodle Whisperer
Posts: 17,473
So, I'll report back about the long sleeved academy guy. Long story short, he wasn't a tool to me but haaaaates all things to do with the NW culture. Needless to say, that's ticked off many of the people he flies with since they are at least half fnw. Hence why his name has become household in the fleet, haha.
Anyhoo, I got extended into an extra out and back for only the second time in 6 years. And this is only March... summer is going to be crazy I'm thinking. Overstaffed, my butt!
Anyhoo, I got extended into an extra out and back for only the second time in 6 years. And this is only March... summer is going to be crazy I'm thinking. Overstaffed, my butt!
03-02-2013, 05:38 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: window seat
Posts: 12,538
So, I'll report back about the long sleeved academy guy. Long story short, he wasn't a tool to me but haaaaates all things to do with the NW culture. Needless to say, that's ticked off many of the people he flies with since they are at least half fnw. Hence why his name has become household in the fleet, haha.
Anyhoo, I got extended into an extra out and back for only the second time in 6 years. And this is only March... summer is going to be crazy I'm thinking.
Overstaffed, my butt!
03-02-2013, 05:50 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Posts: 272
If the pilot group can restrain themselves this summer with white slips and such perhaps the company will hire. Nobody likes and enabler.
03-02-2013, 05:57 AM
Moderator
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: B757/767
Posts: 13,088
I know. It's difficult to believe, but I am part of the 38%. I read the TA multiple times, and realized I was desperately searching for more reasons to vote YES then NO. I never found those reasons.
But the TA passed and it's now our contract. So I accept that, and my optimistic side keeps me positive that it'll be good for us.
Hopefully my optimistic side is correct!
But the TA passed and it's now our contract. So I accept that, and my optimistic side keeps me positive that it'll be good for us.
Hopefully my optimistic side is correct!
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