cni187

AU VS LSU

alfaromeo

Well, if you post a stupid picture, then you have proven it. Answer this simple question, which creates more pilot jobs:

1. 600 aircraft at 9 hours per day
2. 800 aircraft at 5 hours per day

While we talk about how many crews per aircraft Delta needs that is not how airlines create fleets and staffing.

First they figure out how much capacity they need.
Then they figure out how many block hours they will need to fly that capacity
Then they figure out how many aircraft they will need to fly those block hours
Then they figure out how many pilots they will need to fly those block hours

Ensuring our share of block hours in that mix is the direct driver of mainline pilot jobs. Fleet size means nothing except in the context of how many block hours per day each aircraft flies. I kept an old car around for years because it ran well, it was paid off, and it cost me almost nothing to keep. For that I had a free rental whenever a car was in the shop or my kids needed to borrow one.

With fully depreciated, fully paid off aircraft, Delta can keep extra jets in the fleet for years and years with virtually no cost. They can fly them a lot or a little. Counting hulls mean nothing. Counting block hours mean everything.

But I am sure you will prove me wrong by posting another picture from the internet.

Bucking Bar

Take away points from that article ...

• Asia Pacific codeshare, which may not be a big deal now, will be a big deal in the future.
• A Delta / Skymarks combo is a market winner.
• There is little doubt in my mind SkyMark is a whole lot cheaper than anything Delta could do considering the credit involved in getting a narrow body crew (let's say the 737-900 that seems to draw blank responses from network planning were to go to Asia) into position & operating under FTDT regs.
• Skymarks is about to grow rapidly ... where are they going to find crews?
• Delta is about margins, not gross revenues. Fees for selling a ticket on another carrier can be 100% profit. The cost of the computer servers and folks to answer the phones are already amortized by the rest of the business.
• Skymarks is Japan's worst airline ... yeah ... so was GoJets, ASA, Mesaba (pick your partner) ... doesn't seem to effect codeshare much ... cheap sells

shiznit

Just because you keep saying it doesn't mean it's true!

1. C2012 was NOT 'cost neutral' to the Delta pilots.
2. Delta is not making truly 'record profits' yet.

Delta was still losing money in the winter quarter when C2012 was negotiated. Delta made close to 1.8B at it's peak prior to 9/11, with an airline roughly 60% the size of the 2013 Delta. In order to have an equivalent "record breaking profit", you'd need to see the Delta of 2013 make a profit of roughly $3.0 Billion (not counting inflation).

1. Delta gets to the $3 Billion mark right as we are opening C2015.
2. The AA/LCC merger occurs to eliminate the $141.85/hr 757/767 Captain rate.
3. All Delta pilots rally and show tangible support of their MEC and NC.

If the things above occur I think we will see C2K levels of gains.

If we do not see the three items above the road to restoration will be a lot more difficult to travel.

johnso29

I don't think the debate is about whether or not it happens. I think it has more to do with how often it occurs. Probably more then it happens at Delta, but would Delta going to SWA pilot's level of efficiency cost us jobs? Also, can we even match it based on the fact that they have one type rating while we have seven different type ratings and 10 different categories?

johnso29

Delta was making record profits in the winter of 2012? Didn't Delta just make a 1st qtr profit this year for the first time in...what....over 10 years?

cni187

Wow man chill out, it's just a cool movie reference.

newKnow

Touche' !

orvil

1995--

Prince gives up flying royal aircraft after Hebrides crash

The Prince of Wales has given up piloting royal flights following his crash in the Hebrides last year in which a Queen's Flight passenger jet was damaged to the tune of pounds 1m. St James's Palace announced the Prince's decision yesterday as an RAF board of inquiry found that the aircraft's captain had been negligent in allowing him to take the controls.
Prince Charles was not blamed because, despite holding the RAF rank of group captain, he was regarded as a passenger who was invited to fly the aircraft. The inquiry can pass judgment on the crew.
It was not in dispute, however, that the Prince was at the controls of the BAe 146 when it landed awkwardly and too fast in high winds on the Isle of Islay last June, slewed off the Port Ellen runway and came to a halt with its nose buried in mud. Six crew and five passengers were on board but no one was injured.
The RAF report into the accident, released in the House of Commons yesterday, concluded the jet was flying 32 knots (40mph) too fast when it crossed the runway threshold. Only 509m (557yds) of the 1,245m-long (1,362yd) strip remained when all the aircraft's wheels touched down, causing a tyre to burst and another to deflate.
The captain, Squadron Leader Graham Laurie, was negligent "in the final stages of the flight". Although he still flies with No. 2 Royal Squadron, he may no longer act as an instructing or supervising pilot.

nwaf16dude

Skynrd, "I know a little"...last album before the crash. How's my redneck cred?