JetFlyer06

Also interesting how they come up with an ALV and LCW for an aircraft with no lines of flying built. I asked ALPA and was told the company can arbitrarily choose the LCW/ALV. The ATL 717 guys were getting RSV guarantee of 78 hours in July with an ALV of 80. Meanwhile ATL777 cat was getting 72 hrs guarantee. Why the company would pay them above minimum guarantee for sitting around with no airplanes to fly seems strange, but more power to em - those guys got a sweet deal.

forgot to bid

Ha, okay, the 764 is as wide as the 7ER... is the 764 a widebody?

In my corporate days they called a Challenger 604 a widebody...

Hillbilly

They probably had the high ALVs to ensure they would not run afoul of the targeted line value (TLV) requirements in the PWA down the road during slower months. The TLV is measured for a 12-bid period rolling average of the ALV for each position and it has to be between 75 and 80 hours (inclusive). If you run 5 months (May though September) of 72 hour ALVs and then go into the winter flying months which don't have as much flying, you could run into a problem come April 2014. Just a thought.

Purple Drank

Is this a way for the company to manipulate the manning forumula?

forgot to bid

If you have to have a TLV somewhere between 75-80 hours in a 12 month/bid rolling average then jack up the ALV when there are just a few pilots on it and then bring it on down as more guys come on.

Brought to you by the same people who said "hey MD-88 guys, yeah, we're not going to back fill the 88 after guys go to the 717, the 88 is going to become staffing hell very soon intentionally, yeah I'd bid off of it but remember bid what you want and want what you bid which is the 717 because a differences course saves us a lot of money over an initial course. Thanks."

The real winners were the initial (non-differences) guys from other airplanes. I think the intent (which changes hourly it seems) is to get all of the 88 guys through differences as soon as possible because its faster and easier and then go back to the initial guys. So an 88 guy could fly the 88 today, start 717 tomorrow, spend the next few days confused and frustrated as hell, be done by Tuesday, say that wasn't all that bad and off to OE before a junior non-88 guy who went to initial back in June does their OE. That's how it was explained to me.

Personally, just a week off after flying the maddog like a dog the last few months is pure bliss and I'd rather just get OE done sooner than later because I like my Nov schedule. I don't want OE hanging over my head and dropping in with little warning. I actually need to go review the PWA on the rules there anyways.

forgot to bid

As to a single category, the new MD-88 will look like this


The 717 like this


The old 88 like this


Now just like the 777 and 757 and 320 and 88 and so on after similar things like an AP on switch, a speed switch, an altitude capture window... and if I hadn't said 88 I'm sure I could find some other similarities... there ain't much about the 717 that operates like the 88 because the overhead is now an overhead not an FE panel.

Now the most important difference is the fact that on the 717 you don't move the ailerons during the walk around. The 88 you do. The reason you don't do it on the 717 but you do on the 88 is not because the systems are different, they're the same, it's just the 88 book tells you to and the 717 doesn't. There.

When you go from the 88 to the 717 you bring a lot of baggage with you. It takes a few days to shed the baggage and learn that an airplane can actually like you and want to be with you and love you. But you're not sure that's the case because nothing about the 717s FMS is intuitive. The 88s makes a lot more sense and is easier to use but it was also added to the 88 kind of like autobrakes was added to the very back of the pedestal. The 717s FMS is the airplane. So it is smarter and does everything for you (sort of) but it's kind of like the new ACARS vs the old ACARS format. "Where do I put the..." "Wait, what the" "Wheres the execut... oh crap..." "from to, or to, whats the top, TP? Hey where did that go? How do you put the airway in? How much distance is left? WHERE IS MY GREEN ARC!?!? Change a runway? #### WILL IT STOP EXECUTING AUTOMATICALLY! Oh no, not a WDR, I don't even know where to put that! It single engine autolands? Wow, look at all the airports and NAVAIDs it can display..." Not to mention first flight procedures with all 3 would be a pain to memorize.

There is no way to go back and forth. I thought there would be but there ain't. It is without a doubt a smarter and far easier airplane to fly with similar systems to the DC9 and somewhat to the 88 and a little to the 90 but with a lot of computers doing the work for you, but cockpit and procedures wise it's very different. It'd be a nightmare to jump back and forth and I know the company looked at it.

Plus, ATLM88/717 B category with 1000 FOs wouldn't ever get its PBS bid awards published. It'd be the 25th of every month unlike 6pm on the 17th like it is now.

Purple Drank

deleted......

DAL73n

Most of the guys that have commented on it don't seem to be very complimentary BUT the wife and I both need to get exams and lens every year - could anyone tell me the cost for 2014 and also your experience if you've used it? Thanks.

Purple Drank

I'm unimpressed with the in-network providers. Not top-tier. The number of frames covered by they plan are very limited. Not sure about 2014 cost.

Check Essential

Delta Air Lines is desperately hoping there is a Game 7.
If the Cards lose tonight, we are gonna get the blame.