Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
07-12-2014, 04:26 PM
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07-12-2014, 05:03 PM
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I have to agree with Purple in one of his points. The above and beyond is something that bean counters have no way to a monetary value on so it doesn't exist in their world. You are talking about a job action, B.O.B. (block or better for those that don't know), I, and I believe Purple, are talking about the extra stuff that makes the daily operation go sooo much smoother than it should in reality.
I will give you an example from my own experience. I was on Express, our 737 operation in MCO, crew scheduling knew that if they called me I could/would be to the airport in 20 minutes because I lived in Orlando. They would call all the time to see if I could get there quickly in order to do FCF's to get an airplane back into service. They knew that I would park in the hyatt parking lot, on my own dime, and be there faster than anyone other than someone sitting at the airport. I did this because I thought that Delta would always take care of me. I had heard the stories about the Delta family. Then came force majeur, furlough, bankruptcy and continually backward negotiations. It was made very apparent that ultimately you are just a number to the bean counters, because they can put a monetary value on a furlough. Heck they even knew the exact amount of days a pilot had to be out in order for it to be cost effective.
So long story short, after 3 years of furlough they lost that drive in me to go way beyond. I fly my trips, I still get stroller for moms in the jetway (not because it helps Delta but because it's the right thing to do), I hand out wings to kids and invite them to see the cockpit (this is one of my favorite things about the job).
The funny thing is that for the pilots not getting furloughed the time that the furloughees were on the street were some of the best years of money making and they have a very different slant on Delta and that time period. Those lucky enough to stay on property had C2K rates for 3 years and the ability, if they chose to do so, to greenslip much more which many took advantage of at the time.
I will give you an example from my own experience. I was on Express, our 737 operation in MCO, crew scheduling knew that if they called me I could/would be to the airport in 20 minutes because I lived in Orlando. They would call all the time to see if I could get there quickly in order to do FCF's to get an airplane back into service. They knew that I would park in the hyatt parking lot, on my own dime, and be there faster than anyone other than someone sitting at the airport. I did this because I thought that Delta would always take care of me. I had heard the stories about the Delta family. Then came force majeur, furlough, bankruptcy and continually backward negotiations. It was made very apparent that ultimately you are just a number to the bean counters, because they can put a monetary value on a furlough. Heck they even knew the exact amount of days a pilot had to be out in order for it to be cost effective.
So long story short, after 3 years of furlough they lost that drive in me to go way beyond. I fly my trips, I still get stroller for moms in the jetway (not because it helps Delta but because it's the right thing to do), I hand out wings to kids and invite them to see the cockpit (this is one of my favorite things about the job).
The funny thing is that for the pilots not getting furloughed the time that the furloughees were on the street were some of the best years of money making and they have a very different slant on Delta and that time period. Those lucky enough to stay on property had C2K rates for 3 years and the ability, if they chose to do so, to greenslip much more which many took advantage of at the time.
07-12-2014, 05:49 PM
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Its my duty as an American to keep that boring recreational aerobic exercise in its place.
I'm sure its good for kids to learn basic motor skills, or that obese guy from Subway to drop a few pounds or whatever, and that's fine, just as long as it knws it place and doesn't try to infect the greatness of real sports.
I'm sure its good for kids to learn basic motor skills, or that obese guy from Subway to drop a few pounds or whatever, and that's fine, just as long as it knws it place and doesn't try to infect the greatness of real sports.
07-12-2014, 05:52 PM
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07-12-2014, 05:53 PM
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As far as the ME carriers go - we will never be able to compete with them because the playing field is not even. They are allowed to discriminate - we are not. I imagine that if we could require our cabin crew to be under 30, smoking hot, and single it might help. But more important than the physical characteristics are the attitudes. Many of these employees come from Nations with very little economic opportunity, these gals feel like they won the lottery when they are hired and they basically did.
07-12-2014, 05:56 PM
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07-12-2014, 06:20 PM
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Its my duty as an American to keep that boring recreational aerobic exercise in its place.
I'm sure its good for kids to learn basic motor skills, or that obese guy from Subway to drop a few pounds or whatever, and that's fine, just as long as it knws it place and doesn't try to infect the greatness of real sports.
I'm sure its good for kids to learn basic motor skills, or that obese guy from Subway to drop a few pounds or whatever, and that's fine, just as long as it knws it place and doesn't try to infect the greatness of real sports.
Me: "Americans really won't take soccer seriously until the players stop taking dives and holding their shins in agony every time someone brushes up against them, all in the hope of suckering the refs into calling a penalty."
Him: "We Brazilians won't take American football seriously until we stop seeing players make a long run, followed by a camera shot of them sitting on the sideline sucking on an oxygen bottle!"
Touches all around.
07-12-2014, 07:17 PM
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The MD88's
And the MD90's. Are they still planning on re-doing the flight decks? It has gone silent and have been reading DAL is just ordering more NEW jets. Seems like it might be a waste of money?
I think both the 88 and 90 flight decks are currently the same with some switch differences. Do crews fly both?
I think the 88's were originally 82's and were modded in the late 80s early 90s?
I would love to fly the 88/90 for the Big D but like the current flight deck. Truthfully, I love the old analog flight deck. Anyone have any old MD82 pics of DALs aircraft?
I think both the 88 and 90 flight decks are currently the same with some switch differences. Do crews fly both?
I think the 88's were originally 82's and were modded in the late 80s early 90s?
I would love to fly the 88/90 for the Big D but like the current flight deck. Truthfully, I love the old analog flight deck. Anyone have any old MD82 pics of DALs aircraft?
07-12-2014, 08:03 PM
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And the MD90's. Are they still planning on re-doing the flight decks? It has gone silent and have been reading DAL is just ordering more NEW jets. Seems like it might be a waste of money?
I think both the 88 and 90 flight decks are currently the same with some switch differences. Do crews fly both?
I think the 88's were originally 82's and were modded in the late 80s early 90s?
I would love to fly the 88/90 for the Big D but like the current flight deck. Truthfully, I love the old analog flight deck. Anyone have any old MD82 pics of DALs aircraft?
I think both the 88 and 90 flight decks are currently the same with some switch differences. Do crews fly both?
I think the 88's were originally 82's and were modded in the late 80s early 90s?
I would love to fly the 88/90 for the Big D but like the current flight deck. Truthfully, I love the old analog flight deck. Anyone have any old MD82 pics of DALs aircraft?
As to is it a waste of money? We all very very very much hope they do it and keep the airplanes for a long time. I'd hate for a fleet to be parked because you become concerned if they'll actually be replaced 1:1. They're good airplanes and do their mission well, they're not a 767-300ER, but never were meant to be a 767-300ER.
I think they should abandon the screens and go with dual HUDs!
But I don't think the screens are the issue. Someone else here might have more insight but I believe the MD-88 is "essentially an MD-82 with an upgraded cockpit. Physically identical to the MD-81/82/83. Always has all of the drag-reducing features the MD-87 introduced, like the screwdriver tailcone and pylon fairing. 150 built in all, 125 of them were for Delta (117 here now). First eight were built as -82's with pointed tailcones, then modified into -88's."
more at AIRLINERCAFE.COM - Ultimate DC-9/MD-80/MD-90/MD-95 Guide
If you get typed on the MD-88 your type says DC-9. You're good to fly the MD-88 and -90 for Delta. Evidently as SWA kept the 737 cockpit married to the original 732, Delta kept the 90 married to the 88 but the Saudi MD-90s had the all glass cockpit similar to the 717 but different.
As my buddy on the DC-9 once said, flying the 9 today was like trying to write a Word document on a typewriter from the 70s. It can do it but it's more work although its ready to go the second you have paper in it. In that sense the MD-88 is an electronic type writer from the late 80s, half way between a computer and a type writer.
I liked landing the 88 fwiw, I thought it was a nice landing airplane outside of obnoxiously loud reversers and brakes that don't work well < 10 kts.
07-12-2014, 08:11 PM
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