80ktsClamp

The king has returned! Best of luck in training and thanks for your service... you've got some catching up to do on reading here while you're at it.

forgot to bid

Clamp, didn't your previous airline actually do bids by hand? At least in 02 or so?

And yes it could be worse...

FrankCobretti

Delta Air Lines luggage worker pinned, hurt


Let's hope this guy's ok.

Sink r8

I don't know the answers, and I don't care, but this does make a good point... I don't think it's neccessary for us to police each other on internet forums WRT policies that belong to Flight Ops. The South doesn't own SE taxi. If Flight Ops determines there is less or more compliance in one fleet or another, then let them address it. As (I think) you'e saying: it's Delta's place to manage fuel burn.

I'm getting tired of some of the North guys' attittudes about some of the current policies, but it's not because I "own" them, or that I'm particularly attached to them. It's because I want to be part of the solution, and I want us to craft "best practices" together, once we're in the same cockpits. I'm not married to AWABS. I didn't design the IT architecture. I don't write manuals. So I'm not offended by interest in changing any of these things. I'm just offended by some of the guys that feel obligated to give everyone on the "other side" the finger, as they describe practices with demeaning monickers, and suggest we don't know how to run an airline.

The flip side of this is that I don't think South pilots want to lecture North pilots on close adherence to procedures. They have enough to get used to. As long as they're willing to adapt, and use current procedures well enough that we can fly safely together, great. Then we can tinker with procedures and improve them.

So I think we can "download" a lot of these discussions back to where they belong: with Flight Ops. Don't like something? Don't tell APC: write Delta Flight Ops.

slowplay

While this is great news for us in the industry, there are a couple of points to consider.

1. Revenue during the summer of 2009 was down more than 23% compared to the summer of 2008. Revenue would have to increase 30% to return to "normal" levels. 25% is good news and is a long way back toward normal.

2. Oil prices during the summer of 2009 averaged about $67 bbl. This summer they're projected around $90 bbl. On the good side, the fuel hedges that killed us last year are no longer around.

Delta was forecasting a very small profit prior to the recent traffic recovery. If oil prices stay reasonable and there are no external events (yeah, right), then we have a good chance of making some more coin this year. Nothing to write home about, but still far better than a loss. Earnings season begins next week. I'm real interested to see how Delta's doing on CASM after SOC, and how we stack up on operating margin. I expect that we'll see some differentiation from our full service network peers.

forgot to bid

Hopefully some bulldozers will flatten terminal 3 and help out with that issue.

johnso29

Yeah, it really chaps me when I save gas, pull in with 1000 lbs over FOA, then watch it burn because the rampers just shove the cord in & run. Wish they would make sure it's a good connection before they run!

I too had SE Taxi pounded into my head at Coex, & try to do it often. Working on my CA's, & they're getting better.

One other thing, there are a range of gates at MSP & DTW where we are restricted from taxiing in SE due to an uphill gradient, & that sometimes prevents us from SE taxi in. Wonder if it is a former NWA thing?

NuGuy

Ahhh, now I know where my profit sharing went.

"The Vic-20 Product Improvement Package...now with improved cassette drive!"

South guys, it's not that we're trying to argue with you...we're just trying to explain how you're wrong.

Nu

Howgozit

Speaking about fuel saving, on the 9 we have to run the APU to make coffee and etc since the potable water system is pneumatically powered is the 88 the same way?

Cycle Pilot

The -88 has a switch in the galley for an electric pump that should pressurize the potable water system. I emphasize the word "should" as it doesn't really work sometimes or is slow to pressurize the system. In that case, we need to run the APU to get water pressure.