Bluto

The thing that bugged me is the tone of SD's weekly update which seemed to suggest that we could solve the D-0 problem with briefings, planning, and leadership. When in reality, with the vast majority of departure delays, the only thing we can choose is whether to comply with policy (beacon on at push clearance) and worsen our already less than stellar on-time performance, or ignore the policy to reward the hard work of the rampers, agents, and everyone else whose fault ramp congestion is not.

iceman49

Loved the part about using the D7 to start the APU, sat on a 75 in ATL the other day, everyone was cooking in the back...don't want to cool it down in the back for the paying pax...gotta wait for the D7

maddogmax

Sorry. It was $11.01 and heading south when I posted. Just saying that is a lot closer to $9.60 than $14.94

UncleSam

I don't think he is suggesting that at all, but he can't sit in a inter-departmental meeting and just say we are doing nothing. SD knows where most of the problems lie but he needs to reassure the other depts that we are doing our part. They have come a long way in the last year toward better inter-departmental cooperation in this issue. Flight Ops formed a special project team to make a presentation to upper management outlining the various issues between Load Control, Gates, Ramp Control and us pilot people. I think all they are doing now is capsulizing our process.
My take is that the D7 event is just a good time to start the APU, if you have not already started it for a/c. There have been lots of written documents telling us to start the APU if needed earlier than D7.

Tumbleweed

Does anyone know about our jumpseat agreement (or lack of) with Airtran? I just called their reservation phone number and the gal said they don't have a jump seat agreement with Delta anymore. I haven't commuted on them before but I was told you list at the ticket counter. I was calling to check the load on a flight that would get me home a little sooner. Anyway, I hope it's a complete misunderstanding.

iceman49

Agreed on the witten info concerning starting the APU if you need it, but he tied the two together...think its a conflict, start the APU when you need it, not on a piece of paper.

LeineLodge

I've jumpseated on Airtran as recently as December. It was no big deal whatsoever. Just walk up to the gate for the flight you want (plenty early) and the agent should be able to take care of you. I've had nothing but GREAT experiences with them the few times I've used them; to include the agents, FA's, and especially the pilots. Many of their guys use us to get back and forth to ATL so I think they're especially tuned in to this.

To get a pretty good idea of the loads, just go to their website and search for the flights you want as if you were going to buy a ticket. The second or third page that pops up will give you a chance to peek at the seat map. It's not perfect, but better than nothing.

Note* I've only ridden them OUT of ATL. I'm not sure how they work at the outstations.

Nosmo King

For historical purposes, NWALPA negotiated a partial pay raise "out of cycle" and RA is the one that agreed to it.

80ktsClamp

I'm not getting spun up over D-0... I'm getting spun up over this idiotic focus on it that is literally fighting itself against our checklist procedures and policies. The beacon thing still kills me in its idiocy, yet someone apparently trying to justify their desk or that lives in some little glass bowl that has zero clue what's going on still thinks that's an appropriate method for blocking out an airplane.

So then they have this D-0 problem as a result and instead of "fixing the glitch" screw up our checklists further, spool up the gate agents and ramp agents even more on getting the plane out on time when not even coming close to actually fixing the root problem.

THAT is what I'm getting spooled up over. *huff.* At least I'm flying a 700 today that blocks out when the door is closed.

forgot to bid

Well said. Follow the policy and this airline looks like crap and not once does any one address Ramp 2 in Atlanta or the insane amount of garbage communications that goes on with ground in ATL for that matter that make it even worse.

Contact tower? Really? You have guys stepping all over each other trying to get out of the ramp, others who can't get in the ramp, now guys need to make 180s on the taxiway and several just said screw you and they'll taxi in on their own... and someone from up high thinks controllers need to let everyone know passing dixie monitor tower?

Remind me to rotate passing VR.

I was on a 757 DH not long ago in the middle of winter and it was so stuffy in the back that it just made you feel disgusting.

There is absolutely two extremes with the APU. Those who leave it running when it doesn't need to be and then there is Captain America who leaves it off and tells you and the back to kiss off, he's saving the company money.

With that mindset why even take off? Imagine how much money you could save the company if you didn't take off and instead just went home.

Both need to be ridiculed out of existence. When you need it use it, don't be a... Perez Hilton.