forgot to bid

Including the Saab 340. I think we now have every aircraft in the NW/DL fleet flying through ATL now... oh wait, has the 9 or 320 come to town lately since the 88 seems to be the ATL-MSP/DTW shuttle? I guess the 320 comes a lot as the sports charter, I see them sitting up on the north side a lot.

newKnow

I think the last DC-9 flights out aft ATL(at least for now) were on March 30th, since those were the last days former NWA crews would cover ATL-DTW and ATL-MSP flights. I think....

Superdad

edited for content

Superdad

That is not what "max days off blocks" means. It means that you cannot have more than 3 BLOCKS of days off in a month, NOT a max of 3 days in a row. If you asked PBS to build you a line with 12 days off in a row, assuming it could, than those 12 days are 1 block of days off.

I guess the purpose of this rule is to prevent you from asking PBS to put single days off all over your line or to prevent you from asking PBS to give you 2 days off at a time thereby ending up with 6 blocks of days off in your line.

Why the hell we would agree to these limitations is beyond me.

Razor

Interesting article in the WSJ a couple of days ago. Sounds like the 787 orders might be changing around some.


* APRIL 3, 2009, 3:51 P.M. ET

Boeing Shuffles 787 Order Book,No Takers For First Six-Report


By Ann Keeton
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Boeing Co. (BA) has reshuffled the customers for initial deliveries of its delayed 787 and set aside plans to send the first six aircraft into commercial use, according to a published report.

The move would see launch customer All Nippon Airways (9202.TO) take 11 of the first 30 aircraft, while Chinese carriers appear to have slipped from the first deliveries scheduled for next year, according to flightblogger.com published by U.K.-based Flight International.

Boeing declined comment on the report, which comes ahead of the first test flight scheduled for June. The 787 is more than two years behind schedule, with its launch delayed several times by supply and design problems.

Jim Proulx, a spokesman for Boeing's commercial airplanes unit, said the company doesn't comment on individual delivery schedules to customers. He acknowledged that "where possible, we are making adjustments that meet our customers' needs while allowing us to successfully manage our production plan."

Boeing said it hasn't made any changes to its delivery schedule, with the first 787 due to arrive at ANA in the first quarter of 2010.

According to flightblogger, Boeing is switching some aircraft to ANA that had been destined for Chinese airlines, who originally hoped to have the 787 in time for last year's Beijing Olympics. The Japanese carrier declined comment.

ANA is expected to use its first aircraft for domestic routes, while Chinese carriers are more concerned about the first aircraft being overweight. While this is a common problem with new aircraft types, it is a bigger issue for customers planning to use them on longer international routes.

Boeing also has reportedly re-assigned 787s ordered by Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) to Qantas Airways (QAN.AU) and Air India. Delta recently refuted speculation it had cancelled some of its orders.

Delta and Royal Air Maroc had been slated to take some of the first six test aircraft, but this plan has been revised, according to flightblogger.

The airlines couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The weight issues have troubled some 787 customers, since it would put aircraft performance below levels claimed by Boeing.

The 787 is the first commercial aircraft made with lightweight composite materials, rather than aluminum, cutting overall weight and boosting efficiency.

Boeing has outsourced much of the production, a move that has plagued the program with delays and forced the company to increase investment and resources.

Along with rival Airbus, Boeing is facing a weakening market for new aircraft, as airlines around the world cope with economic recession and a credit crisis that makes financing difficult.

Still, Boeing has said for the new, fuel-saving plane remains strong, and some customers want to move up in the order book as others defer multimillion-dollar purchases, making for a "dynamic" schedule that is subject to change.

The 787, the most successful launch ever at Boeing, has received more than 800 firm orders. So far this year, there have been no new 787 orders, and 32 cancellations.

iaflyer

I read a blurb in Aviation Week about the first six airplanes - a Boeing person said, he felt sorry for whoever get the first six, as they won't make performance targets. Also, there is a cooling issue on the main landing gear on the a bunch of the first ones - it takes a long time to cool. Boeing is modifying the cooling system, but it won't be on a number of the first deliveries.

KC10 FATboy

Although I agree with your interpretation of what "max days off blocks" means, for my April bid, I received 4 blocks of off days ... every Saturday, Sunday and Monday in April.

Ralphie

General pay question- if hired on say, the 7th of April, do we get the longevity pay bump on the 1st, 7th, or not until 1 May? Looked in the contract, too stupid/lazy to find it or interpret in any meaningful way what I was reading. I did find something that said, for pay purposes, the first day of your rotation determines what pay scale at which you'll be paid for that rotation.

Bucking Bar

7th, I think.

acl65pilot

On your hire date, and yes, they will prorate it.