OccupyRestSeat

In that case, based on my last trip through MSP, we're screwed. Worst rampers in the system, period. If the company were really concerned about the HVCs' perception "unskilled labor" they'd wipe the slate clean and start fresh up there. Absolutely unsat.

NERD

Disagree. Atl and Dtw hold that honor.

acl65pilot

Actually guys, it is BWI on the late shift. No worse in the system.

OccupyRestSeat

I've seen guys run in ATL. It's more of a waddle in MSP.

scambo1

Best rampers in the system are in Asia.

Most rampers for a push are in India.

JetFlyer06

Agree...had to wait over an hour for a gate there once and we got in just before midnight - no IROPS either. We couldn't reach station ops on the radio or the phone for more than 30 mins.

BlueMoon

Second that, at night it can take 30 minutes to park with nothing going out or coming in.

Bucking Bar

One option that makes sense is a narrow body order this spring. As the RJ's hit their economic life limits those pilots flow through to Delta. Possibly a deal is struck where the small jets are acquired by (Skywest, Pinnacle, etc...) and flown by "Delta pilots" who are today's regional jocks.

It's a win for management (reset longevity, get good pilots and possibly still "outsource" the airplanes) a win for ALPA (it would show the union is relevant at job protection and career progression) and a win for the pilots (since this sort of merger puts us all on one list and creates unity in a fashion that protects and enhances the interests of pilots at the regionals and mainline).

I'm sure there will be the traditional merger and acquisition activity where we acquire a good operation, screw it up, shut it down, then those pilots bid into our bases and displace us and everyone is ****ed off except for the managers and consultants who make a fortune in these deals.

Bucking Bar

Is it bad form to let the station manager's phone number slip out by accident during a PA?

I recall one Capt. who made a briefing along the lines of "ladies and gentlemen, if you turn to page 41 of Delta's award winning Sky Magazine you will find a customer comment card. Please write and let us know how you feel about this ramp delay."

Solution was giving the Captain some time off and removing the comment cards.

... asked about the situation at BWI and was told there was an RJ they had to service before us. ... not sure how they do the numbers any more, but the regional guys used to prioritize their own Company's metal so that they would achieve performance numbers. Also, if there is an Alaska flight Delta has contracts which force us to provide a certain level of staffing to Alaska (and other partners) which depletes the number of people working Delta flights. In DFW I was told that could literally take every Delta person but two. ... Still Dallas seemed to always manage to get the job done. Cincinnati, Denver and SLC seem to do well too.

DAL73n

I'll second that. Although, the widely held standard is within 2 hours of any of the bases we cover (which in LA would mean you could be 2 hours EAST of Ontario which could be "who knows how long to LAX) and in NYC I knew a lot of American and United guys who were on reserve with ACY (Atlantic City) being 2 hours from EWR and who knows how long to LGA or JFK.