sailingfun

Its not all doom and gloom. Delta is expected to place a aircraft order to replace the whales. Rumor has it a combination of 777-300's and A330's that are available cheap. Delta has 40 plus delivery slots on 777's between now and 2015. They also have 737-800 options and a few on firm order. It looks like the MD-90's deal is about to go through with China. The 787 orders will either come or be swapped for 777's. A large order is anticipated for the 787-9 or A350.
There are 757's being parked however they are all expected to be back in service in 10 after getting the required major overhauls.
There is some pilot attrition. Senior pilots are always going out for medicals or checkride issues as they age.
Short summary. Delta has 13 new Boeings coming in the next 12 months. 8 are 777's which take 3 times the manning of a narrow body so these aircraft equal 29 narrow bodies in terms of pilot manning. It looks like between 18 and 27 MD-90's will be coming. 787's should start arriving in late 10 or 777's as a replacement. The parked 757's from both the Delta and NWA fleet are expected back in service by late Spring of 10. The last two parked MD-88's are coming back now.
The best news is that there are at the moment no plans to furlough a single pilot!!!!!!
The bad news is that in the last 25 years once Delta has announced a aircraft retirement I have never seen it delayed. They have only been moved up.

NWA320pilot

Well gotta call you on this one...... I personally contacted my reps after your post above and what was passed on to me was not what you are stating. I was told that all the talk over the -200 was due to the "remarks of RA in NRT" nothing has been decided. But I do agree that given the current freight enviroment the operation will cease in the near future.

As for the -400 the only thing that was talked about was cross fleeting, there was no discussion of its demise.

sailingfun

Did your rep attend the last MEC meeting. Did he listen to RA talk? If so there is a real disconnect on what was said. In another thread a former NWA pilot confirmed what I have said about the meeting taking place so I assume he checked with his rep. In two different lounge briefs it was confirmed the whales were planned to be retired within 5 years of SOC. This is a two year change on that.

Fly4hire

I contacted Reps who were at the last MEC meeting as well following your 400 comments.

Comments about freighters may be accurate, barring flying out existing contracts, however that was the first any of them had heard any change regarding the 400. FWIW.....

NWA320pilot

Yes the rep was at the meeting. He has listened to RA's talk but RA has NEVER said the freighters will be gone by 2010. There are several DAL guys on the boards stating this as fact but the fact is nobody really knows for sure.

As for the -400 I am glad the lounge briefs pilots know more than my reps because how else would I know the sky is falling.

maddogmax

The 747-200's will be gone at SOC. They are not going to be on the new certificate.

johnso29

This may be the best news I've ever seen you post on here.

In regards to the 744, I could understand if they wanted to park them quick when fuel spiked(because of 4 engines vs. 2) but with it back down I dont think they'll be as quick. I guess we will just have to wait & see.

Seattlecfi

They had meeting in ANC last week, the 200 will be gone by 12/31/09 or SOC, whichever comes first. They are not re-writing the 200 manuals. It is not going to go onto the DAL cert. Call ANC ops if you don't believe it. The people in ops were the ones that told us when we returned from our trip.

NWA320pilot

Who is they? I do believe the -200 has a limited life with the company but I cannot get an answer from ALPA or management confirming this.

acl65pilot

Giving up all the good info at once!

Do not forget about the 330's