Ultimately it'll just be this many...
6 Polar -400s
13 Atlas -400s
maybe 3 Classics in 2010, and thats generous.
The trick in this mix is that the -400s are positioned, but we're not exactly sure how we're going to deal with the -8s as they come on board.
On the plus side, the delivery of the -8s are far enough out that they can be deployed when the economy is back on the upswing.
We are working with customers now to place the -8s, dont know how its working. We also, IMHO, luckily resisted adding any more -400s as theyve become cheap to lease or buy. Our competitors cant afford them, and World is have growing pangs with their conversions.
So I think we did good by not growing.
On the downside:
To me it seems for every -8 we place we'll need to re-task a -400; we will probably swap a/c out with current customers.
If the two pilot groups finally get on to one, then they'll be able to move freely within fleet types/airlines possibly saving alot of jobs.
The ones who need to prepare for extinction are the remaining F/Es or heaven forbid, he who cannot transition to the glass cans.