Okay, so lets say the
29 Saudi MD90s came on the market at a heck of a good price. I'm just wondering if the airframe, seating and parts are similiar enough to the current 90s and the only difference is the cockpit then why not get them and put them somewhere? Make the a DTW,
DFW , MEM**** or MSP only aircraft. Or ATL***
We've had smaller subfleets before, the 16 MD-90s in SLC, 21 767-400s in ATL and 16 744s in DTW come to mind. A differences course of 5 sim sessions would be enough and I wonder if you could do that using the 3 717 sims in Atlanta? If that would fly... not literally, just fake it, like normal.
29 MD90s x $9M (what are the current MD90s again, $8M?) = $261M. For a fleet of 29 airplanes seating built from 1998-2000* that will soon seat the same number of passengers, 160, as a 738 with a fuel burn of only 3% higher** on a 500 nm trip? I'd think differences training would be no different then the way we handle the 764 today, you complete 756 then you complete 764 differences.
I mean there is value in playing a game with B&A concerning the MD90s but for the price and given B&As recent failures of concept to market aircraft, I don't think its a negotiating tactic at all.
I've talked myself into it. Which means absolutely nothing. Thanks for reading.
*According to
McDonnell Douglas MD-90 Production List - Planespotters.net Just Aviation
**
Similar Aircraft Comparisons Chart
*** where the players play and the parties don't stop til 8 in the morning
**** Why not just replace the Airbus and DC9 fleet in MEM with the Saudi MD90s? Could it go to both coasts? There is what, 230 pilots in MEM now so if you put 29 MD90s in there you'd have 8 pilots to a plane, isn't that the norm DAL staffing for a narrow body?