Hey all, a couple of observations from the 7ER western front in Narita. If you ain't one.......scroll down, and keep walk'en, nothing to see here.

The latest Western Hemisphere revision has all the Japan airports, South airports and primary alternates. So when you come over, pick up your Asia brick in Ops as normal. However, leave it in the shrink wrap and then throw it in a bag somewhere in case you divert into nowhere IAP in China. Why they just don't throw a couple of bricks in each airplane is beyond me. I assume it's a good reason, but.......

We don't seem to be tankering fuel down to Guam and especially Saipan anymore. Car gas on Saipan is $4.20/gal so if airplane gas is even close to the same ratio, we are paying a boat load for it there. And, no, I don't know what Jet fuel is in NRT for a comparision. And, yes I know it burns gas to haul gas. But NWA had a formula to maximize the tradeoff.

Dispatch is still learning about the operation out here. We were filed on a SID out of NRT going to Saipan that we had never seen before. Sure enough, we were told we had a change when we got the clearance, back to the SID we were used to seeing. I sent Dispatch a message that this SID was the normal departure for Guam and Saipan when I sent in the reroute info. The thanked us and said they would sent it up the chain.

Good trip so far. Met a southie Capt doing his first Asia trip out of his new base, MSP. A Dallas commuter who is digg'en not going to Atlanta anymore. He has another "old Asia hand" FO so I'll see how he enjoyed his cherry boy tour before we deadhead home.

Ferd

PS Dull Saturday afternoon at Godfathers. The Capt I was with was unimpressed as we were the only two people in the joint at 4pm. Damn 6am departures!! Who do I call about this outrage!!

PPS SPN to Nagoya is back in early June, it used to be an 8something am deaprture......there is hope yet!!