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Old 08-25-2010 | 11:47 AM
  #46051  
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buzzpat
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Urban chicken rancher.
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Originally Posted by Kingbird87
I don't weigh in here often, but have noticed a bit more FNWA thread items about various issues from SE taxi, Spies in the cockpit, irate IAM baggage handlers etc. muddying things up. NWA is in the history books. I work for Delta. As such, there have been a lot of changes for me to absorb. Most of them have been very positive. We aren't arguing anymore about whether Delta or NWA will survive, merge with Brand X, get more RJ's, or furlough. That is all very positive, and change made those concerns go away. From my isolated corner of the airline, this summer has been enlightening. We MADE a lot of money! Certainly a lot more than Delta or NWA ever hoped of making standing alone. I applaud management for going for it with the ramp up. We also spread a lot of ill will in the process. I would estimate 75% of my flights in June, July and early August had some sort of delay, maintenance, inop APU or boarding issues. That is a change that everyone would agree has not been welcome, and my apology dialogue is wearing thin. The WDR problems are being resolved, more mechanics being hired and I believe management is addressing the problems. I personally and unfortunately, perceive a recalcitrance on the pilot management side of the house to entertain any review of best practices to fix any issues that may have worked well at the former NWA. Everyone knows the IT problems are causing big headaches with scheduling, flight plan updates, reroutes, and providing basic arrival information necessary for station ops. What is such a big deal about adding ACARS functionality, two releases for the cockpit, a reroute or flight plan change that doesn't use 22 linear feet of printer paper? Who or what is standing in the way of such small fixes being implemented?
My information is from my Chief Pilot that the two release thing has caused huge arguments up the food chain and the issue is not open for discussion anymore. If true, someone needs to head back to the line. I used to have a document that had everything I needed to reference in my grubby hands, and the other pilot had the same thing. Can that somehow be a bad thing? These are small issues and we get the job done in spite of them. If one plus one equals three, as evidenced by the profit of the New Delta, then I would hope that the solutions we have to fix Flight Operation's problems would come irrespective of whether they were initiated on Virginia Avenue or Lone Oak Drive.
Well said Kingbird and 100% right on the money.