I flew it for 6+ years. Just got off of it 6 months ago. I'm not going back. It's not worth being a junior captain on and I'm senior on other planes as a first officer.

 

Congrats Deltoids! Especially you 80kts Clamp...always enjoyed your posts!

We here at AA are amazed...our junior CA (LGA/MIA 737/320) is still hovering around Sept/Oct 2000 hire date. Truly amazing times y'all are living in.

 

Does American hate their 80/90s as much as we seem to hate our 88/90s?

 

Initially the hate was the 88/90 and NYC but it seems like it has extended to everything narrowbody nationwide except the 757. I never would have imagined 2014+ hires holding Captain on a Delta Airbus or 737 within 3 years. I'm sure some are in their 20s too. Mind-blowing

 

I am one of the guys new on property (14 months) who bid 88A ATL and got it. I was prior mil and did a year at a regional. I've flown so old and pilot unfriendly planes in my career that make the 88 look sophisticated. I guess it boils down to perception but I look forward to the challenge and am excited to get a huge pay raise. I was a longtime AF instructor and look forward to being in the left seat again. The learning curve will be exponential but this won't be my first time at that rodeo. Personally, I feel a culture of 88 hate infests DAL and creates a much worse perception. I could be wrong, time will tell, but worst case it's only a few years.

 

I flew the 88 for years. It does come with A LOT of gotchas, but it is a great opportunity for junior guys to bid Capt. After all, it is just an airplane.

 

Being a captain has as much to do with the non flying part (sometimes more). Dealing with agents, dispatch, crew skeds, crew etc can often be as challenging as flying the jet. Both take time to settle in to but as others have said, the Bad Dog is just an airplane and once you learn and respect its quirks, you can concentrate on the captain part. Every airplane has them.

But I do know there is a god because I never had to fly the dog 😜

 

It was once considered one of the easist aircraft.

 

It was pretty sophisticated to those of us who cut our teeth on the 727 and DC9.

 

The truth is that there are more people who have never flown the 88 who hate it than people who have flown it and don't like it.
Then, you have a sub culture who not only enjoys it, but will miss flying it in and out of NY.
During upgrade training, I was paired with a 29 year old who could of bid any airplane in his class but chose the 88.
One of the last old school flying airplanes around.
As far as being a new captain on this plane, it's really about how to effectively manage the big picture.
Once you figure out the plane, the focus is managing the rest of the "stuff". No different than any other plane.
Sure it's an oven in the summer and has no good entertainment for the passengers but there's never a dull moment flying it. Lol.
At the end of the day, it gives an unheard of opportunity at a great legacy carrier.
*Rant over*