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- - 73N vs 320 (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/delta/118509-73n-vs-320-a.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FogSkier (Post 2721850)

I don’t think he highlighted nearly enough how terribly out of control that pilots are on the bus......

Can’t be stated strongly enough. It’s a champagne and fromage soaked death trap that will lull you into a false sense of security until it tries to murder you on final and only the fact the the FO just got off VA Ave from IQ and is the great great grand nephew of Charles Lindberg saves your lives. Bidders beware.

They dont call it the "scarebus" for nothing. Be sure to pack extra undies because you'll need em.

If you still not convinced, read the AF447 report.

It seems to me that the -900 is the new Mad Dog (i.e. The Cloud Plow): it's typically too heavy to make it to anything above FL340/350, so it's constantly trucking around in the weather. What say you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gspeed (Post 2721900)

Often our initial climb was to 280 on the long transcons. On the upside you're staying out of the radiation for longer, which increases dramatically above 350.

Having flown the bus before and liked it..I’m leaning towards the 73 next time around. The fume issues on the bus fleet at all carriers concerns me. We have enough health hazards at work that I don’t want to add any more to my plate unless I have to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xjtpilot518 (Post 2721368)

No I dont have access, im hoping to get a chance to choose between the two soon though, so thanks for the info

Do you have a class? If so there won't be any 320s because there weren't any left unfilled in our last vacancy. Tons of 73s though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peoloto (Post 2721978)

Do you have a class? If so there won't be any 320s because there weren't any left unfolded in our last vacancy. Tons of 73s though.

Yea, January. Now that you say that I think I read something similiar along those lines about the 320's. Im sure I'll hear whats available for the 12/10 class tomorrow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xjtpilot518 (Post 2721985)

Yea, January. Now that you say that I think I read something similiar along those lines about the 320's. Im sure I'll hear whats available for the 12/10 class tomorrow

As of last AE, this is all they can hand out tomorrow and in classes until the next AE.

16 7ER
149 73N
13 A220
59 717

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 2721669)

The 737 is much more of a pilot's airplane. You can grab it by the scruff of the neck and make it do what you want it to do. The -900's are more challenging to land well than the Airbus. The Vertical Situation Display and the avionics package allow the 737 to be easily flown with a great deal of precision with regard to energy management. The 737 climbs a bit better.

The Airbus is more comfortable, but about as fun to operate as your washing machine or microwave at home. MHO it is harder to learn but a whole lot easier to operate day in and day out. The Airbus tends to make you look good on landing, so there is that. Took me ~300 hours to learn to trick the FMGCS into flying smoothly. The 320's in particular will do dorky stuff like get ten knots slow, then firewall the power. After a brief while, you'll learn to see the set up and help the airplane out.

The 737 does more island and central America flying, it that's your thing; cheap shoe shines, good empanadas and free boat drinks. The Airbus seems to only go to places where there are a lot of BBQ joints Chick-Fil-A's, Dunkin Doughnuts and $30-$40 hotel meals.

The Airbus has two jumpseats. Jumpseaters and especially the FAA seem to know this and look for Airbus flights. Expect JS about 30 to 50% of the time. The 737's don't go anywhere that anyone much wants to JS to (can't internationally) and they do more red eyes.

The Airbus 319 is the most expensive airplane at Delta on a CASM basis. For that reason, it would not surprise me to see them get culled. The A320's that were the NWA launch birds are seriously old. Expect to become very familiar with the MEL / CDL. Getting them to wake up in the morning, in the cold, takes patience. Make sure your Capt has his cell phone charged, he's going to need it. The passengers love the Airbus (for the most part). More comfortable for them.

ATL is stagnant on the bus. Everybody I speak with is moving backwards due to the MD88 exodus. If you are a west coast bubba the world is your oyst'ah for now.

Nobody seems to know how they will deploy the NEO's yet. Given all the problems Pratt is having with that engine I'm still not quite believing we are going to use them trans-oceanic. After my career, I'll believe it when it's on the gate with my name on the release.

Awesome summary!! Spot on

Why was it 10 knots slow to begin with? Don’t be the guy who does managed descent say at 280 but with the window margin of +/- 20 kts each side, the speed goes to 260 and you do nothing. Of course the power will firewall at level off to go back to 280. Or you could be a pilot and pulled speed 280 to avoid this crap to begin with. I’ve noticed most of the criticism on the Bus is when guys sit back and let the thing do something without having intervened and done what they wanted it to do. 99.9% of the time the plane did exactly what you had told it do, most likely you didn’t mean it to do that.