DTW Locals
 

Recently got a CJO and am very excited! I live very close to DTW and my ultimate goal is to be home more (and try and do GS when able). While I’ll happily take any airplane that can eventually get me based in DTW, I’m curious what the trip mix between fleets? How senior do 1/2/3 day trips go? I would imagine the 717 has the highest probability of shorter pairings, but am curious what the QOL for DTW area locals is like. Thanks everyone!

Welcome! I currently live in the Detroit area and am about 30 minutes from DTW. I have been on the 320 for about 3 years now and I am enjoying it. My seniority is 35% which allows me to get all 2 and 3 day trips, most weekends off, and mainly 2-3 legs a day. The 320 fleet has been growing substantially in Detroit while the 737 fleet has slowly started deteriorating. The 7ER base closed during Covid so that helped the 320 fleet gain some longer legs. The 717 is also growing. One of only two bases with that aircraft. A lot of 3-4 legs with that but also a lot of 3 days. Easy, regional style flying is available on the 717 if you stay closer to home. After about two years as a narrow body FO you will have the opportunity to either fly one of the Airbus wide Boies (330 or 350) as an FO or you can upgrade to CA on the 717, 320, or 737. It’s the 3rd largest pilot base. The flight attendants are awesome, most pilots are cool (some ex northwest pilots are grumpy but I don’t blame them), and the airport is the easiest thing ever. Parking lot to the terminal is quick. Very efficient airport. I think the future is bright at Detroit!

Very generally speaking all narrow bodies will have a similar ratio of 1/2/3/4/5 day trips. 717 is great for commuters as it currently has the most commutable trips, but since you’re local that’s obviously not a concern. Between the 73 and 320, the 320 is a larger category in DTW and more movement. 320 is a pretty big mix of mostly domestic, whereas 73 is both domestic and Island flying.

Edited to add: If you really care about green slips, avoid the 717, just doesn’t get as many since it’s a small fleet and only two bases.

DTW is a great base - hardly any weather delays, and a good mix of flying. If only the ER could come back... 320 is where the growth is at DL on the narrow body. 717 is mostly stagnant, 737 is growing slightly but not enough to worry about. As the 757s get parked, the 321 will take over that flying.

1 day trips are hard to do - there aren't that many of them (on 737/320) because they get incorporated into other flying to make it more efficient. Then the senior people pick them up - so unless you're in the top 20%, you won't be able to hold them. 2 days are rarish, and there are plenty of 3-4 days trips. Some 5 days, but the new TA should adjust these to be a bit more equitable.

When are the 757 getting parked?

Like the Maddogs - they were getting parked for over a decade. If it wasn't for the virus, they'd still be flying.

The 321 NEO are just now entering flight testing and are going to have an uphill (like Mt everest battle) for certification IF you opt for the center/aft tanks (which pretty much everyone wants since without the plane is basically useless).

They pulled the 757 to the points for a reason. SEA was always going to lose the ER flying as that was stated years ago once we got the 330 orders rolling.

321 NEO is ether right now and the 75/76 are going to be around for many many years.

How many 321s are doing SNA - ATL non-stop?

BTW I'm not on the 75/76. I've flown pretty much all the NB here. To include the bus. I am not a fan of its performance - which is what really matters to me as a pilot. They are unreliable but we got a GREAT deal from France.

We are also on the books for 100 MAX 10s. We have the option to take any variant though should certification become an issue.

Life is not all bus here at DAL. I would venture to say there might be a big boeing on the prowl here as well. We'll see. Depends on RR I guess.

DTW is not a great base. Only great base if you live there, like anywhere else.

Geez, you new guys. Were you at Skypest by any chance?

HK.. Might want to ELSE START NEXT this post :confused::D

I apologize, but I don't get your post?

I bid specific trips in PBS. I'm senior to get what I want. So I admit I'm not too smart on ESN logic.

How does ESN apply to my post then?

Ummmm...that's really strange, because we have 321-NEO's currently in flight right now all over the country. You're thinking of the 321-XLR...

Your post was just a confusing ramble. And what was the jab at SkyWest all about?

Don't our NEO's already have the extra tank?

I love senior guys who don’t know how to use else start next. Please don’t figure it out. My thanksgiving and Xmas holidays thank you.

Rrichard38, don’t listen to anything this post has to say. None of this is true at all. The 321NEO has been flying for years all around the world, and Delta has been flying them for nearly a year. The 321NEO’s performance is just fine. Quick being a baby. The base is an easy commute for may commuters, I know a ton of them. Detroit is probably the best base in the country and many would agree. I feel like this post was written as a joke because it is so inaccurate. Detroit is awesome! 99% of the folks here would agree.

I was referring to the 321 NEO LR/XLR as that is the plane you bus babies seem to think will replace the 75/76 in total. it just entered live flight testing this summer. EASA is concerned about fire protection for the aft/center tank(s). It will need to be addressed. Likely to add more weight. Then the FAA gets its stab at it. Based on MAX, I would not anticipate it being smooth. I've written about this in other forums, not going to regurgitate it here.


Yes, the 321 baseline NEO has been certified. However, it is no where in comparison to capability of the 75.

Fact it can't haul (much) cargo. Well it can, but it has to give up fuel, pax or both. We make $$$ off of cargo. Lots of it. Having plane(s) capable of both is good for us. Unfortunately boeing dropped the ball and Airbus took advantage of the vacuum in the mid size NB market.

I got a pic to post, but APC won't let me for some reason.

Anyway, its 75 offloading in ATL after flying non-stop from SNA-ATL. Lots of cargo. Full pax, full cargo and lots of fuel. Took off, climbed to mid to high 30s right after departure. Not payload optimized or any other such thing.

I've flown both. No comparison.

That's why the 75/76 are going to be around much longer than what you bus babies think. You can quote me on that 10 years from now too.

Loosen a button junior.

I used easy bid too, until I couldn't anymore. that'll probably make your head explode won't it.

I'm senior enough to get the trips I bid specifically for, so I don't use ESN. So why would I care about how ESN works? Thus the reason I asked the question.

Got ya! Well I can’t argue with this. You are correct. I wish Boeing would have just built a new 757. Every problem would have been solved! Maybe in a different life

Sorry, I wasn't clear about the model type of the 321. My bad

Edit: bus baby. Yeah, some old guy called me that years and years ago when I moved from it to the ER. Kinda funny. I liked the moniker :)

I'm sure we (DAL) will figure out how best to deploy the LR/XLRs when they get them.

717 in dtw has recently had a significant increase in 1 and 2 day trips. Prior to the last few months they were harder to find. Things change, but I wouldn't expect 1-2 day trips to stay a large portion of any fleets flying at Delta if history is any sort of guide. A good number of those 1 day trips are 4 legs, which is generally seen as undesirable so they tend to go relatively junior. You may find that your relative seniority as 717b will increase faster than the other fleets, but the seniority movement is pretty strong for all the domestic fleets in dtw anyway.

Hey phuz how are the "A" trips on the 717? Bout the same???

I'm talking like top 1-10 of the category

I'm too lazy to call up the wide report :)

well yea, we don't split pairings so A's and B's get the same stuff =)

ATL is the same. Almost everything in OT is 4-leg day trips. I don’t know if flying is just down some due to the winter lull or if they’re trying to combat people using PB days or PD in the middle of reserve blocks to make themselves less useable. It’s funny because the 717 was specifically excluded from the 1- and 2-day trip mix requirements in the TA because apparently it would be horrendous if that was required and yet we currently have probably the highest percentage of short trips of any fleet.

Hotel Kilo’s posts in this thread serve as proof that getting rid of the college degree requirement was a bad idea.

Dang, you got me.

You're correct, that little ole technical school I attended in the ATL can't really count I guess. :(

Did they teach you sarcasm at your little ole technical school in ATL?? ;)

I've considered being based in DTW and staying local. Not necessarily from that area, any suggestions on places for living close to DTW?

Ann Arbor and Saline are pretty popular. If you're looking for a more small town feel, check out the Chelsea/Dexter area. The Brighton/Howell area as well. Lots of pilots down in the Toledo area (about an hour drive). Maumee, Monclova, Perrysburg and Sylvania are popular.

He's spot on. If you've looking to the West or South of DTW, little to no traffic to deal with to get to the airport. Downriver (ie, close to the river/water) is cheaper, but for a reason - just not as nice. North of the airport is intense suburbs and I don't think you get a lot for your money. Yes, Ann Arbor is pricey, but it's got good schools, vibrant downtown and a nice town feel. Northville is nice, but more for the younger crowd or those without kids for some reason.

Dexter/Chelsea (which are west) is not too far from the airport and more rural - you can get a nice house with some acreage and have a nice lifestyle.