Future of the DTW 717 Category
03-08-2026 | 04:28 AM
#11
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03-08-2026 | 05:32 AM
#12
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Good grief. I know the fleet captains are just dealing with the cards they are dealt, but do they even hear themselves talking? Meanwhile, a C-172 can have Starlink in its back window...
03-08-2026 | 05:59 AM
#13
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Lots of A's have bailed (myself included) with almost zero backfills, they probably listed these 10 spots because they needed to balance staffing for summer. They've been talking about LPV and Wifi for a few years, but that can keeps getting kicked down the road and I wouldn't be surprised to see it get kicked again...and again. I had planned on staying for the long haul, but saw the writing on the wall and didn't care to keep sliding backward in seniority as junior pilots bailed.
03-08-2026 | 07:45 AM
#14
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FWIW, I flew an airplane the other day that had been the test ship for LPV, only realized by looking back in the logbook. They did some test flying with it in the experimental category, so it's at least progressing to the point that it's flown now. Don't know any more than that at this point.
03-08-2026 | 09:06 AM
#15
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More planes keep showing up with roof wifi antennas. Airplane ain't going anywhere in the next 2 years. Lots of news in here from people who aren't even on the fleet. If you're a 717B, it's a no-brainer to upgrade (if that's what you want). Enjoy a VD/MD if it comes...but the airplane is doing just fine. Read a newsletter if you don't believe me.
It going away and DTW shrinking are two different things.
Ya, but now they have to pay the big bucks to use on their 172....argh Starlink!!!
03-08-2026 | 10:27 AM
#16
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Could be. I think they went up to GSO and back, but I couldn't bet on it. It's been a few days since I flew that jet at this point.
03-08-2026 | 01:05 PM
#17
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If you were a betting man, what's the chance that we see DTW 717 close within the next 12-18 months?
03-08-2026 | 01:21 PM
#18
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If they can't shrink the category organically (via retirements, VD's, etc), will they trickle in a few MD's in each AE? Or, would they prefer to carry a few extra captains instead of sending out MD's? It'd probably save them a few bucks to shrink it naturally (no seat locks to break and less moves to pay for).. But then again, they're paying to train 10 new captains in this March AE.
If you were a betting man, what's the chance that we see DTW 717 close within the next 12-18 months?
If you were a betting man, what's the chance that we see DTW 717 close within the next 12-18 months?
Seriously though it won’t be that quick. Not enough metal to replace it available, but I can hope.
03-08-2026 | 04:02 PM
#19
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03-08-2026 | 04:12 PM
#20
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If they can't shrink the category organically (via retirements, VD's, etc), will they trickle in a few MD's in each AE? Or, would they prefer to carry a few extra captains instead of sending out MD's? It'd probably save them a few bucks to shrink it naturally (no seat locks to break and less moves to pay for).. But then again, they're paying to train 10 new captains in this March AE.
If you were a betting man, what's the chance that we see DTW 717 close within the next 12-18 months?
If you were a betting man, what's the chance that we see DTW 717 close within the next 12-18 months?
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