Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1352914)

LONG LIVE THE MD-88!! :D

Now, what about the A320s and nearly half the 752 fleet that will be 30 years or older in ten years? :o Sorry, the low 1.56 ratio kind of gives me heart burn.

Originally Posted by iaflyer (Post 1352924)

Someone asked about why the 320 was going to displace, answer was "artfully answered" in my opinion. "A lot of 320 captains took the RMA so we need to displace FOs to balance the numbers." 320 utilization is down because the high tempo of ops last summer was too much and they were having problems keeping it up.

Asked about whether 737-900s are replacements for 320 and 757s or added aircraft, network basically said it depends. As the aircraft come up on heavy MX it won't be done, unless we think we can make money with it.

The crew resources guy seemed much more clear and experienced about talking with pilots while the lady from network was younger and toed the network line more. He might answer direct questions if you called him, but I don't have his name. Maybe the DTW CP office would know who he was.

Originally Posted by iaflyer (Post 1352902)

A few notes to add from the DTW crew room visit:

MD-88/90 has 41 more years of life, so don't expect them to go anywhere. Flat panel upgrade approved, all by the end of 2015. But it's only the ADI and HSI upgraded, picture showed engine instruments all the same. The big driver on this database size, very small right now. Also it will allow RNP in the future.

Hiring- 2014 for summer 2014. No budget for hiring in 2013 but that could change in the next 90 days. By "hiring" they means Furlough bypass, Mesaba, Compass. Then maybe Pinnacle interviews and others.

Next bid has been discussed a lot, nothing new but I'd expect lot of 7ER FO displacements. JV flying to smaller European cities (ie, big DL planes to AMS, CDG, small AF or KLM to smaller cities like Berlin) very profitable for Delta, so not much need to 767 flying to TXL, VLC, AGP, BUD, etc). Seemed like a long term problem.

ER Flying: West coast doing Asia, east coast doing Europe, leaves DTW/MSP ER doing domestic. Seemed like the latest plan like they have said.

Tablets won't be an iPad, Microsoft contract too big to ignore. But, even though every other airline using tablets is using an iPad and is approved by the FAA, delta is "working with Microsoft and Jepp to develop software for a Window 8 device" so maybe this year for 717 folks and about 200 test devices scattered around the fleet.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1352936)

That transoceanic plan sounds like it will MORE exacerbate the deficiency of our share of flying on the JV, not help it. It's going to be very interesting seeing as to how that's addressed.


I rode in the cockpit jumpseat tonight with DogWhisperer. I feel like I got to pick the brain of Picasso.

He touched my leg. Twice. I guess that happens when sitting in the jumpseat of an MD-90. The crotchal region of the jumpseater is far too close to the entrance of that trashbag.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1352936)

That transoceanic plan sounds like it will MORE exacerbate the deficiency of our share of flying on the JV, not help it. It's going to be very interesting seeing as to how that's addressed.


I rode in the cockpit jumpseat tonight with DogWhisperer. I feel like I got to pick the brain of Picasso.

He touched my leg. Twice. I guess that happens when sitting in the jumpseat of an MD-90. The crotchal region of the jumpseater is far too close to the entrance of that trashbag.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1352936)

I rode in the cockpit jumpseat tonight with DogWhisperer. I feel like I got to pick the brain of Picasso.

He touched my leg. Twice. I guess that happens when sitting in the jumpseat of an MD-90. The crotchal region of the jumpseater is far too close to the entrance of that trashbag.