Originally Posted by Timbo (Post 1663455)

I'm pretty sure Richard could get brand new 777-300's today if he wants to pay full price, but he has said many, many times, he won't spend $300 Million for them. He got those 10 A330's pretty cheap. He said he'd like got buy some -used- 777-3's, if he could find some for less than $80 Mill each.

Maybe Emirates will sell us their older ones? :eek:

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1663381)

He was defining efficiency as block hours per pilot.

Nevermind how overstaffed we were in 2012 and the constant displacements churning around then...

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1663450)

My bet Timbo is if Delta could get it's hands on new 773s they'd do it. I don't think they're like "I only buy Chevys and never will buy Fords" they're just committed to making revenue.

The 777 by the way is 20 years old today.

http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/21/32/41.../3/628x471.jpg

Boeing 777 and F-16.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1663450)

My bet Timbo is if Delta could get it's hands on new 773s they'd do it. I don't think they're like "I only buy Chevys and never will buy Fords" they're just committed to making revenue.

The 777 by the way is 20 years old today.

http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/21/32/41.../3/628x471.jpg

Boeing 777 and F-16.

Originally Posted by Dirtdiver (Post 1663476)

No, no, no! That's not a lawn dart, that's a T38. Got quite a few hours upside down in it

Originally Posted by georgetg (Post 1663470)

Block hours per pilot isn't a measure of efficiency in this business...

The widgets we make are called ASMs
The cost to make the widgets is CASM

Delta's CASM is indeed higher than Southwest's CASM.
But to effectively measure pilot productivity we need to measure the pilot portion of CASM.
Guess what we are still more efficient as Southwest when it comes to the pilot portion of production.
Yes, that's right, the pilot portion of CASM at Delta is lower than the pilot portion of CASM at Southwest.

Why is this?
Let's look at "digging"

The workers at company A produce 25 billable digging hours per week.
The workers at company B produce 20 billable digging hours per week.

Clearly the workers at company A are more efficient, right?
If you measure billable digging hours you'd be right.

What if I told you the workers at company A use a shovel and the workers at company B use a Caterpillar D9.

Now who is more efficient?
Does it matter if Company B pays their D9 drivers more than the shovel wielders at company A?

So yes, using sailings "metric" of block hours, we are less productive than the others. But using the metric based on the currency the company accountants use - ASM - we are not. And that's the one that matters...

Cheers
George


Extra credit homework for sailing:
What is the pilot portion of CASM at Delta, what is it at WN?
How many ASMs are produced per pilot block hour at Delta, how many at WN?

Originally Posted by EdGrimley (Post 1663492)

Question bump



I'd appreciate it if you would answer the question. Seriously. You have 4500 posts on here. Many of which seem to focus on "we are not very productive, we shouldn't expect much in our next contract, the NMB will eat us for lunch if we try anything, restoration is a pipe dream, don't rock the boat."

Honestly what is it you are trying to accomplish? I fail to see how you coming on this web board daily telling everyone the sky is falling and not to expect much and we are basically already overpaid/underproductive for what we do, is any sort of strategy to maximize our position. Management reads this board. You are basically re-affirming to them that some pilots (you) have accepted we cannot and should not expect more.

You seem to be a smart guy and have some friends within the inner circle of management/ALPA. It is disappointing to see you disseminate selective bits of information to spread a campaign of fear and hopelessness. To me and many others, that represents a poor strategy in maximizing our position.

The sacrifices Delta pilots have made and the way they conduct themselves every day operating with efficiency, interacting in a positive way with the customers, producing industry leading on time/completions factors....the current situation we are in now, can you think of anything positive to say about our position going into contract talks? Can you speak of any leverage at all? Will you advocate taking the first offer pushed across the table by management because "the next offer will be worse" and the time value of money says we should take what is offered now and live to fight another day?

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1663104)

The closest I have been to management was having the CEO of Delta personally threatening my job over my stand on furloughing pilots.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1663104)

I had the guts to sign the letters and take action beyond a web board. I have also had to meet with two other VP's over similar stands on issues.

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1663490)

Sailingfud, you should probably just keep quiet for a while and hope everyone forgets your latest attempt to pre-defeat your fellow pilots before negotiations begin.

Carl

Originally Posted by newKnow (Post 1663481)

I'm sure about the one on the top, because it's labeled.

But, a T38? Are you sure that isn't an *F-4U Corsair on the bottom? I saw 'em on Black sheep Squadron. :)


* Looks like they are going for over $2.5 million, if you can find one.