I bet you are right.

Now that we've had a chance to work together, we find out pilots are pilots, and in retrospect it was pretty naïve to expect that an injection of Cobra DNA would make any difference.

It's probably better to understand the two groups in terms of their environment, because culture is a by-product of the relationship between the company and its' employees. As such, most NW guys have told me that their company was incredibly penny-pinching, and as aggressive with labor, and as adept as possible at skirting the contract, or fulfilling the letter but not the intent of the language, and generally trying to screw employees.

You have to look, therefore, not so much at the influence of the pilots, but the influence of the managers that came with the merger.

That being said, I don't know if your thesis about contractually guaranteed QOL going down is correct. But my point is that the people that sit opposite us are probably more determined to bend the rules. My sentiment is that there is more screwing around with scheduling and coverage rules than ever before, but I can't prove it. When I was hired, it felt like these people were pretty fair, and willing to abide by the contract, no hard feelings. The new batch, not so much. Don't think I've had sarcasm when I called in sick, ten years ago. Could be a by-product of staffing finally tightening up, or an institutionalized change.

Feels like a bit of an institutionalized change, to me. Some of the CA and Scheduling guys might be behind the times, on that one. We'll see.

Unfortunately I think you're right.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyup. Or we'll just wind up "paying" for it via imputed income. Either way, you're gonna see a W2 increase without mo money in your pocket. *My prediction only*

I'd fly those!

Quick question regarding health coverage for families.

I understand that there is a deductible for families on the gold plan.

I should be in class in Aug and was wondering, does the yearly deductible start over on Jan 1, or is it a rolling year deductible.

For example, if I spend 700 on med coverage(towards the deductible) prior to Dec 31, will I have to start over working towards my deductible beginning on Jan 1?

Just trying to figure out if it pays to go to non-essential doctor appts prior to Jan 1, 2015.

Well, let's mess with some heads and maybe the end result is you and I are flying a C-130... no wait... LM-100J.

I heard on guard the other night United Airlines is evidently looking into purchasing a civil version of the C-130. The LM-100J offers them significant margin improvements over current, boring, jet liners.

The C-130s allow them to do remote loading. People will be loaded onto pods that are then trucked to an awaiting airplane. Significantly improving the speed of boarding and reducing costs of gates. You can now board people away from the main airline terminals.

The pods will allow United to make a passenger airplane into a cargo airplane when margin opportunities present themselves. Such as SEA-Juno. They will also be able to own Texas to Mexico out of Houston.

The airplanes don't need to be pressurized, as they will cruise at 1000'. Saves significant maintenance.

They are built for unimproved short fields, such as Chicago Midway, Houston Hobby, Newark runway 29, LaGuardia, Boston and Chicago Meigs (does not require repaving).

http://www.flightglobal.com/assets/g...x?itemid=54265

These will be made out of Marietta GA. Where there is a triangle of doom. Once you go to Marietta, you never leave. Beware of the big chicken folks. It also cruises at 355 kts. What is not to love people?

"Delta 2243, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 2192, please check your transponder on."
"Uh Delta 1952, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 2452, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 1432, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 1952, please check your transponder on again."
"Delta 1924, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 2210, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 932, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 176, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 653, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 1201, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 1542, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 1650, please check your transponder on."
"Delta 1821, please check your transponder on."

Yep, hope the person who designed the new checklist isn't in charge of anything else ah.............important. Maybe it's same guy in charge of the electronic flight kit?

Looks like Emirates is expanding A380 service to San Francisco and Houston.