Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1781152)

Didn't they tell you about the one year extension to your probation period?

Carl

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1781136)

The amount of block hours we flew between the U.S. and UK at the time we purchased more than a 25% stake in Virgin Atlantic. Section 1.E.3. I don't know what that number of block hours was at that time.

Carl

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1781152)

Didn't they tell you about the one year extension to your probation period?

Carl

Originally Posted by JungleBus (Post 1781138)

Well, I recently passed 400 hours on the Mad Dog, and am off probation. I'll probably start to post here again occasionally now that I don't have to take immature a-holes seriously when they threaten my livelihood because I posted something they disagreed with.

I wrote my rep today about the Virgin JV TA. I told him that the TA itself appears to be weaker than the AF/KL/AZ language that the company has repeatedly run roughshod over, but I'm not an expert on contract language by any means & am willing to hear what the NC/MEC has to say about it. The bigger problem, I said, is the blackout on information (I got the TA language from this board, sheesh) and the MEC appearing to want to make a decision free of input from the membership. I suggested that they table the TA for now, put out the actual language along with their explanation of the various provisions, and vote on it in a few weeks once the membership has had a chance to examine the provisions and provide input to their reps. This would be a more democratic process befitting something that has such a huge potential impact on our future careers.

We'll see whether I hear back. He's been pretty responsive in the past.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 1781175)

I think what you are looking for has been posted in the MEC Library.

Eventually that will likely end up in the folder of the Codeshare Committee (with their briefing, when published)

Originally Posted by JungleBus (Post 1781138)

Well, I recently passed 400 hours on the Mad Dog, and am off probation. I'll probably start to post here again occasionally now that I don't have to take immature a-holes seriously when they threaten my livelihood because I posted something they disagreed with.

Originally Posted by JungleBus (Post 1781217)

Ah, I see a mod edited my post because it's apparently a personal attack to call out the poster who threatened you with not making it off probation. So I'll let it drop, other than to clarify that I was talking about one specific poster here, and not the group in general.

Originally Posted by gloopy (Post 1780985)

The 88 is the most profitable narrow body (not sure if the 757-300 counts as a narrowbody for that or not) and its by a nice margin. Even $150 oil wouldn't wreck the 88's numbers much. Its not that much less efficient. 10% or so compared to the average 150ish seat narrowbody but you're not paying the note on a $60=100+ million dollar plane with full coverage insurance either.

They're getting an aero kit that will make them about 3% more efficient, and whatever GPS solution they get will probably add the equivalent of another percent bringing it in line with modern nav.

Paid for. Reliable. Not really that much less efficient. Highly profitable and (believe it or not) highest customer feedback scores (fewest middle seat ratio).

Plus they're Boeings now too. ;)

Originally Posted by alfaromeo (Post 1781231)

Before this rumor spins out of control, you should go back and listen to what he said again. He was pointing out that Delta, and the industry, are different than in the past and should be thought of as reliable long term investments and not momentum trades.

Someone asked him what Delta would do if there was a sharp economic downturn like 2008. He said they have many mitigation strategies including:

• Setting down aircraft that are fully depreciated and fully paid off, like the MD-88's
• Using the 40% of part time employees less
• Bringing back heavy maintenance (currently outsourced) back in house
• Turning of the pilot hiring spigot and letting attrition bring down pilot numbers

His point was that the company is set up to weather the storms that routinely hit the airline industry. This is NOT the plan moving forward. This is the QRH response to "ECONOMIC MELTDOWN - WIDESPREAD". Delta's stated plan was to grow domestic capacity while getting rid of many additional regional jets. This means more mainline domestic growth and they cannot set down the MD-88's and complete this plan.