Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
01-25-2010, 07:50 AM
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
Originally Posted by Bucking Bar
Carl,
Yes and No. Like most conspiracy theories there is just enough truth to let people with active imaginations connect the dots in a way that leads to an incorrect conclusion.
Slowplay is right, on the money. Further, after the battle of bankruptcy, you've got seasoned veterans keeping an eye on the financial performance of the Company and a Pilot Director.
I wish the news was better, so do you and the Company.
Yes and No. Like most conspiracy theories there is just enough truth to let people with active imaginations connect the dots in a way that leads to an incorrect conclusion.
Slowplay is right, on the money. Further, after the battle of bankruptcy, you've got seasoned veterans keeping an eye on the financial performance of the Company and a Pilot Director.
I wish the news was better, so do you and the Company.
One of Jim Cramer's (CNBC) rants was particularly funny when he screamed: "How can this level of earnings fiction still happen after Sarbanes-Oxley?"
Carl
01-25-2010, 08:00 AM
Happy to be here
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: A-320A
Posts: 18,563
Carl;
I agree, I know many accountants for large corporations. I came from a family of a CFO. SOX makes you report x,y,and z but how you report it, when you take a capital deprecation, when you hit an account for a project, how you hit that account etc is all still very discretionary. It has gotten a lot more difficult, but money people are smart and have found ways around the "intent" of SOX compliance.
Bar just posted one of the first large capital expenditures we will make over the next few years. One BILLION dollars on improvements. No doubt they are needed, but the timing is frankly ironic. Bet we start buying new service trucks and belt loaders soon......
Carry on. Just figured I would interject.
I agree, I know many accountants for large corporations. I came from a family of a CFO. SOX makes you report x,y,and z but how you report it, when you take a capital deprecation, when you hit an account for a project, how you hit that account etc is all still very discretionary. It has gotten a lot more difficult, but money people are smart and have found ways around the "intent" of SOX compliance.
Bar just posted one of the first large capital expenditures we will make over the next few years. One BILLION dollars on improvements. No doubt they are needed, but the timing is frankly ironic. Bet we start buying new service trucks and belt loaders soon......
Carry on. Just figured I would interject.
01-25-2010, 08:05 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2009
Posts: 132
Originally Posted by satchip
Thank you Gnewt for defending the greatest sport known to mankind. You beat me to it albeit with a much better and more gentlemanly explanation.
Here's a visual demo of the current conversation on this thread as I see it. Pay particular attention to :30 where we see Slow (the #6 All Black) using all his powers of persuasion, however errant those powers may be. You will see it in further detail at the 1:13 point. Not to be out done at 1:18 you can see New and Carl exacting revenge on some poor sap who happens to wander into the line of fire with a poorly formed opinon on how to advance the ball.
By the way, if Im not mistaken, this is the game on which the movie Invictus is based. New and Carl win.
Pads are for Ps. You're right. It is the greatest game ever devised by man.
Gnewt
YouTube - All Blacks Ruck
01-25-2010, 08:16 AM
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2010
Position: Nothing significant.
Posts: 45
Originally Posted by Bucking Bar
New paint and interiors ... no new capital expenditures on state of the art equipment. ...
Press Release Source: Delta Air Lines On Monday January 25, 2010, 11:24 am
ATLANTA,Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will invest $1 billion, or about $300 million per year, through mid-2013 to improve the customer experience in the air and on the ground. The capital investment will improve the consistency and level of service provided to Delta's BusinessElite, First Class and elite-level flyers, as well as increasing the efficiency of the airline's fleet. Planned enhancements include:
"This investment will be made while staying well within the level of our historical capital expenditures," said Ed Bastian, Delta's president. "Rather than invest in new aircraft, Delta will be spending its capital to improve the quality and consistency of the on-board product and efficiency of the aircraft we already own."
Press Release Source: Delta Air Lines On Monday January 25, 2010, 11:24 am
ATLANTA,Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will invest $1 billion, or about $300 million per year, through mid-2013 to improve the customer experience in the air and on the ground. The capital investment will improve the consistency and level of service provided to Delta's BusinessElite, First Class and elite-level flyers, as well as increasing the efficiency of the airline's fleet. Planned enhancements include:
- Installing full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite on 90 trans-oceanic aircraft, including 14 Boeing 767-400ERs, 52 Boeing 767-300ERs, 16 Boeing 747-400s and eight Boeing 777-200ERs. Upon completion, each of these fleets will have full flat bed seats on all aircraft.
- Adding in-seat audio and video on demand throughout Economy Class on 16 Boeing 747-400 and 52 Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. With these additions, Delta will offer personal, in-seat entertainment for both BusinessElite and Economy class customers on all wide-body aircraft.
- Adding First Class cabins to 66 CRJ-700 aircraft operated by Delta Connection carriers ASA, Comair and SkyWest, bringing to 219 the number of regional aircraft with First Class seating. (rather see SkyWest spend part of their pile of cash on their airplanes - ed)
- Completing the modification of 269 pre-merger Northwest aircraft to feature Delta's signature blue leather seats, updated lighting and enhanced cabin amenities such as increased overhead bin space on pre-merger Northwest 757-200s.
- Installing winglets on more than 170 Boeing 767-300ER, 757-200 and 737-800 aircraft to extend aircraft range and improve fuel efficiency by as much as five percent.
- Renovating and expanding Delta's Los Angeles Sky Club lounge, and introducing new Sky Club locations in Seattle, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
"This investment will be made while staying well within the level of our historical capital expenditures," said Ed Bastian, Delta's president. "Rather than invest in new aircraft, Delta will be spending its capital to improve the quality and consistency of the on-board product and efficiency of the aircraft we already own."
01-25-2010, 08:17 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,539
Originally Posted by 1234
Wow, I guess it is a hot button. Sorry for getting you so fired up this early in the morning.
All I am asking is for some of the supporting statistical data so that it is better understood (and maybe the data shouldn't be public, I get that). However, in your post you were using general stats and in one part you mention sick leave based on flight hrs and then later in the post you say that the "cost" came down to be in line with industry standard because the "pay" was reduced. Is the analysis based on hourly or on a cost (which must then include pilot pay)?
All I am asking is for some of the supporting statistical data so that it is better understood (and maybe the data shouldn't be public, I get that). However, in your post you were using general stats and in one part you mention sick leave based on flight hrs and then later in the post you say that the "cost" came down to be in line with industry standard because the "pay" was reduced. Is the analysis based on hourly or on a cost (which must then include pilot pay)?
My post did confuse the issue. There are several comparisons rapped up in my generalizations. I don't have quick access to the data, so I'm working from memory here. First is the averaged total pay hours per pilot which were paid as sick. The total sick pay hours per active pilot declined over 25% pre and post LOA 51. That's the one reflective of changed behavior in management's eyes. Second was the cost. As Check accurately points out, that is affected directly by staffing and scheduling. When staffing is tight (as it was in 2007 and is predicted to be this summer) sick leave uses up reserves quickly. When staffing is fat as during the past year, not so much, and most reserve sick leave coverage is subsumed in the reserve guarantee. On the other hand, even when staffing is fat, the earlier or later a pilot calls in sick triggers white slips, green slips and assignments, resulting in two pilots being paid for the same trip. When there's very little open time to pick up that's how many regular line guys improve their pay. For negotiations, the costing is done on a "normal" staffing model. Also, sick leave affects 4 components of the PBS staffing formula (Section 22.C.) and can result in the need for more pilots per category.
Again, sorry for getting so ticked at the "truly analyzed" comment.
01-25-2010, 08:18 AM
Get's Every Day Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 1,858
Who Dat!
Originally Posted by NuGuy
Go Saints....
Nu
Nu
01-25-2010, 08:24 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,539
Originally Posted by acl65pilot
Carl;
I agree, I know many accountants for large corporations. I came from a family of a CFO. SOX makes you report x,y,and z but how you report it, when you take a capital deprecation, when you hit an account for a project, how you hit that account etc is all still very discretionary. It has gotten a lot more difficult, but money people are smart and have found ways around the "intent" of SOX compliance.
Bar just posted one of the first large capital expenditures we will make over the next few years. One BILLION dollars on improvements. No doubt they are needed, but the timing is frankly ironic. Bet we start buying new service trucks and belt loaders soon......
I agree, I know many accountants for large corporations. I came from a family of a CFO. SOX makes you report x,y,and z but how you report it, when you take a capital deprecation, when you hit an account for a project, how you hit that account etc is all still very discretionary. It has gotten a lot more difficult, but money people are smart and have found ways around the "intent" of SOX compliance.
Bar just posted one of the first large capital expenditures we will make over the next few years. One BILLION dollars on improvements. No doubt they are needed, but the timing is frankly ironic. Bet we start buying new service trucks and belt loaders soon......
How does it affect PTIX?
Oh, what's DAL's CapEx projected to be this year? (final answer due tomorrow morning.)
01-25-2010, 08:28 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 12,011
ACL:
In Bastian's position, he can't really make intentionally "ironic" statements. I think we have to take him at his word that the Company isn't interested in big Cap Ex.
300 million a year at our size is really just a maintenance expense...
In Bastian's position, he can't really make intentionally "ironic" statements. I think we have to take him at his word that the Company isn't interested in big Cap Ex.
300 million a year at our size is really just a maintenance expense...
Last edited by Bucking Bar; 01-25-2010 at 08:52 AM.
01-25-2010, 08:29 AM
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Posts: 12,487
Originally Posted by acl65pilot
Carl;
I agree, I know many accountants for large corporations. I came from a family of a CFO. SOX makes you report x,y,and z but how you report it, when you take a capital deprecation, when you hit an account for a project, how you hit that account etc is all still very discretionary. It has gotten a lot more difficult, but money people are smart and have found ways around the "intent" of SOX compliance.
Bar just posted one of the first large capital expenditures we will make over the next few years. One BILLION dollars on improvements. No doubt they are needed, but the timing is frankly ironic. Bet we start buying new service trucks and belt loaders soon......
Carry on. Just figured I would interject.
I agree, I know many accountants for large corporations. I came from a family of a CFO. SOX makes you report x,y,and z but how you report it, when you take a capital deprecation, when you hit an account for a project, how you hit that account etc is all still very discretionary. It has gotten a lot more difficult, but money people are smart and have found ways around the "intent" of SOX compliance.
Bar just posted one of the first large capital expenditures we will make over the next few years. One BILLION dollars on improvements. No doubt they are needed, but the timing is frankly ironic. Bet we start buying new service trucks and belt loaders soon......
Carry on. Just figured I would interject.
Carl
01-25-2010, 08:30 AM
Back on TDY
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: 747-400 Captain
Posts: 12,487
Originally Posted by Gnewt
Hey Sat,
Here's a visual demo of the current conversation on this thread as I see it. Pay particular attention to :30 where we see Slow (the #6 All Black) using all his powers of persuasion, however errant those powers may be. You will see it in further detail at the 1:13 point. Not to be out done at 1:18 you can see New and Carl exacting revenge on some poor sap who happens to wander into the line of fire with a poorly formed opinon on how to advance the ball.
By the way, if Im not mistaken, this is the game on which the movie Invictus is based. New and Carl win.
Pads are for Ps. You're right. It is the greatest game ever devised by man.
Gnewt
YouTube - All Blacks Ruck
Here's a visual demo of the current conversation on this thread as I see it. Pay particular attention to :30 where we see Slow (the #6 All Black) using all his powers of persuasion, however errant those powers may be. You will see it in further detail at the 1:13 point. Not to be out done at 1:18 you can see New and Carl exacting revenge on some poor sap who happens to wander into the line of fire with a poorly formed opinon on how to advance the ball.
By the way, if Im not mistaken, this is the game on which the movie Invictus is based. New and Carl win.
Pads are for Ps. You're right. It is the greatest game ever devised by man.
Gnewt
YouTube - All Blacks Ruck
Carl
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