Originally Posted by forgot to bid

Just as a reminder, our friend Mr. Ray Lahood seems very excited to hear from passengers:

U.S. airlines face fines for violating delay rule

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration will seek maximum fines against U.S. airlines that violate a new rule aimed at curbing lengthy ground delays, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said on Tuesday.

LaHood told reporters that his agency had rejected airline requests for exemptions to the regulation spurred by outraged passengers, some of whom were stuck on planes for several hours without adequate food or restroom facilities.

"There will be strong enforcement," LaHood said. "That has to be part of the plan in order to make sure that passengers understand and airlines understand that we're serious about this."

The regulation, which takes effect on Thursday, would fine airlines up to $27,500 per passenger for tarmac delays that exceed three hours. Passengers could be let off a plane, if they request.

Airlines say the rule could lead to more flight cancellations as they seek to avoid penalties, especially when storms threaten to divert or ground flights.

There were nearly 900 ground delays of at least three hours between February 2009 and February 2010, according to the latest government figures.

The monthly total peaked last June at 278 and fell sharply through the summer and into the later part of the year. Most long ground delays occur while planes wait to take off, and most involve domestic airlines that fly hundreds of thousands of flights per month combined.

Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp, all had at least two ground delays of three hours or longer in February, figures show.

American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp, had 16 while US Airways led all carriers with 25.

There are exemptions to the rule if pilots or air traffic controllers determine that returning an aircraft to the airport gate after three hours to let passengers off would disrupt airport operations.

Oversight will be voluntary, but LaHood said his agency would be watching closely.

"I have no doubt we'll be hearing from passengers," LaHood said.

Legislation awaiting final action in Congress would make the new regulation law.

The tarmac regulation does not apply to international airlines.

Picture: Ray LaHood telling congress how much he knows about the airline industry.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

Burn;

I do know there are a few LCA's that do this already. I cannot imagine that with where the training requirements are going, that we would not see months and months of their schedules dropped, and or blanked out necessitating more Captains to fill the void. They are short on LCA's as is. Add hiring, and more movement, then working in the sim, something will give.

I used to work for a company that did it this way, and splitting the departments saved them money. The LCA's only got paid when they flew IOE not SOE. Prior to that they worked in the sim and had every third month on the line. I believe the intent is to get the instructors more in line with the way we do it on the line.

We can only work so much, so I see this is a net positive when it comes to A positions in the company. Yep, fo's got to be fo's, but some may upgrade. It will depend on how it is written and what the clauses are. I do not want to see more DGS than we have now. The rules do not need to change in regard to who can check, and who can be in the seat.

I would like to see the language for at least 10 days as the Policy Manual states for a comment period prior to the MEC voting on it, if or when it is LOAed.

On a side note, not sure how the LCA's from other bases are going to do sim work here in ATL and MSP when they are not based here. That will add a cost for hotels and travel as they are on company business.

Originally Posted by Burn Notice

Just walked out of recurrent and our SLI gave us this tidbit to chew on. The company wants to get rid of the rest of the SLIs and replace them with Standards captains (line check airmen). So that will leave you with DGS, a couple of senior SLI guys and Standards guys. The rest of the SLIs would be forced back to the line.....

Originally Posted by maddogmax

SIM instructors do not get hotels or per diem if they are out of base. Used to but not any more

Originally Posted by sevenfiveseven

The only aircraft that currently has Standards Captains is the 767...and just 3 of them. FLT OPS did away with the old NWA Standards Captain position after 01JAN10....

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

Burn;
Not defending anyone, but a PCP is going to be upset as it is their "gig" and they are getting pushed aside. If it a net positive in A positions in the company? I am sure that is what the MEC is looking at. I am guessing it is. The LCA's may not like this as they are going to be button pushers, and there may be some turnover there. There will be an inordinate amount of drip drops or blank lines as these guys do the sim work. That flying needs a butt in the seat. One butt cannot be in two seats at the same time. I am sure that is why ALPA is seeing this as a positive thing. More A's means more A's simple as that.

Originally Posted by Burn Notice

There's 12 in the pipeline for the Airbus right now. As passed on by my instructor.