the nwa side is lean, and short in some categories and thats before the DAL staffing model. There will be more displacements to adjust the fleets staffing but we will not be overstaffed because they are working to increase block hours on certain fleets. Staffing needs are based on block hours and not fleet sizes. lets just hope the increases we have coming up will continue to offset the cuts. I feel pretty good that the NWA side wont have any issues. We may see a wash in the numbers with the changes coming up where we would have seen shortages before the cuts. not to mention the cost involved with flowbacks also. We'll see

By the time 2012 rolls around the age limit will be eliminated all together. Now that the dam has been broken, STS, there will be lawsuits claiming an arbitrary age limit is unconstitutional based on the 14th amendment. If you look at it objectively, once they raised it once, there is no legal or Constitutional basis for an age limit. It will be argued that if one can maintain the medical qualifications it would be age discrimination to remove an older worker in favor of a younger one at a reduced cost. The new administration will support it and the Supremes will find in favor of removing the limit. Just my prediction.

I wouldn't be too worried about the current administration eliminating the age limitation all together, as I am sure they will be busy enough spending that stimulus package.

Honestly, I don't think it will happen though. While there is no legal or Constitutional basis for an age limit, there has always been a age limit in place. I think it's safe to say that, in general, when people reach a certain age they become less sharp. I'm sure this varies from person to person, depending on personal health and lifestyle.

I think we all could learn alot from the senior pilots who have passed before us with years of experience, but I think they eventually comes a time when the buck needs to be passed.

If we eliminate age limitations altogether, our airline industry will become as bad as this country's education system where a teacher's tenure has become an award for complacency, ineffectiveness, and laziness.

So I head to ATL for recurrent today and I gotta tell ya' I had forgotten just how depressing and nasty the Comfort Inn really is. At the least the beers are big and cold in La Fiesta!

Wait until the karaoke kicks in - you won't be saying how nice the beers are! It's really loud - really.

Hopefully not. I've got A periods. :(

That is the exact argument they will use. If one can pass an FAA physical and an FAA check ride, why should one be fired when reaching an arbitrary age? The mandatory Social Security retirement age is up to 72 now, i think? I don't see how one could argue that there is a legitimate state interest in denying someone his/her livelihood simply based on age.

The one caveat I hope is put in place is a more stringent Class I medical. That my end up reducing the numbers of senior pilots more that the 65 rule.

Finally, A FNWA jet that looks almost as good in DAL paint as it did in NWA paint!

The DELTA is still too small.

It's just in the bar. Rooms stay quiet. Anyway, you'll have two nights to listen to it in the bar!

As I was saying the staffing issues are not with the FNWA fleet. DAL does not really have any staffing issues either. It is if they cut again. If and when that happens we may see significant over staffing on both tickets.