Nope, we single engine taxi. Up to the Captain of course.........;)

On the 757 we don't taxi out single engine (5 min warm up thing I guess), just in. Everyone else does as far as I know.

Ferd

Hey,

Anyone subscribe to planebusiness.com?

Guess there is an interesting article if someone can post it:

Did the Delta/Northwest Merger Just Hit an IT Iceberg?

Ferd

Justdoinmyjob,

SE taxi varies by fleet. 330 we can single engine taxi to certain gates on the taxi in after 5 minutes. Crossbleed only with an apu inop. In fact, we just got a new apu policy of starting the apu taxing into the gate for safety, whole bunch of other reasons.

Thanks for the answers guys. Interesting comment on the 757 though. I guess you've never been in the money line in ATL or JFK. The only time we start both on the 75/76 is when you know that you are #1, 2, or 3 already on taxi out. Maybe it's time to send the APU sheriffs to MSP.:rolleyes:

What is you reasoning for that Fred?

I will say that some things have appeared to be flipping 180 in the last two days or last week.
A lot of little things seems to be changing. I guess we will see what we see tomorrow.

Don't know. They took it off the checklist years ago, but I've heard they are discussing the procedure again for obvious reasons. Like I said, I guess so you don't screw up the 5 min warm up is all I can figure.

The taxi in single engine is encouraged and most guys do on the long straight aways with few high power turns like in DTW or NRT. NRT the taxi back can be 10 to 15 minutes.......really wierd airport, you'll like it alot:rolleyes:

Ferd

PS anyone find the planebusiness article yet?

What is the title of it Fred? What is it about?

I don't subscribe to planebusiness

"Did the Delta/Northwest Merger Just Hit an IT Iceberg?"

My biggest fear has been merging the computer systems. What kicked US Air in the butt (among other things) and NWO and Republic wayyy back..........anyway, guy on the NWA ALPA board talked about it but didn't post the article.

Well e-mail him and see if he can send it to you. Also check the National forum. I would be I am bidding for next month.

Not on the national forum, and there's nothing like waiting to the very last minute! Good thing they delayed the close for 24 hours.

I know, but hey this is the only time I have had all weekend to do it. I figured that since I had the extra time, I would use it!

Hi,
I think this is the article. I read it again and it looks like planebusiness style writing and not the dude who posted it. Anyway, if its our guy reporting I'm sorry for posting something bogas. He did say when pressed that "it" (some? all?) was from planebusiness.

Ferd

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

While the Feds continue to take their own sweet time mulling over the
proposed Delta Air Lines/Northwest Airlines merger, we found out this week
that there seems to be a bit of a major IT problem with the deal. It sounds
like the original plan that had been announced earlier this year, which
would have seen the combined entity using most of the IT infrastructure and
software systems from Northwest, is now -- up for grabs.

You may remember that when an independent third party was asked to evaluate
the merits of each airline's systems, the Northwest systems were found to be
the more sophisticated and "appropriate' for the merged entity. The decision
was made to go with the Northwest PARS system, not the Deltamatic platform.

But this week we hear that the decision has been made to go back to
Deltamatic -- not to the Northwest PARS system. This decision has huge
implications as it could mean that a number of other systems, including
revenue management, would now have to revert back to the existing Delta
platforms. Platforms that are, even in the estimation of some Delta IT folks
we have talked to, inferior to the Northwest systems.

We've heard a lot of conflicting information in regard to this situation
over the last several days. Is this being done so that people at Delta don't
lose their jobs? What can possibly be the rationale for this move? Then
there are the folks at Northwest who had assumed their jobs were secure --
as they were going to be running the selected systems when the two companies
merged.

We live in interesting times.
I can tel you that Deltamatic and Cornerstone do need a revamp. Not a bad system, but my god is it old school.

Somehow, I don't think this is anything more than a speed bump on the way to DCC. It does have the potential to saddle us with an inferior IT system though. Nothing that a few million dollars down the road they can fix later. Nimrods.

Quite true.
I find it funny. The IT guys down here were telling me that all the NWA software was going in to the Kiosks a few months ago. What are we going to do now, take it back out?

Is the NWA IT technology developed internally by NWA or was it contracted out? If contracted, this could be part of a plan to get a better deal by the vendor. Similar to RA telling Boeing, "you know, with all these 787 delays, the A350 is looking pretty attractive right now. So.........what can you do for us on these 787 delays? More 777s. 717s as compensation?". Personally I think they will put the squeeze on whoever and whenever they can. Its business.

But I agree, I have heard where many of the NWA IT products were better than ours. The merger should take the "best practices" from both companies to make us better.

Agreed. It will lead to better security and job opportunities for us for many years ahead.

This was in Fridays Trim Tab, not really anything to new, I feel better about the SILs...


Why So Many SILs?
We have been receiving questions lately about why we are offering so many SILs. As most of you know, SILs are Special Incentive Lines which were created a number of years ago with the signing of LOA #2. The purpose is to provide a mechanism to address temporary staffing surpluses in categories that are designated by the company as an “excess
category”.

Getting back to the central question of why we are seeing more SILs now, first, while we normally see a block hour reduction in the fall, the reduction this year has been greater than in past years due to the extraordinary run-up in fuel prices we experienced this spring and summer. Many flights were identified as uneconomical at the elevated fuel prices when the fall and winter schedules were put together. Secondly, we are seeing a continuation from last winter of an historically high number of aircraft mod lines. M88s are being pulled for WiFi installation, we are continuing the installation of winglets on the 737-800s, the remaining seven 767-400s will be converted to the international configuration, 15 additional 757s will receive winglets and SATCOM, and we will begin the installation of winglets and interior refurbishment of the 767ER aircraft. Fewer aircraft available to fly obviously means fewer block hours flown.

As previously stated, SILs are intended to address temporary surpluses and do not mean that displacements or, for that matter, furloughs are imminent. In fact, even though next summer’s schedule is still a work in progress, there is a high probability that we will need additional pilots in 2009.

The bottom line is SILs are a tool that can be used to mitigate temporary staffing excesses, but they do not provide any meaningful insight into long term staffing requirements. It is a strictly voluntary program that provides benefits to both the company and the pilot group. If you have any additional questions about SILs, please stop by and ask your Chief Pilot.

Yes and they should occur through March of next year. FWIW

Just a note about AEs/System Bids/Equipment bids, etc.....most every airline I'm familiar with or have worked at does their equipment bidding similar to the way DAL does it...its just not that cosmic.

Yes, they do, but at most other airlines, there is a more set schedule. Not there huge bids every so often, at Crew Plannings desire.

Ae
 

Hiring is still possible early next year.

AE is now Nov.

ACL,

It hasn't always been a "huge bid" and usually they come out fairly regularly...about 4 bids a year. And they generally reflect what is going on with the airline...if we're gaining or losing aircraft rapidly there are more bids...only makes sense. Crew Resources could have a bid every 2 weeks but the bid itself doesn't create upward movement everyone is looking for....only retirements and increased flying do that.

I get that, and understand that. It is fact that other airlines have a more set schedule on how to do the bidding for positions.

I know that they bid size is not normally huge. It has been quite sometime since we have been taking delivery of our largest airframes. That is making these bids as large as they are.
For some time we were getting rid of the large airframes.

Exactly.
I worked for 2 other airlines where the position bids/system bids/AE's come out on a very regular schedule even if there is no or only a few vacancies. It gave us the opportunity to change bases faster and come back somewhere I liked better faster within the same category (or not necessarily). Delta's system seems less flexible in that department of QOL.

Say I live in SEA and want to fly every summer out of JFK (7ER), but for the rest of the year out of ATL (7ER) for whatever personal reason. Of course all is the subject to other guys wanting gypsy lifestyle.
It is impossible at Delta, but I heard at NWA such movements could be done easier.

I think moving around on the same aircraft should be easier.
Not that I am complaining at all. Delta is a superb airline to work for. And I totally understand the reason of pushing this particular AE back as they are trying to figure out so many variables with combined schedule for next summer.

It would not matter if Delta posted quarterly bids or monthly bids. The training and actual conversion dates would be the same. When the company is growing rapidly we normally have about 8 bids a year. There usually was a cleanup bid after the main bid each time. We have not seen that recently in part because of massive contract changes that required far fewer pilots in each category. Since we are now staffed more in line with the new contract there should be more movement from each bid and either more backfill or follow on bids.

At my previous airline, we had a base trade system.

The way it worked is that you would find someone at the other base who would want to trade with you (usually through an online message board or a bulletin board notice in the crew room). The trade would then be posted online for 30 days. If a person who's more senior also wants to trade into that base, he/she could then bump the more junior person. This preserved the seniority integrity by keeping a junior pilot from potentially trading into a senior base he/she wouldn't normally hold in an AE.

FWIW, crew resources states that they are trying to get the AE out by Friday.

Crap, I'll be at the ME hotel on Cancun that day....:D

Well they stated try. Lets hope they will.
Time for the ER.

More hiring rumors ...
 

FWIW, I had a checkride this week. The check airmen said they are going to hire very soon. He said there are a couple of issues that need to be nailed down first that will determine the total numbers. The estimates he heard were 300.

-Fatty

Total. That included a few from the other side of the fence if a deal cannot be worked out for early outs.
Also Early is as in less than three months.
They are ramping up the process again. I can tell you that.

Also the whole Compass and Mesaba Flow agreements are totally new to Delta. We are trying to figure out what is the best course of action with those, as it pertains to hiring.

I think the best course of action is to terminate the agreements. The 20 a month furlough protection is not enough, if Delta furloughs 500 pilots, it would be years before we could get jobs over there. Plus does Delta really want to bring over people that they have not interviewed or sent to the shrink? I am surprised Delta went for this... They have always been quite selective in their interview process.

That is part of the problem. They feel they had to, to get the JPWA agreed to.

Do you guys still think that they are going to invite the guys that had their interviews cnx'ed in April.

Yes. That's the plan based on my contacts. Delta is really good about honoring their previous commitments.

Any guess as far as a time line. Need to start the studying......

I've heard next month and I've also heard this spring. I think with the upcoming AE I'd bet on next month and get ready. I don't think the tests/process has evolved since the last time you were on the schedule.

Best advice, prep hard for the tests and be as normal as possible for the interview.

Hope to see you on campus soon. You'll love it.