HawgDrvr,

The best answer around the training house is "I don't know." The rumors of November / December classes are rampant, (and the anecdotal evidence for them is strong) but no one seems to have heard anything definative.

If there is a pilot in indoc on the board, he/she would be a good source since they have access to the senior managers who would make that kind of announcement.

BB,

Thanks!

HawgDrvr

Just to clarify my earlier post on the classes subject. Brian put out out last month that the plan was to stop classes after the Oct 29 one, and then pick up again in Jan. He said that would probably change if the MD-90s DAL bid on from China were going to start showing up soon...in which case holiday classes would be needed. So again, anyone currently in training/Indoc who has access to guys like Brian please post what you know.

Everyone talks like the deal on the MD90's is so close that it is getting signed. But, things have been holding there since July / August. My guess is that even if a deal was done now, it would take several months to get these airplanes in conformity for Delta operations.

Also, the airlines involved have recently announced deals with Boeing and nothing was mentioned about an airplane swap. If these Chinese airlines are waiting for their 737's to hit the property before releasing their MD90's, this could take years....

I hope that I'm wrong, but I anticipate the MD90's to be 4 to 6 months away, minimum. However, it still might be a good idea to get the pilots on the property and train at a smooth pace. In other news....

So, there are other airplanes on the horizon :) I'm guessing that means around 50, 777 slots in 2008 and around 65 to 70 in 2009. Keep 'em coming!

The MD90s we are looking at are already in the desert.... if it happens, it could potentially happen very quickly.

[quote=HawgDrvr;230183]Does Delta take a training break between Thanksgiving and Christmas where they don't start any new-hire classes?

HawgDriver

I talked to Brian on Saturday...he offered me the 1 Oct class, but I had a last minute reserve commitment that I can't change and asked if I could push that back 2 months or so. He said no problem, there would be one class in December and a couple in January. He did not give me a specific date, but told me we'd hash it out in Nov. I'd assume if there is a Dec class, then there should probably be Nov classes.

Cheers,
T-Bone

Clamp, thanks for the great post - sorry for the delayed reply, I'm new to this board. I am starting Indoc on Monday, and I am looking at commuting out of DTW to ATL as well. Any details on how that works out would be great - are you international or domestic? Would you recommend trying for the 76 right away or going for somthing junior?

First welcome aboard Cuddy and all the other new Delta posters.

I just flew with a new hire who commutes from DTW to JFK. She said the commute has been pretty good. I'm on the 767ER and I like the the base and I think it's the best flying in the system.

The negative for a new hire on international is the lack of actual flying you do-maybe two landings a month. The new hire I flew with flew the 737-8 for a few months and than transfered to the ER. I think that flying domestically on any AC to get used to the Delta operation is a good idea.

On the subject of the Chinese MD-90's. I talked to a couple of pilots who have had a conversation with our new CEO and they said that the purchase is far from a sure thing. Apparently the AC are cheap but are in rough shape. The cost to get them up to snuff will almost double the cost. That doesn't mean it won't happen.

That is not surprising. Wonder if the growth for this size flying was based on the availability of a less expensive option to perform 737-800 type flying, or if keeping some of the 737-800's on order is now a consideration. Boeing and Airbus do not seem to be in any hurry to get a 737, or A320, replacement to market.

[quote=Bucking Bar;230687]That is not surprising. Wonder if the growth for this size flying was based on the availability of a less expensive option to perform 737-800 type flying,

Yes, I believe so. Delta has needed more mainline lift for some time. There are many city pairs that we could use larger AC (not RJs). The MD-90s where a very inexpensive way to achieve this. We have training,parts and mainenance in place which would make it cheeper to operate (economies of scale).

Delta will take delivery of 10 737-700 in the next couple of years and according to the Boeing website we have 44 737-800 on option. Boeing is supposedly working on the 737 replacement-a mini 787. It would make sense if you're going to operate the 787 that you would want this AC to compliment the fleet- long term.