Airline Pilot Central Forums - Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?

Bar; the MD-90 makes great sense for a company with 15 billion and debt that needs to do some fleet renewal. Dress it however you want, the MD-90 is the choice now because it makes sense. New airplanes are expensive and DAL cannot afford that type of capital outlay.

There is no point in buying a 73N that will be outdated in 10 years. If the airplane manufactures fall on their faces and cannot deliver anything more efficient, AMR will look like a winner, but given the fact that the technology has almost matured to the point of design and production, DAL will be the one smiling.

There are no next-gen airframes out there. May as well get a current-gen at a fraction of the price. We don't need SJS, we need revenue. This makes it and RA was also the architect of the refurbed DC9's. That choice saved our bacon in a down economy and into BK when other carriers were saddled with huge debt from new aircraft. UAL still has furloughed pilots back to 1998. The difference in cost of acquisition buys a lot of Jet A.

A lot of the choice has to do with where you see the economy going. Ditto the choice for new vs. used WB until the mythical 787 starts deliveries and proving itself in revenue service.

KC10 FATboy

03-08-2011 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satchip (Post 960008)

Looks like the airlines are not the only ones burning through cash.

U.S. Treasury Drew Down Its Cash Balance by $81.6 Billion in Just First 4 Days of March | CNSnews.com

"The last official act of government is to loot the treasury" - George Washington

forgot to bid

03-08-2011 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capncrunch (Post 960054)

Most definitely.

If I were CEO...

Id get into a bidding war with American for Alaska and bid up the price. Once I had bid it up to poison pill levels I'd pull out and let American take the hit on the purchase price. Then I'd go and get Virgin America for a song and take the West Coast on the cheap cheap.

But if you were a CEO and a line pilot, if that could happen, it'd be great to talk about bidding on Alaska and then let AMR have them and never risk accidentally buying them. Delta's gotten burned by AMR before.

Then we grow out west on our own.

alfaromeo

03-08-2011 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toejam (Post 959794)

So I was wondering...

I noticed the reduced number of lines for April versus March, and I did a little calculation. THe international aircraft are mostly stable across the bases, maybe a 1% drop. The domestic aircraft are down abut 8% across the bases. The bases are not 8%, but overall it is about that number. So is big D reducing domestic capacity 8%, or moving more of the trips to other non-mainline aircraft? Or is my math wrong...

Hopefully this is not a trend.

April will usually have a little less block hours due to the lack of Spring Break which are mostly in March. You also have to look at vacation and training hours which can vary from month to month. Most importantly, you need to look at the ALV. You can add flying and reduce lines by increasing the ALV enough.

alfaromeo

03-08-2011 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearjerk (Post 959854)

What does this mean in the eyes of the "Deltoids"? More quickly reducing the amount of "gas guzzling" DC-9's, or accelerating the conversion of 50-seat leases into 70/76 seat options?

*Disclaimer- No, I'm not throwing out the "F" word, or think that the sky is falling. Just thought it was an interesting article (highlighted in red), and seeing as how the United/Continental bargaining position is to reduce the amount of 50-seat planes, am hoping this helps their position.

Actually, there is no other airline better situated to withstand the oil shock than Delta. What is most likely means is an acceleration of the industry consolidation that is underway. Regional carriers will further consolidate and there may be more deals for mainline carriers also. Time will tell.

Jesse

03-08-2011 05:51 AM

Anything interesting from the Final Flight Ops Leadership Pilot Base Visit in ATL yesterday? Had to step to a flight before it got started.

TANSTAAFL

03-08-2011 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfaromeo (Post 960074)

Agreed and the MD90 is a big part of that. Wonder if the Jurassic jet will hang around a little longer than forecast for the same reason? I heard from as friend in the schoolhouse that no one in the DC9 program had heard EB's comments before he made them on the 18-24 month parking and they all though they were going to be around considerably longer.

TOGA LK

03-08-2011 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capncrunch (Post 959769)

I hope so. Let them buy AK Air and we will build the West Coast Business grass roots. Maybe the 100 seater RFP is a contingency to the above scenario???

I think you are on to something.

Superpilot92

03-08-2011 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satchip (Post 960006)

They are hoping to discover your huge stash of underboob!

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...oflbrothel.gif

Superpilot92

03-08-2011 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC10 FATboy (Post 960063)

I don't mind if an instructor or line check pilot does it. They'll usually do it before the training/flight so they understand your background.

I *really* hate when someone out of category, that I don't even know, looks at my personal information or schedule. I think the company is putting themselves at risk should an individual use your information to do something illegal (credit identity fraud, physical hard, theft).

thats the part i thought was weird, first it was a DGS guy i believe that looked at my stuff, then a guy on MIL leave. Why would they need my personal info?

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