Every single bid since the merger happened has been preceded by doom and gloom along with a rehash of the "I got screwed in the merger" debate. Every single one of those doom and gloom predictions has been wrong. Bucking Bar has been virtually furloughed so many times that he should put in a grievance for virtual furlough pay.

Hey - wait a minute. This bid went reasonably well for me.

I got a "cancel takeoff clearance" once up in CLE when the other tower controller cleared trucks across the runway. For a few minutes CLE thought we took off without a takeoff clearance, in fact said so over the frequency, before they realized what had happened and we called them on the phone later and they were like "sorry bout that, bye!" ?

But I'll cover for ATC because I've been covered a lot of times. :D

Hey Carl, FTB, *0, Bar, et al :

Many years ago during the late Southeast Asia war games, two Navy F4's launched off the boat with drop tanks. One of them got a drop tank fire. I believe it was the Airboss that broadcast " F4 off the cat, you're on fire, Eject, Eject".

Four F4 bubbas pulled the handles and left two airplanes. Navy guys feel free to correct my fuzzy memory, but once again the law of unintended consequences reared its' head. Might be applicable to this current issue that carl raised.

Regards to all....

Virgin Atlantic pilots vote for a strike - CNN.com

Virgin Atlantic pilots vote for a strike
By the CNN Wires Staff
June 21, 2011 3:48 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
"There has been no UK strike for 32 years," a union official says
The overwhelming majority of pilots vote in favor of a strike
Virgin Atlantic says its offer is double the national average for a UK business
(CNN) -- Pilots of the British business mogul Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways have broken with tradition and voted in favor of the picket line over a pay proposal, a first in the airlines' history.
"We are naturally disappointed with the result of the ballot but remain committed to further talks with our pilots' representatives to find a solution," Virgin Atlantic said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Representatives from the British Airline Pilots Association, the main union for the United Kingdom's commercial pilots, claim Virgin Atlantic pilots have not had a pay increase since 2008.
Pilots do not want to strike, but are being driven to strike and are hugely disappointed by the company's approach, said Jim McAuslan, general secretary for the pilots association.
He added that pilots were offered increases below inflation for the next two and a half years.
Union representatives said 97% of the pilots who voted were favor of a strike, and 94% of the membership voted.
"The size of the poll and the huge majority for action should send a clear message to Sir Richard Branson," McAuslan said. "There has been no UK pilot strike for 32 years. But there comes a time when even moderate people say 'enough.'"
Virgin Atlantic representatives said they have made an offer to the pilots union that is double the national average for a UK business.
"We value our pilots enormously and that is why we have offered three guaranteed pay rises in the next two and a half years and a share of company profits," Virgin Atlantic said in a written statement.
Airline representatives said they were optimistic that once the union communicated their offer to the pilots, a strike would be averted.
But the British Airline Pilots Association stood firm.
"Time is running out," McAuslan said. "If damage is to be avoided and passengers not inconvenienced, then Sir Richard needs to act now."
Virgin Atlantic representatives said contingency plans are in place to minimize the impact of a strike on consumers.

I dropped from 75% to 88% in category. But that's because they took 50 crews out of my category. I tried to VD to the 7er, but it didn't work. It would have if I wanted to go to NYC. Guess I should have VD'd to the DC9. :p

It's all good though. Hopefully more retirements as a result of the AE, & more hiring in 2012. :D

It's very applicable, and it came up during the discussion. When a controller sees two aircraft in conflict, he generally knows both flight numbers. They said that during the extreme stress of the moment, controllers can mix up those two flight numbers (dyslexia) and issue the cancel takeoff clearance to the wrong aircraft. Imagine that. You're right at V1 or maybe a hair past it when you hear the controller screaming "cancel takeoff clearance" to you. As you go off the runway, you hear the controller apologize for mixing up the flight number with the aircraft they really wanted to cancel.

I told the two guys that I'm ready to start handling my own traffic separation with TCAS and do away with controllers. For some reason, they didn't like that idea.

Carl

Soooo, when will we know training dates for this AE. I looked in the PWA, 22-e/f and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn, so I'm kinda lost. Thanks in advance.

Jim

Airbus is spanking boeing this week. Another 180 320's. Biggest aircraft order ever!

India carrier IndiGo orders a record 180 planes from Airbus - USATODAY.com

Is delta next?

I wouldn't put too much stock in Republics 60 aircraft order.