Originally Posted by acl65pilot (Post 1019720)

Jv's are good, but lets realize that AF has the money and the benefit of the "Import-Export" bank. They are buying the big metal. Look at the order books of our Skyteam partners and then compare them to ours.

For anyone that flies in to CDG it becomes quickly apparent that they fly the big metal and we fly more block of smaller metal.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1019692)

There is no way the international aircraft average is around 10 years in age.

Originally Posted by georgetg (Post 1019734)

JVs are not universally good. The AF/KLM is perhaps the best of the bunch.
Our smaller metal means more Delta pilots, that's a good thing across the Atlantic.

I'd like to see the new LOA for VAustralia. My fear is the ratio is already beyond the 50%-50% split in ASMs so that can't be good. In addition Alska does our feed in LAX so no Delta pilot feed jobs on this side of the pacific, while VAustralia (formerly known as Virgin Blue) pilots get to fly Delta pax around Australia.

The big one coming is VAtlantic and I can't see how to spin "the upside" to the pilot group, this will have to be very creative (something like "West coast access to LHR")

Cheers
George

Originally Posted by alfaromeo (Post 1019730)

Absolutely not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't afford to, don't want to, and I have committed to a long term project for one of my clients. The mere thought of it makes my skin crawl.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 1019719)

There he is ... and that's a completely logical explanation.

However, it is difficult to trust the South Reps after the Compass vote and in similar fashion, this sure appears aligned along pre-merger lines.

Will you discuss the notion of Delta pilots performing Delta flying off certificate if Delta needs to outsource the capex? Is this do'able? How do we build a contract so that it encourages Delta to grow organically with our own pilots?

Originally Posted by slowplay (Post 1019737)

You're right. Did some searching on the delta web and it's 11 years for international, 15 years for domestic. I'll correct the error.

Originally Posted by poostain (Post 1019706)

Been on the dc-9, (737 other life) and i am on the 7er now. BUT the best seat and most comfort i ever had was on the airbus, its a back problem pilots dream.

Originally Posted by scambo1 (Post 1019731)

NewK;

Its the green kryptonite in the cockpit paint on the -9.

Bid the 777. Comfy seats, nice bed, really old ranchers...sleep, sleep, sleep (tic).:D

Originally Posted by acl65pilot (Post 1019739)

Agreed, point is we will fly more block which is good, but it will be on lower paying metal. I can see why so many guys are pushing for a longevity based system for our pay. More block benefits everyone equally under that plan.

Oh and I agree, the "Benefits" of the AF JV and access to LHR get washed away with that. VA will fly those routes and we may have a token presence. I am still very uneasy about that one.

As for Pac Rim, yep, I see Singapore is doing a JV with V Australia. I wonder is they are getting ready to switch to our team....... Seems a little coincidental.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1019743)

Really? With all the 767's its still 11? Not to mention that all but 2 of the whales are almost 20, half the 777 fleet is 10 years old... Only the A330's and the new 777's are sub 10.