Originally Posted by chuck416

If this were you (holding the bang-stick), you'd probably be thinking something along the lines of "this is going to hurt you a lot more than it's going to hurt me". Have you ever seen what a 12 gauge shotgun shell does to an animal, when discharged underwater. This guy is about to, literally, tear that fish into two dead, quivering pieces. Not pretty to watch, unless you hate sharks...

Originally Posted by johnso29

Why would we negotiate a concessionary contract when Delta is profitable? Ain't happening. Not buying it. If Delta is making money now, they're in a position to make LOADS when the economy comes back to full swing. To think otherwise is foolish. Management will have ZERO to base the need for a concessionary contract on, because not only are we making money but also paying off debt at an impressive rate while giving money to Aeromexico and BUYING 100 737-900ERs.

Your point may have gone right over my head, but I truly believe that our current NC will not even present a TA that has any scope relief. PERIOD.

Originally Posted by johnso29

Why would we negotiate a concessionary contract when Delta is profitable? Ain't happening. Not buying it. If Delta is making money now, they're in a position to make LOADS when the economy comes back to full swing. To think otherwise is foolish. Management will have ZERO to base the need for a concessionary contract on, because not only are we making money but also paying off debt at an impressive rate while giving money to Aeromexico and BUYING 100 737-900ERs.

Your point may have gone right over my head, but I truly believe that our current NC will not even present a TA that has any scope relief. PERIOD.

Originally Posted by DeadHead

Embraer Snaps 3-Day Advance as Delta Said to Postpone Orders - Bloomberg

" Embraer SA (EMBR3), the world’s fourth- largest planemaker, fell for the first day in four after Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) deferred an order of 100 small narrow-body jets until 2012. "

Found that line somewhat interesting. At a glance I think this is a a good thing. Seems like the majority of big aircraft purchase orders over the last few years have been for ERJs and CRJs, so it's nice to see some Boeing metal on firm orders while RJ orders are delayed.

Manufacturer aside, delaying 100 seat aircraft orders until after the 2012 contract makes sense from management's standpoint, but scares me from a pilot's standpoint. I slowly see scope becoming a major issue in this next contract, seems as the the battlefield is being laid out as such.

Personally, anything proposal with a scope sale attached to it is a big no vote from me, but I'm sure there are those that think 100 seat flying is beneath them and not worth substantial contract improvements for the short term.

My one question is, how essential are 100 seat aircraft to the future of DAL's network coverage? Can DAL sustain it's capacity efficiently with 70 seaters bridging the gap to mainline 150 seaters? or will this leave a major efficiency gap in our system?

I welcome someone else's interpretation of the Tea Leaves, with a healthy smattering of some classy sideboob shots.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

Sailingfun had a good post on this airplane order. He basically stated the 737-900ER fills in for some 757's as they retire.

Delta wants a 140 seat airplane, which is larger than the E190 and the C Series.

Now my opinion:

Delta apparently wants to replace the MD88 with an airplane of similar capacity. That leaves an enormous capacity gap between 76 and 142/160 seats. IMHO the company is waiting out a worse downturn which might give them the opportunity to close the 100 seat order during concessionary negotiations. The Company is biding their time until attrition picks up and the scope loss would not be felt by those currently on our list.

Originally Posted by Columbia

Could be wrong, but I think Bar was referring to negotiations with the manufacturer during tough economic times and having leverage.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

Bar still believes strongly in a double dip recession, thus still thinking the company is going to come asking for concessions. Any surprise?

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

We used to use "north" acars at my previous company, but this thing seems to have had Delta IT's hands all over it. It seems to vary by a minute or 2 after it's made its way through all the tubes and hamster wheels to iCrew from the standard brake/door methodology we are used to for some unexplained reason.

Originally Posted by nerd2009

I wonder if an out time would be generated when the tug driver moves the AC just a little bit to free a frozen chock? That happens a lot

Originally Posted by scambo1

I'll toss out some bait:

Alpa is great! Absolutely fixable by working within the constitution and bylaws.

Our section 1 is ironclad, written by the best lawyers ever, defended to the hilt.

We should take a paycut to help our company payoff its RJ leases.

Carl?