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

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- - Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/delta/36912-any-latest-greatest-about-delta.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by finis72 (Post 1080282)

What's with this bag fee mantra ?, if it wasn't for bag fees DL would be losing money. Bag fees are just another source of income, like cargo,pax, etc.

I don't see it that way. I agree without bag fees we would (may be losing money) but in reality it is just the way the product is bundled. If americans would not spend five hours to save 5 bucks clicking away trying to find that cheap deal to fly from JFK to MIA for 99 bucks the see uncle Saul (oh don't forget to add in the $110.00 cab ride to the airport) then maybe the airlines could just charge what it takes to cover the costs and make a little $$.

It is cost and revenue collection with a new name.... Still you can only pass on so much even when facing the FAUX LOW airline that is SWA. Even the mad clickers on the net are starting to figure it out it pays to shop around and pay the bag fees.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1080281)

So this is where we are guys. Our favorite MEC bureaucrat slowplay feels that success is measured by how many blow-up rats you inflate. It's embarrassing that the rest of the MEC bureaucrats may well be this obtuse. Sigh.

Carl

+1

I always got a laugh out of the blow up rat. I think of it like placing a flag sticker on your car in response to terrorism, it's the least you can do. Literally, the least you can do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVA402 (Post 1080247)

Finally some positive news in regards to the AF JV today. AF flight from SEA-CDG will change to a DL 767 in 3/2012. In addition to the ORD switch, this seems good. Is this an overall decrease in the amount of flying AF does in the JV or are they picking up more elsewhere?

This is part of the Atlantic capacity reduction. AF 330 reduced to a DL 767. Seat reduction. Back to an AF 330 in Spring 2012.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1080134)

I think what happened is somewhat simple. They had the center failure. They made a questionable decision to continue on to Warsaw. They felt that they would use the alternate systems and a normal landing would be made. The arrived there and used the alternate flap extension for the flaps. They then tried to extend the gear with the alternate system and it failed. It is a simple mechanical system. There are a lot of reasons it could have failed. A short in the switch on the panel would take the entire system out. The interval to check the system I understand can be every 3 years.
The fact they knew to use the alternate system for the flaps tells me they knew how the backups systems work. I think they were surprised when the gear did not extend.

According to some of the media reports, and we all know how accurate those can be, the crew indicated that when they got the center hydraulic system failure early in the flight, they knew at that point they would have to land gear up. Allegedly they even briefed the passengers about what to expect when they got to their destination. That doesn’t sound like someone that knew about or planned to use the ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENSION system. That is where my biggest hang up lies with this entire incident. It could be as simple as inaccurate media reports. Let’s hope so.

Initial training modules in the simulator always include flap asymmetry and disagreement scenarios requiring the use of the ALTERNATE FLAP EXTENSION system. Do you ever remember a scenario where you lost the center hydraulic system requiring dropping the gear with the ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENSION system? Reminds me of the MD-90 Emergency Reverse Thrust system. Many crews didn’t even know that system was on the aircraft. Why? Because until 2006, most flight crews were trained exclusively in the MD-88 simulator only and never got hands on experience with that system.

You are also suggesting they had a dual system failure as well. Although you are absolutely correct that an open circuit or short circuit in the ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENSION system is possible and would have certainly inhibited the gear from extending, a dual system failure seems fairly unlikely. I suspect that you are also correct about the inspection interval on that system, so it is certainly possible.

Some have mentioned a popped CB as a possible cause. Considering it is an all electrical system, I suppose that the ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENSION system may have one or more CB’s associated with it; however, for most crews on the line, one of the first responses when a system doesn’t work or malfunctions is to look at all the CB’s including the high amperage lower panel CB’s. On my next long leg, I’m going to look this up in our various reference manuals (FRC, Vol II, etc.) to see if this could have been a cause. Having said all that, it still brings me full circle back to the media reports saying that they knew they were going to land gear up as soon as they got the hydraulic failure. Why would they say or think that?????? I still don’t get it?????

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigGuns (Post 1080315)

This is part of the Atlantic capacity reduction. AF 330 reduced to a DL 767. Seat reduction. Back to an AF 330 in Spring 2012.

In a related story... I was returning home to MCO the other day and I saw 2 Virgin A330s at the terminal in MCO... for the last 15 years it has been 747s. FWIW

I just want to correct a few things re the SWAPA contract. Open time gets picked up at either straight or premium time. The Lances are limited to 9 days of Captain flying in our latest contract. The Lance program is being discussed frequently on our boards. Good: improved schedule flexibility for Captains. Bad: slightly fewer total Captains.
For purely egotistical reasons:o, I sure hope you guys get a great contract!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolf (Post 1080328)

Why don't you guys get something that benefits the rest of us for a change instead of waiting for everybody else to raise the bar? Not that we count on you to do anything, because we know you won't... You already blew it with the AT deal.

And your lance captains program is a concession too....

Quote:

Originally Posted by finis72 (Post 1080282)

What's with this bag fee mantra ?, if it wasn't for bag fees DL would be losing money. Bag fees are just another source of income, like cargo,pax, etc.

Last year Delta made $952 million in bag fees, brought in over $1 billion in profits, but also paid down $2 billion in debt last year alone. Bag fees helped pay down debt most likely. It was a fee that never helped us before, and now it seem to be the norm. That is good.

You are a piece of work,TS. I posted the correct info to help you guys. The fact is, we are currently well paid, but that was not always so. Kinda like you used to be well paid and now not so much. If it makes you feel any better, I hope U/CAL, AMR and whoever else gets good contracts as well. Go beat your dog or something, you seem tense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIIGMO (Post 1080305)

Not to mention that the frequent travelers zip through the airport nary a fee. It's the expedia shoppers or once a year fliers that get hit with the bag fees.