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Old 01-23-2012 | 05:31 AM
  #86391  
Gets Weekends Off
 
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Originally Posted by LeineLodge
Avoid Popeye's and Boar's Head at all costs. I don't think you can get anything at either place for under $10, and we're talking chicken and sandwiches. Not worth it.
Leine,

I was in DTW last month and due to a mechanical issue with the inbound flight our turn time was almost non existent. I went to Boar's Head in desperation and was pleasantly surprised. Not a great deal mind you, but it was a good sandwich and at $8.55 or so (with tax) I didn't feel like I'd been raped.
Old 01-23-2012 | 05:38 AM
  #86392  
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From: 737 ATL
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Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom
By owning a refinery you can eliminate that variable and when you consider how much Jet A Delta buys, it may be a very wise purchase.
Except, the refinery pilots will probably demand date of hire.
Old 01-23-2012 | 06:25 AM
  #86393  
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From: Light Chop
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Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom
In addition to dealing with the fluctuation in the cost of of oil, the "crack spread" fluctuates as well. (crack spread is essentially the differential between the price of crude oil and, in this case, Jet A).

I recall that when Katrina rolled through MSY the price of crude went up significantly, but the crack spread skyrocketed.

By owning a refinery you can eliminate that variable and when you consider how much Jet A Delta buys, it may be a very wise purchase.
The best way to manage your supply chain is to own it.

I knew a restaunteer who had probably two dozen restaurants and he bought most his suppliers. Works for WB's Berkshire Hathaways companies too. I think Netjets owns their supply chain, although I know ponzi schemes aren't a great analogy but still.

For an airline to do this, brilliant. Hope they do it. But I bet we'd really start to tanker out of the hubs!
Old 01-23-2012 | 06:31 AM
  #86394  
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
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Originally Posted by Elvis90
There were 5,500 qualified applicants when I interviewed in the summer of 2010.
Originally Posted by Delta1067
Close to 12,000 was the # that I was told by a pilot hiring person that I meet while in Indoc. She said close to 12,000 "very qualified" applicants were currentlly on file.
Interesting statistic. In May - June of 2007 there were over 8,000 and I think the number was 12,200 qualified applicants. In July when I walked my buddies' stuff in (not that we're supposed to do that anymore) I was told the same numbers.

If the number dropped by 2010, it is interesting. Elvis, had you applied at Delta, NWA, or both?

FWIW, for personal reasons I would not have applied to NWA, but Delta was my first choice. Just wondering with the "new Delta" if folks are looking at bases and deciding SWA & FedEx are better fits? Most of the fleet problems* will have been worked out by the time we start hiring again.

* When I applied at Delta, Steenland had announced Compass & other large RJ's was going to replace the DC9's ... I feared the fleet renewal off the property would result in stagnation, or possibly furloughs. ... as history worked out, my fears were mostly unfounded as the Company carried pilots over until the 737 deliveries, a couple 777's and MD90's created room. Still, Atlanta's much more senior than it was pre-merger and many of my friends would rather stay at their regionals making 110K to 125K+ as senior Captains & LCA than start back at the bottom in a base they could hold right now (if we were hiring).

The other dynamic may be that in this uncertain economy, some people feel more secure in the top 25% of a regional with a future that looks dire (to me), than at the bottom 10% of a major which has a bright future (in my estimation).
Old 01-23-2012 | 06:40 AM
  #86395  
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From: blueJet
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On a Regional FO budget, DTW calls for either the Wendy's Dollar Menu or Taco Bell. I can eat healthy when I'm a real pilot someday.

At Taco Bell, you can sneak a drink refill if you tell them you're not with GoJetsss.
Old 01-23-2012 | 06:42 AM
  #86396  
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From: 737A
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Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom
Leine,

I was in DTW last month and due to a mechanical issue with the inbound flight our turn time was almost non existent. I went to Boar's Head in desperation and was pleasantly surprised. Not a great deal mind you, but it was a good sandwich and at $8.55 or so (with tax) I didn't feel like I'd been raped.
The soups and chili at boars head are usually good as well. I think it was about 7 bucks for a good sized serving. The omelettes at national coney are great...can't find one that good since the move to the ATL.
Old 01-23-2012 | 06:44 AM
  #86397  
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
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Originally Posted by forgot to bid
The best way to manage your supply chain is to own it.

For an airline to do this, brilliant. Hope they do it. But I bet we'd really start to tanker out of the hubs!
FTB, I think the term you are looking for is "vertical integration."

Ford's River Rouge plant has always amazed me and it built my last two F150's. According to the tour, iron ore comes in off a barge and gets dumped at the steel mill at one end of the facility ... two weeks later a new truck rolls out the other end.

The way Jet fuel is distributed, we would not have to tanker. Think of the infrastructure as a corkage fee for bringing your own bottle of wine to a restaurant. We buy fuel under contract, then the distributor is paid so many cents for serving it to the airplane. The fuel we buy isn't physical, we are trading contracts and cash. It becomes physical at the airplane. "Our fuel" could end up in a number of different places and for different airlines. We'd simply have a way to create fuel capacity and sell it on the open market with the advantage being a reduction of the "crack spread" that refiners are currently charging us. Here's a good article:

The Drastic Impact to Airlines and Passengers From Fuel Price Increases - Seeking Alpha
Old 01-23-2012 | 06:53 AM
  #86398  
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From: ATL717A
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Originally Posted by LOBO
W-2s are out.
Can somebody refresh my memory about how to get this? I'm not seeing it on Deltanet. Thanks.
Old 01-23-2012 | 07:01 AM
  #86399  
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
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Originally Posted by Boomer
On a Regional FO budget, DTW calls for either the Wendy's Dollar Menu or Taco Bell. I can eat healthy when I'm a real pilot someday.
Reposted below ...

Last edited by Bucking Bar; 01-23-2012 at 07:47 AM.
Old 01-23-2012 | 07:20 AM
  #86400  
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From: DAL FO
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Originally Posted by Bucking Bar
Real pilots get day old food off the airplane. The pecking order is as follows:
  1. Flight Attendants
  2. First Class Passengers
  3. Flight Attendants (meal #2, #3, or "to go" meal)
  4. Dead heading Flight Attendants and non rev friends in back
  5. Flight Attendants' Cats (or if outbound on an international leg, their "friends" at the outstation)
  6. Gate Agents they are friendly with
  7. Rampers they are friendly with
  8. Captain
  9. First Officer
Being so low on the food chain, there are several strategies which must be employed to score free food. Generally, the busier you can keep the flight attendants, the less time they have to graze (or give away) your food. Good airman-ship and diplomacy worthy of Henry Kissinger is key. Find smooth air, fly smoothly, encourage the Captain to keep the seat belt sign off. Make PA's which encourage passengers to "let us know if there is anything we can do to make your flight more comfortable." You must do this in a way that does not alert the FA's of your intention to keep them in the aisles.

A regional airline is a good place to hone your second strategy ... a non discriminating palate. Think of this as the logical expansion of the "ten second rule." Every moldy sandwich has a good end. Food in plastic wrappers is not going to be contaminated by a little garbage which is placed adjacent to it. Banana's are edible in almost any condition.

Your third strategy (and the potential home run move) is to help the flight attendants with their bags. When the two first class meals they have saved fall out from their hiding places, just flash your best grin and begin running while yelling over your shoulder in the jetway "Wow! You packed this up for the Captain and I! You're so nice. It was great working with you hope we get to fly together again soon. ... say hey to your cats. ..."

The potential downfall of the third strategy is getting busted with a bottle of Company booze. I'm guessing that's a firing offense. So, if while performing the grip n grab jog to hog I hear a clink, I give up the goods rather than risk getting caught. Also note, some of the Flight Attendants are deceptively fast and can nearly match your pace up the jetway.
Bar, you're approaching FTB status with this one.

In fairness though, I have to say we were fed on 3 of 4 legs on my last trip and the FA's did a nice job of checking in with us. Must've been a lot of food to get all the way down to #9 on your list
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