Justdoinmyjob

Not sure who you fly 121 for, and I'm not singling you out specifically, but this is an example of what not to bring to Delta. While it is frustrating for those on the outside, trying to figure out where they stack up, as a current Delta pilot I can tell you most of us don't give a RA where you came from.

To put it another way, You are going to be sitting in my right seat. Where you came from, what you flew, male or female, I don't care. I only care that you know how to do your job without getting me killed, and be someone I don't mind buying beers for on the layover.

FWIW, I was a smurfjet flyer. I also flew an M-16 in the military. My best man and Godfather of my eldest son flew smurfjets with me. He also just made Capt in the Navy as an SWO. I've seen good and bad pilots come from both tracks. One way is not any better than the other. Some smurfjet drivers may have a far more extensive military career than you might think.

filejw

I read 170 someplace else.

johnso29

The only systems test one takes at Delta is via computer.

johnso29

Well 130 is an official number from DALPA.

gloopy

Considering there are a dozen or three NWA double furloughs that can still defer for a few more years, and there was barely 200 total, that seems like a very high number. Maybe some of them sent in the letter knowing they wouldn't have class til November or so and figured they could quit then instead of being forced to quit now. 2 or 3 more months of having an option in this industry is worth the price of a stamp. I'd be suprised if 130-140 actually did come back but we'll see.

gloopy

Didn't Will Ferrell already do that?

forgot to bid

The ESV is your oral, however, there is this one other thing called walk around slides that kind of allows for some questioning on the day of your final check ride. Now obviously, you could do a walk around on any jet and tell if its ready to fly if all you were looking for was to make sure nothing looked damaged, missing or leaking. So we were told that the walk around slides are no big deal, we all know how to preflight.

But, I wouldn't go that route. Because when they start to review the walk around slides here come the questions (and this is true for recurrent).

For instance, the first or second slide on the 88 walk around is of the front left side of the jet. There's a strake there. They may ask you "what is that?"

"It's a strake."

"What's it for? Is it heated?... Oh it is? When? All of the time? Some of the time? Pneumatic heat? Or is it electric? How about on the 90?"

Now of course in the book it says "STRAKE.... CHECK". But obviously the pre flight slides allow them to see if you just memorized the LOD by rote or you actually get it.

Technique only here but at some point when you're studying Long Beach's Gift to Bucking Bar (the MD-88) it wouldn't hurt to pull out those slides. Take for instance that strake. Go on the computer and CTRL+F on the LOD pdf and say "Strake". See what it is they wanted you to remember about it. Answer, it's only mentioned 3 times and it's all about when it's heated. But just in case, maybe now go to VOL 1 and CTRL+F that. Maybe VOL 2? QRH? Oh I know, its a strake. You have no control over it. I get that. it's just a way to approach this thing because next to it is the AOA vane and the external power panel which oh let's talk about the ground service bus and whats the one big thing on the ground service bu...

So sure you can memorize the LOD and pass the ESV. But I think trying to make checkride day go fast and painless is a good idea. So here's my technique - just know every damn thing on those first five slides so well that maybe you won't get asked anymore questions? Or, it'll actually help learn the plane and its kind of nice not to sit there with the deer in the landing light look, which by the way, retracts automatically when?

So yes it's not an oral. it's just some walk around slides... cough cough.

Note: If you're on the A320, the answer is "per systems logic" and leave it at that.

XtremeF150

I must be old school but I preferred the class. Yeah I know it took away a little more home time, but many times other people bring up very good questions in class I hadn't thought of and wouldn't have thought of if I am just studying a thumb drive. Oh well I better get back to learning the 88 myself.

dtfl

As someone pointed out earlier-those of us taking MLOA work our @sses off on those days-at least I did/do. To get called by the "mil lv gurus" in Flight Ops and accused of something pi$$es me off to no end. Maybe that's the reason USERRA attys have visited Delta and every JAG I mention this to starts foaming at the mouth.

Our former ANG/Res-turned mgmt guys might have sat on their ass at home on MLOA and think we do the same but it's not happening. And surprise, surprise, ALPA was no help.

gasnhaul

Here's to all of you M-16 drivers! BTW does this count as a smurfjet too since it's blue?