DAL Class drops
 

In a "someone ought to..." moment, I thought I'd try and start a new thread just for drops. Might make it easier for those interested to get the latest.

8/22/16:
Nyc 73n - 10
nyc 320 - 16
nyc m88 - 16
nyc 717 - 11

That is how many dropped out for another airline?

LOL no not yet. Give it a couple years though.

Yet something else that we need not worry about.

Just an outsider looking in, but any idea why Delta continues to operate so many different types of narrow body? I get the merger as a main influence, but it seems like most other majors examine the combined fleet, then pick one or two and go with them for increased efficiency/flexibly.

Now you're adding the Cseries as well? Seems like that could have been covered by the 737-700 or the miniBus.

Here's everything since June, I think:

6/6 drop:
ATL MD88 - 8
ATL 717 - 3
DTW 717 - 4
DTW 320 - 6
NYC MD88 - 4
NYC 73N - 3
NYC 320 - 2

6/13 drop:
ATL 717 - 4
ATL MD88 - 6
DTW 320 - 3
NYC 320 - 3
NYC 73N - 2
NYC 717 - 6
NYC MD88 - 6
6/20/16 drop:
LAX 717 - 1
DTW 320 - 2
NYC 320 - 6
NYC 717 - 11
NYC MD88 - 19

7/11/16 drop:
ATL MD88 - 5
DTW 717 - 8
DTW 320 - 5
NYC 73N - 1
NYC 320 - 2
NYC 717 - 4
NYC MD88 - 10

7/18/16 drop:
ATL MD88 - 7
DTW 320 - 2
NYC 73N - 1
NYC 320 - 6
NYC 717 - 8
NYC MD88 - 10

7/25/16 drop:
ATL MD88 - 10
ATL 717 - 10
DTW 320 - 4
NYC 73N - 4
NYC 320 - 6
NYC MD88 - 10
NYC 717 - 10

8/8/16 drop:
ATL MD88 - 7
NYC 737 - 4
NYC 320 - 7
NYC MD88 - 6
NYC 717 - 7

8/15/16 drop:
NYC 73N - 7
NYC 320 - 4
NYC MD88 - 13
NYC 717 - 9

8/22/16 drop:
NYC 73N - 10
NYC 320 - 16
NYC MD88 - 16
NYC 717 - 11

Our team was focused on shareholder returns, not the viability going forward with 800 retirements a year.

Not if the advertised 20 to 25% fuel savings on the c-series is a reality...but that remains to be seen. It might turn out like the companies expectation though of a 737-900 being a 757 replacement...that didn't quite pan out.

Not to mention Boeing plays hardball. Always. Bombardier had to beg to get those C-Series off their shelves or go bankrupt. I'm not privy to the final deal, but I'd be willing to bet the C-series were purchased at a level better than anything Boeing was willing to put forward, and before you chime in with the capacities of a 73MAX or any other variant of that frame, I'm talking seat for seat, or more to Richard's (PBUH) values...PRASM. Now throw in the fact that Delta will be the de facto maintenance facility for the next few companies that purchase them and voila...Tech Ops revenue makes the deal waaaay too good to pass up.
So should Delta have gone with the next variant of Boeing's 40-year old workhorse? I think I understand where Richard was coming from...
Heck, even Ed wouldn't lose sleep over that choice.:eek::rolleyes:

Well that didn't take long to derail...

Now if you'll excuse that threadjack, please proceed with the next set of drops!

Delta's fleet strategy has often been based on being opportunistic on fleet acquisitions. The MD90 fleet was expanded as used airframes came on the market with not much interest. By all accounts Delta put Southwest over a barrel on the 717 leases due to similar lack of competing interest. Delta also took advantage of Bombardier's desperation on the CSeries program. The recent 737-900ER and A321 orders took advantage of the production gaps at Boeing and Airbus as they spool up new engine versions. The result is a varied fleet but the complexity is made feasible by low acquisition costs and the capabilities of TechOps.

With regard to the CSeries, the operating economics are significantly better than the 737 Max 7 even before taking into account the screaming deal Delta reportedly got.

Anyone in the know believe the ER will be available to new hires again within the next few months, especially considering the big AE this Fall? It was going to new hires pretty consistently for more than a year.. then stopped. Just curious if it might make its way back to future drops.

I flew a trip earlier this month with a Captain instructor. He said they were told to expect new hires in training for the ER this Fall. No further details.

I can't answer your question except to say, over the last 3 years, the plan was to park more 757's and 767's but about a year and a half ago, that plan changed rapidly, because of a deal with the NBA and other factors. We ended up extremely short on 7ER crews (FO's mostly) and that is why there were so many new hire slots available over that time period. They have caught up with the ever evolving 7ER fleet plan for now and I won't say it won't be going to new hires, but the fleet is still scheduled to shrink over the coming years, and with all of the crappier assignments being handed out, I would bet the company won't have a shortage of 1-4 year hires looking for a better quality of life than flying 4-5 leg days on a sweaty mad dog. I can say that cause I flew the mad dog. It's hot in the summertime in that cockpit going in and out of ATL all day, every day.

Truth! 6 more months of Maddog life. ;)

Does anyone know the drop for today (8/29/16)?

I'm currently in ER training, word is new hires in the fall. I don't think the ER has been on the last AE or two but there were more people who bid off than were back filled. I'd bet a beer we'll see an ER on the next or perhaps following AE, and when that happens it'll probably go to new hires as well (or shortly thereafter).

...and per the wording on the AE's, any spots that are unfilled will be offered to newhires. Which means, the unfilled ER spots should show up in a newhire class or classes in the near future.

I don't think there was a class today.

I disagree. We will soon be the laughing stock choice for new hires if, years from now, we're still below Allegiant, no deal in sight, weakest of the legacy airlines for wide body opportunities, the worst vacation and constantly violated scope, speckled over with laughable penalty checks.

The market for pilots is rising, and Virginia Avenue is being left behind due to shortsighted mahogany row groupthink.

Bump focus

Not my problem.

It is our leverage, though. Unless you prefer to ignore it.

Not really much leverage value there for anybody with more than 6 hours with the company.

.
You're delusional if you think what new hires think gives us leverage. Who cares? Not the company. They are metric driven and follow every new hire statistic with great interest. If they see a decline in acceptance rates of new hires, they will adjust. So far, according to a buddy in the interview group, this has not happened.
.
Or you could explain your understanding of this great leverage we get from new hire disinterest.
.

I think it'd be less about disinterest from those who apply and end up going elsewhere before they are offered an interview, and more about the people who do indoc, FPTs, simulators, 50 hours of IOE and a line check and then fly the line for three weeks and quit for FDX. That's not exactly a good use of training resources, is it?

.
My source says that when those events get painful enough, the company will do something. So far it has been completely negligible.

And, as was posted above, it's not my job to worry about such things.

And I still don't see how any new-hire one-off events give US any leverage.

I DO see new leverage in that, as of this week, we are the ONLY major without a contract or TA and we are also the carrier raking in the most massive profit. Thus, there is "uncertainty" here. I don't think the company is thrilled about that and I suspect we might see some progress at the upcoming scheduled negotiating sessions.
.

I am glad you did not do my OE. If thats what you think new hires are then you should never ever do any OE. New hires are part of the family from day one. Hope you dont sit there and gloat all trip about yourself.:mad:

These people busted their arse to get on. They are part of the team the minute they wear the uniform. PERIOD> and it should concern you, Mr. pull up the ladder behind you, guy!

TEN

Holy crap can't we keep to the topic the OP wanted. Mods, any chance of cleaning up this thread to class drops only?

Alot of average joe line Captains I've noticed treat newbs pretty poorly IMO. Friends I have spoken to say the same thing. The company is great obviously but some of these guys take it upon themselves to be jerks for whatever reason, condescending, micromanaging, etc. We definitely need to take a hard look at how United treats new hires or half-wingers as they're called. They walk on water there pretty much from what I have heard and seen.

Funny stuff. You think each thread actually has a unique topic? Pretty sure everything under DELTA on APC is the same now...same 10 people, same arguments, same insults.

+1000 ^^^^^

Starting to see why this thread didn't exist before...

Good luck, everybody.

Still not our problem, and still no leverage.

wow, talk about off the rails.

Ya this place is starting to resemble flight info...

Starting to?

Any NYC990B ? :D

Well....it's all about treating another professional aviator with dignity & respect regardless of age or seniority. No one walks on water even though there are always a few clowns who can make this job miserable. Karma usually takes care of these individuals somewhere along the line.