We start ANC to ATL in May. My guess is the MSP crew will take it down South from there...

 

It's even easier to fly from the back seat! Once the flaps come up after takeoff, I'm deadheading. My only job is to drink coffee and decide when to toss the free crew meal in the oven. Livin' the dream.

 

I almost forgot to mention that there is no flight deck door. We use the whole second floor so I can stretch my legs and take a whiz as often as I like. Also, taking a 30 minute dump is always an option. Gotta love that!

 

I also heard the freighters are still making big money, especially with CRAF contracts. The comments from RA might be for public consumption to appease the investment community over 4Q losses due bad hedges. They like to see you do "something" in response to a loss. We'll see if it really happens, or if they are replaced with something else. As long as gas is cheap they are capable of making a profit. Moving the operation out of ANC might make sense.

 

The only time that's not an option is if it's single pilot ops.

 

For those of you who are interested, in ANC there are:

747-200 Captains: 45 Blockholders / 34 Reserves

First Officers: 38 Blockholders/ 19 Reserves

Second Officers: 48 Blockholders/ 30 Reserves



214 Total Pilots

(As of May 2009)

 

Why 79 CAs and only 58 FOs?

 

You are asking the wrong person.

 

Is it for augmented crews or is it because Captains are older and call in sick more

 

Delta management in several online discussions over the last year has stated the freight operation has been losing money and is not profitable. This was before the lastest meltdown. I don't think the freighters have been making big money in the last few years. It is my understanding that we do not have any freight CRAF contracts. We do have CRAF contracts for moving troops. Both the DAL side and the NWA side have ongoing contracts. The contracts are not aircraft specific. I understand NWA has kept 2 747-200's in a passenger configuration that they use for CFAF troop flights. Delta uses a variety of aircraft for the contracts as the flights come up. The head of Delta maintenance was asked about 6 months how long the 200's would be flying and he replied that it was his understanding they would be retired shortly. This was of course before the big drop in fuel. Lets hope that the drop in fuel has made them rethink this and they will attempt to find another market where the aircraft can make money.