dalad, I think that most of your post are well thought out and informative. If you think that Drank hasn't made any valid points then do you think that the current outsourcing is good for the Delta pilots? Should we allow more relaxation of the 76 seat RJ's? How much of our route network should we concede to ALK? Should we help the company turn SLC into the next SEA and LAX?

We all want Delta to be profitable, it just amazes me how some users on here get slammed for trying to protect our jobs. When I see the very pro DALPA crowd hammer folks who want to protect Delta pilot jobs it makes me wonder who they want to represent.

 

I guess I need to retract the "no valid points" statement. It's the delivery that bothers me, which probably belongs on the FI forum. My position is that I believe DALPA needs to go, but the current DPA group is woefully inadequate. No to any more outsourcing, as I fly with too many FO's who are in my age group and stagnated with no clear idea of when they are going to get a chance to upgrade. I have been very fortunate as I was 40 when I checked out as a 727 A. I sincerely hate to see what is happening demographically at DAL. Our airline really needs to grow internally, and I believe there is a way it can. We have an untapped resource at our airline that could be used to be a game changer in the industry. I would love to have a day with RA to express my ideas. I have already spoken too much and now the Cowboys are winning.

 

Well said dalad, I completely agree with your DALPA/DPA views. I think Drank isn't as far out as some make him to be. IOW, many of us on here (despite our bickering) want the same results. Thanks for the post.

 

Quick question.... I have read on here many times that RA doesn't like/want the 787. Why is this? Isn't it supposedly very fuel efficient? And basically a 767-300 replacement?

 

Actually, most of the older FO's have a clear idea of when they're going to upgrade - NEVER. My career path has been written since furlough and I fully expect to retire as a 22 year FO (assuming I can make it to 65). I don't see anything on the horizon that will accelerate growth enough to allow me to upgrade any time soon.

 

Define "older" and there might be some cold beers that exchange hands

 

The wife, kiddos and I were to nonrev to BOS for the weekend and come back monday.

Glad we decided not to go. Flights were wide open BOS-ATL on Monday and now half cancelled and the rest oversold. Whew.

 

He blew out the other knee last year, worked his bu** off in rehab, only to have this happen. He is a class act.

Kudos to TN who came over and gathered with the USC team as he was tended to. Let's not forget Willis MacGhee from Miami who had a similar injury in the 2002 Feista Bowl, who is now in the pros.

Gamecock nation is behind you Marcus!

 

RA likes the 787 in theory but doesn't want the headaches of the inevitable "bugs" of a new aircraft. After it has been around a while and others have lived through the new jet glitches (and possibly after its been stretched at least once), you will see it in DL colors.

 

Or maybe RA's problem isn't the 787, it's Boeing?

Maybe he can't trust a "ship without a rudder" to handle the inherent adversity of a relatively radical new plane?