They have been talking about buying those MD-90's from China for almost as long at they have been talking about a 100 seat replacement aircraft at the mainline. At the rate the talks seem to be going those MD-90's will be nothing but rust by the time we get them! I am not holding my breath but we are supposed to still be talking with the Chinese.

 

As is typical for you Sailing, you missed the point of Eric's post. The "they" that you refer to is now Delta. While we were still Northwest, we did NOT furlough, or go beyond the scheduled DC-9 retirements, or get rid of the 747-200's; as the genius' like you kept predicting. Now that we're Delta, any decisions are Delta's.

You need to wise up ace. I know you think we're the worst bunch since the airlines began, but your constant bashing of NWA is just boring and sadly predictable. Especially since NWA is no more. Try to turn the friggin page already.

Carl

 

No as usual Carl, you missed the point. If any aircraft retirements are Delta's then any pilot retirements are also Delta's and we all share equally.

 

Carl, Can you show anything in the post you quoted where I bashed NWA. I am simply putting out facts. I have a lot of friends at NWA and I respect them and NW airlines. I have not once posted that we saved NWA or anything else. I agree its a merger of equals from a financial standpoint. I have simply posted what are known facts about the fleet and fleet plan at NW. I have also posted negative things about the Delta fleet plan including the post you referenced where I mention that the MD-90's are may not be coming. You can find the same info I post here via google. In fact when I posted last spring that the plan was to be down to 62 nines at the end of the year I believe you stated it would never happen. Reality is sometimes hard to except but its still reality. I also never posted the 200's would be gone this year. The plan as of a month ago however had them all gone in the next two years. 50 dollar a barrel oil may change that but as off 10 days ago they put out at a line check meeting that anchorage would be closed. That does not bode well for the 200's. They also put out all 400's would be parked within 4 years. Yesterday a friend spoke with someone on the 4th floor who is working on the 747 issue and he did say that if fuel stays below 80.00 a barrel that time frame could slip a few years. I really hope they stay for 20 years since they provide high end jobs that will benefit all of us. The nines however are leaving. They are approaching 40 years old. The required aging aircraft inspections that will be coming up on the airframes are very expensive and new noise standards can't be met with the current hush kits. As I have pointed out many times here the key question is can we recapture that flying for the mainline. Sadly so far at NWA that has not happened. You will have lost almost 100 DC=9's at year end without any replacement aircraft in the last 4 years. Sadly I fear that we wont see a replacement at the new combined airline either. Delta management has been promising us a new 100 seat aircraft since we retired Delta's DC=9's in 1991. So far its been 17 years of promises and not one airframe.

 

You got your exodus of retirements and now you are going for ours.

 

I can't believe you guys are still arguing about this crap. The SLI will be what it will be now, and not one word posted here will influence the panel's decision. What is happening however, is that a acrimonious situation is being developed between the two pilot groups. While the regulars here understand the back and forth, comments are taken out of context when posted to other forums and those readers react differently.

Don't know about you guys, but I can think of a lot of things to do rather than argue ad nauseum about the same thing.

 

I guess you talked to the wrong NWA pilot then. A DC-9 that had just been pulled out of the desert was spotted at NWA's heavy maintenance facility the other day. According to the mechanics, it was going through some refurbishment so it could be sent back to the line. Seems like a strange thing to do if you're going to turn right around and repark it along with 8 more to get down to the magical 62 number. The original fleet plan from many months ago when oil was approaching $150/barrel had the DC-9 fleet down to 62 by the end of the year. Plans change. Especially when oil gets down to where it is now. Just like how the original plan for the new merged carrier next summer had close to 360 route/aircraft swaps. Now, the plan, as of 2 days ago calls for 6 (Former NWA) aircraft to change routes by next summer. 4 747-400s and 2 A-330s. From 360 changes down to only 6. Quite a change from the original plan wouldn't you say?

 

Couldn't agree with you more, but many of the DAL usual suspects here don't. They can't talk about the weather without tying it to DC-9 parking, or NWA pilots trying to screw the arbitrators and DAL pilots and.........

Make note of the following:

NWA guys on this board are not bashing DAL guys. Even though you guys trashed us in the first 3 days of arbitration, we did NOT respond in kind at the arbitration, and we're NOT doing it now.

The vast majority of my posts are defending the latest negative BS about the former NWA posted by some DAL pilot purporting to show "facts." Here's a deal, stop all the former NWA bashing and that will cut down on the posts here. If you don't have something positive to say, just shut up. It's not like we all don't have enough negativity going on right now.

Carl

 

Here's what you don't get:

First of all, your facts are wrong - see PropNWA post above.

Secondly, even IF your facts were right, it ain't no way to make friends. If your girlfriend was butt ugly and flat chested, would you appreciate me telling you those "facts?" Or would you want to do battle with me because I voiced an opinion that you don't agree with? Would your anger be assuaged if I said: "Look dude, I was simply putting out facts."

If you think walking around spouting "facts" as you see them is a way to make friends, you've got a lot to learn.

Carl

 

Carl, if you are going to reside in my head, I will have to charge rent.