I talked to mechanics in Tampa. It looks like from now on we are doing all our heavy checks there. Good to hear.

 

That's what I've heard as well. No more Costa Rica. It sounds like they are getting serious in MX. Meet and greets are back, DFW now has MX around 24 hours a day instead of just at night, we have or are seriously looking into purchasing a hangar in DFW and instead of gate agents doing morning aircraft wake ups, MX does it and hangs around until push.

We even had a contract guy in ATL last week at 5am wake up the plane and do a computer reset after we noticed the problem on acceptance. Pushed 10 early.

 

Rumor is we have a bid in to build a new hanger in DFW. Source is a DFW mechanic

 

Any irdea how's the New Spirit World Sim Traning Center is comming along?

 

Sims expected online by April-ish. Acceptance/certification throughout March.

 

Looks like I'll be one of the last classes to go to Airbus in Miami? (Supposed to hit Sims 1st or 2nd week of April) How are the facilities there?

 

Surprise, surprise, UHC coverage is lesser than AETNA, NK breaking another piece of the contract, wag of the finger NK...we are gonna have grievances for eternity, even after NK is long gone!

 

Facilities at Airbus in MIA are excellent. Lots of fancy airbus models everywhere, if you're into that, and nice cafeteria, etc. It reminds of of 'JetBlue University' in MCO. Don't forget to bring your passport too.

Airbus MIA has 2 sets of Airbus 320 sims, older ones and newer ones. The new ones (left side of the sim bay, spaceship looking) fly differently than the older ones (right side of the bay. Older being a relative term, they're only 3-4 years old). If I recall, the newer ones are not as sensitive/touchy in pitch, yaw, and roll.

You might also get the Pan Am A-320 sim in MIA. It is one of the older 320's from the Airbus facility, just moved across the street, I believe.

Train like a fancy European at Airbus and train like a Pan Am pilot back in the height of Pan Am in the 70's. The contrast in facilities is interesting to see, especially if you've been to the United Training Center in DEN or 'Delta North's facilities - the 1980's facilities.

I've heard the training sim profile is supposed to be changing some, more emphasis on hand flying - not sure when that gets rolled out. I'm not sure what the point of it is, hand flying a sim is always going to be an adventure.

 

Sounds really cool the way you describe it.

Is there not an emphasis on hand-flying right now?
I would guess there's not a lot of hand-flyin on the line, eh?

 

There is always a lot of emphasis on not to get overwhelmed with automation. As far as I can tell we all turn everything off here and there to hand fly the bus, it's recommended, just in case it's DMI'd (rare but common)