Latest 717 rumor: DL deal in place
May 29, 2012, 3:39 pm
#241
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really? Then you might want to read this interesting article
The standards for regional and large international airlines are set by the FAA and are the same. All airlines have to meet or exceed the Federal Aviation Regulations that pertain to airlines, Part 121.
Some regional pilots have less experience than most of the large airline pilots, however, there are some very experienced pilots flying for regional airlines. One of the pilots I have met with the highest number of hours flown worked for a regional airline
http://travel.usatoday.com/experts/c...ers/54950500/1
The standards for regional and large international airlines are set by the FAA and are the same. All airlines have to meet or exceed the Federal Aviation Regulations that pertain to airlines, Part 121.
Some regional pilots have less experience than most of the large airline pilots, however, there are some very experienced pilots flying for regional airlines. One of the pilots I have met with the highest number of hours flown worked for a regional airline
http://travel.usatoday.com/experts/c...ers/54950500/1
Mainline pilots are more experienced in general, and your chance of getting a highly experienced pilot are VASTLY greater on mainline.
May 29, 2012, 4:39 pm
#242
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
Pilot Union the Biggest Factor
The contract would also allow the Atlanta-based airline to add more 76-seat regional jets, although “this access can only occur if Delta first acquires small narrow-body jets flown by Delta mainline pilots,” while also getting rid of more 50-seat aircraft flown by regional partners, O’Malley said. Pilots prize jobs on main jet fleets because it means better pay and benefits over the long term.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...ses-union-says
Pilots also have a very noice pay raise in the contract. The expansion of the fleet would mean a chunk of senior FOs would move to the Captain's seat.
The ALPA public press release is here:
http://dal.alpa.org/DesktopModules/B...d=3&TabId=1047
This also puts down any rumors of the larger regional jets.
And just to throw some gas on the fire, it's quite obvious that the work groups with collective representation do substantially better than the other groups. I doubt any other labor group is going to see a 20% pay improvement over 2 years like the pilots.
May 30, 2012, 8:43 am
#243
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True, but I can tell you from experience that having a lot of flight hours does not necessarily make one a "better" pilot. Some kids are fantastic right out of flight school and some "old dogs" have been sub-par their entire careers. Assuming he or she meets a certain standard, a pilot rises through the ranks in this industry based on seniority.
Last edited by telloh; May 30, 2012 at 9:27 am
Jun 14, 2012, 8:27 pm
#244
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So that's a perfect match for what I predicted. FL has 12F and 105Y... If you made the first 3 rows EC (15EC), that would leave 90Y seats if they weren't removing a row. So they must be taking out a row, plus 2 additional Y seats. Good news for all! 
Oh, and it's nice to be right once in a while (even if my wife's not around to see!)
Oh, and it's nice to be right once in a while (even if my wife's not around to see!)
Jun 14, 2012, 9:00 pm
#245
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Jun 14, 2012, 9:15 pm
#246
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With 13% of its total capacity in FC, the DC9s are far above average for DL's fleet. One can only assume that they would have lost a row like the A320s if DL expected them to be around long enough for it to matter.
But until they disappear (good riddance!), they do have the best F ratio of any mainline equipment (though all 2-class RJs are FAR superior to even the DC9s).
Jun 15, 2012, 11:52 am
#249
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You are correct... interestingly enough, I got that number from the fly delta app, which is obviously incorrect. 
The FC ratios were calculated using the correct numbers though. DC9 is 13% and the 717 will be 11%. (For comparison, the 76-seat RJs are 16% FC, 757s are between 9% and 14% FC, and the rest of the domestic fleet is 11% or less FC.)
The FC ratios were calculated using the correct numbers though. DC9 is 13% and the 717 will be 11%. (For comparison, the 76-seat RJs are 16% FC, 757s are between 9% and 14% FC, and the rest of the domestic fleet is 11% or less FC.)
Last edited by dcline414; Jun 15, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Jun 15, 2012, 12:24 pm
#250
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If the additional RJs permitted under the proposed pilot contract are CRJ-900s as presently configured, these would have an F:Y ratio of 12:64, or 15.8% of seats. Comparing F seat ratios of 88 717s to 21 DC-9-50s (per fleet info as of 3/31/12) is much too narrow an argument.
Jun 15, 2012, 12:28 pm
#251
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IIRC the 9% 757s are those that are international configuration with 16 FC. Otherwise I don't think there are some with 50% more FC seats than others, but I probably don't know every 757 DL owns (or has leased).
Jun 15, 2012, 12:47 pm
#252
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If the additional RJs permitted under the proposed pilot contract are CRJ-900s as presently configured, these would have an F:Y ratio of 12:64, or 15.8% of seats. Comparing F seat ratios of 88 717s to 21 DC-9-50s (per fleet info as of 3/31/12) is much too narrow an argument.
I have a full spreadsheet for all the domestic mainline and regional equipment, showing number of FC, EC, and Y and each type's percentage of the total seating capacity. The FC ratio for most is between 9% and 11%, with the notable exceptions that I mentioned above.
I still believe that a row of FC would have been removed from the DC9s if they weren't already scheduled to be obsoleted.
Jun 15, 2012, 12:47 pm
#253
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I can't process all the math and FC configurations, etc. All I know is I will be spending less time on 50 seaters, and that make me very
Has anyone seen a retirement schedule for these dogs? (and I do not mean any disrespect to real dogs)
Has anyone seen a retirement schedule for these dogs? (and I do not mean any disrespect to real dogs)
Jun 15, 2012, 1:52 pm
#254
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The second rule of flying on Delta is: "DO NOT TRUST ANYTHING YOU SEE ON DELTA.DUMB."
Any questions?
DC-9s (which I take offense to the "dog" nickname of--they're the last true vintage jetliners in the American skies) are being replaced by MD-90s and (unofficially) large RJs on a capacity-neutral basis, theoretically by sometime next year last I'd read.
Jul 9, 2012, 3:44 pm
#255
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717 Announcement on Facebook
NOW I found the right thread within the DL forum...
https://www.facebook.com/delta
https://www.facebook.com/delta
88 Boeing 717s are joining our fleet starting in 2013! That’s 5,280 more seats to get you to your next destination (as long as your seatbelt is fastened, of course)