Delta pilots adding a few turns to offer view on Grand Canyon
Mar 3, 2016, 12:26 pm
#1
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Delta pilots adding a few turns to offer view on Grand Canyon
Not sure if this has already been mentioned.
Very nice touch.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...58293827402130
""As we were flying over the desert, the pilot came on the intercom and said that since it was such a clear day, he'd gotten approval to... give us a tour of the Grand Canyon," passenger Andrea Whittle told HuffPost. "He mentioned that it was a really special sight and that he would turn the plane a few times so we could get a good view from both sides."
Very nice touch.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...58293827402130
""As we were flying over the desert, the pilot came on the intercom and said that since it was such a clear day, he'd gotten approval to... give us a tour of the Grand Canyon," passenger Andrea Whittle told HuffPost. "He mentioned that it was a really special sight and that he would turn the plane a few times so we could get a good view from both sides."
Mar 3, 2016, 2:24 pm
#2
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Not sure if this has already been mentioned.
Very nice touch.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...58293827402130
""As we were flying over the desert, the pilot came on the intercom and said that since it was such a clear day, he'd gotten approval to... give us a tour of the Grand Canyon," passenger Andrea Whittle told HuffPost. "He mentioned that it was a really special sight and that he would turn the plane a few times so we could get a good view from both sides."
Very nice touch.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...58293827402130
""As we were flying over the desert, the pilot came on the intercom and said that since it was such a clear day, he'd gotten approval to... give us a tour of the Grand Canyon," passenger Andrea Whittle told HuffPost. "He mentioned that it was a really special sight and that he would turn the plane a few times so we could get a good view from both sides."
(sadly, there will be a few that might complain about sleep being interrupted, or delay in the arrival of DYKWIA...)
Mar 3, 2016, 2:26 pm
#3
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That is pretty cool. During my first transcon (PHL-LAX in 1966), the pilot didn't go out of his way, but pointed out Grand Canyon and Canyon de Chelly as we were crossing over Arizona. I used to enjoy when pilots would point out interesting sights enroute or things to look out for on climbout or approach. Another part of the romance of travel that's been lost.
Mar 3, 2016, 2:44 pm
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Mar 3, 2016, 2:45 pm
#5
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That is pretty cool. During my first transcon (PHL-LAX in 1966), the pilot didn't go out of his way, but pointed out Grand Canyon and Canyon de Chelly as we were crossing over Arizona. I used to enjoy when pilots would point out interesting sights enroute or things to look out for on climbout or approach. Another part of the romance of travel that's been lost.
Mar 3, 2016, 3:27 pm
#7
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So what did it add, maybe 5 minutes??
Mar 3, 2016, 3:52 pm
#8
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I thought he was circling or something. Looks like that wasn't the case:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/D...200Z/KJFK/KLAX
Anyways, < 30% of the people on the flight have window seats and for those who didn't it was mostly a tease.
Great in theory, and cool execution, but far from "amazing."
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/D...200Z/KJFK/KLAX
Anyways, < 30% of the people on the flight have window seats and for those who didn't it was mostly a tease.
Great in theory, and cool execution, but far from "amazing."
Mar 3, 2016, 4:11 pm
#9
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Maybe 20 years ago I was flying NW and the pilot did a similar diversion. He did explain that we had strong tailwinds and that we would still be arriving early.
Mar 3, 2016, 4:17 pm
#10
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Gosh, I remember this happening in the mid-80's on a DL Royal Service (remember those, old timers?) flight from ATL to (I think) LAX.
All the pilot did was to do a couple of quick banks in both directions so the window seats would be pointed more towards the ground as to get a better view. No circling or delaying the flight...and no one was "PISSED" by any means!
With the tight dispatch rules, I didn't think they allowed this stuff anymore.
All the pilot did was to do a couple of quick banks in both directions so the window seats would be pointed more towards the ground as to get a better view. No circling or delaying the flight...and no one was "PISSED" by any means!
With the tight dispatch rules, I didn't think they allowed this stuff anymore.
Mar 3, 2016, 4:27 pm
#11
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The frontline people (well, most of them) are the only redeeming quality left at Delta after the merger. A big ^ to this crew. A met a flight attendant on MCO-LAX recently who started her career with National who then merged with Pan Am and then merged with Delta. All of those years flying and she was still happy and gave great customer service. A recent YouTube video surfaced of an AA flight where a new mother had the pilot announce her pregnancy as a surprise to her husband. The lead flight attendant was pissed about the minute delay it caused. UA and AA have some very bitter people working for them.
Mar 3, 2016, 5:40 pm
#12
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The frontline people (well, most of them) are the only redeeming quality left at Delta after the merger. A big ^ to this crew. A met a flight attendant on MCO-LAX recently who started her career with National who then merged with Pan Am and then merged with Delta. All of those years flying and she was still happy and gave great customer service. A recent YouTube video surfaced of an AA flight where a new mother had the pilot announce her pregnancy as a surprise to her husband. The lead flight attendant was pissed about the minute delay it caused. UA and AA have some very bitter people working for them.
The FA on my recent JFK-SJU flight had the same career path. She talked about her days working the National, then Pan Am Shuttle. I'm sure she has more lifetime miles than George Clooney.
Definitely a product of a bygone era. One of the best FAs I've ever had.
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Mar 3, 2016 at 5:46 pm
Mar 3, 2016, 5:42 pm
#13
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The frontline people (well, most of them) are the only redeeming quality left at Delta after the merger. A big ^ to this crew. A met a flight attendant on MCO-LAX recently who started her career with National who then merged with Pan Am and then merged with Delta. All of those years flying and she was still happy and gave great customer service. A recent YouTube video surfaced of an AA flight where a new mother had the pilot announce her pregnancy as a surprise to her husband. The lead flight attendant was pissed about the minute delay it caused. UA and AA have some very bitter people working for them.
Mar 3, 2016, 6:50 pm
#14
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I had a similar experience when Mount Saint Helen's was erupting- pilot did a figure 8 so everyone could get a good look. And even those in the middle and aisle seats could see out the windows...
Mar 3, 2016, 7:01 pm
#15
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My guess is he was told he needed to slow down because of air traffic at LAX. So the customers had a nice tour on the way since he chose to do the pattern over the Canyon.
Last edited by doglover; Mar 4, 2016 at 7:08 am