Delta MEC approves Labor Deal, next up--NWA MEC...article

[patrickdc9]

I've got some bad news for all you B787 haters...our first B787 flight simulator is being installed at the NW training facility today. It's hard to believe that anyone would cancel an order of the most advanced and fuel efficient aircraft ever to be made during these times, especially after purchasing a $20 million simulator.

See press release below:

787 Flight Simulator Arrives at MSP Training Center

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator has arrived at Building N Training Center. Trucks containing the device and its components are staged at the Building N parking lot. On Wednesday, mechanical riggings will be used to carefully hoist the device into the simulator bay, which has had its outside wall removed in anticipation of delivery.

The new 787 simulator delivered to Building N is in addition to two previously delivered flat-panel trainers. The devices are part of the overall hands-on training experience for pilots who will train on the revolutionary new aircraft.

You are right, by next year (probably before the SLI is complete) we will have more 777s than you have 744s (18 vs 16, and RA says we will be getting a total of 26), and the 787 orders are still up in the air from what I have heard. You do bring in some big equipment, but some may be leaving if oil doesn't abate. (742s) Regardless, we will be better as a whole after we merge. I think it will be a good thing. Fences may be smart, too.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

I've got some bad news for all you B787 haters...our first B787 flight simulator is being installed at the NW training facility today. It's hard to believe that anyone would cancel an order of the most advanced and fuel efficient aircraft ever to be made during these times, especially after purchasing a $20 million simulator.

See press release below:

787 Flight Simulator Arrives at MSP Training Center

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator has arrived at Building N Training Center. Trucks containing the device and its components are staged at the Building N parking lot. On Wednesday, mechanical riggings will be used to carefully hoist the device into the simulator bay, which has had its outside wall removed in anticipation of delivery.

The new 787 simulator delivered to Building N is in addition to two previously delivered flat-panel trainers. The devices are part of the overall hands-on training experience for pilots who will train on the revolutionary new aircraft.

I think the 787 could be great, but after hearing that RA may not like it IF the eventual weight is higher that originally advertised and the efficiencies aren't there, then the whole thing is suspect. It is great that the sim is ready, but if the weight issue isn't resolved, then you never know..... We shall see... I hope to see that 787 in DL colors, no doubt.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[super ed]

It is going to suck to have to go to msp for training.

 

[p3flteng]

Dude,
MSP ain't that bad, it can actually be fun if you let your hair down and leave the preconcieved notions at the door. Besides... beers cold. And this is coming from a guy who lives in the Northeast.

 

[patrickdc9]

...beer is cold,the chicks are warm, hockey is on 75% of the channels, ice fishing passes the time, etc... I think many of you southerners are going to like it. You may actually end up moving north.

Dude,
MSP ain't that bad, it can actually be fun if you let your hair down and leave the preconcieved notions at the door. Besides... beers cold. And this is coming from a guy who lives in the Northeast.

 

[ils2minimums]

...beer is cold,the chicks are warm, hockey is on 75% of the channels

I wanna move there yesterday...

 

[licorice]

Location is dependent on the person. I have zero desire to move south. You likely have zero desire to move north. This doesn't make Atlanta better than Minneapolis. I would argue the other direction and we'd get nowhere. It's completely subjective.

The largest 73 aircraft of the merged company? I've considered all aircraft with max TOGW over 500K.

NWA 16 747-400s
NWA 15 747-200s (13 freighter + charter AC--I believe it's 2)
DAL 10 777s
NWA 32 A330s (The oldest being delivered in 2002)

Of the largest 73 aircraft on the property in the merged carrier, 63 are coming from NWA's fleet. When GL comes on here about firm 8 firm 777 orders, we can throw in the 18 firm 787 orders and so on..... Both sides bring real iron to the fire. Somehow, the NWA stuff is always inferior.

Shwank: Somehow, the DL 767's are always left out by you guys, why is that? I mean, that's only 101 International flying wide body aircraft that PAY virtually the same or better than your a-330's, it shouldn't skew your numbers too much. So let's re-do your statement based on widebody aircraft: "Of the largest 174 aircraft on the property in the merged carrier, 63 are coming from NWA's fleet" That doesn't count, of course, our 136 757's. Gosh Shwank, think of it! Did you know that DAL brings to the merger 237 aircraft that pay the same as your 32 a-330's! Now, I know that probably doesn't impress you,(it should, you will directly benefit from it.) but think how impressed you would be if I told you---"Shwank, DAL brings to the merger 32 widebody aircraft that pay the same as your 237 a-330's/757's!" No, Schwank, your equipment is not inferior, they're great aircraft! But your "stuff" is inferior- in pay and numbers of widebody aircraft.

 

[propdog]

NWA MEC approval??

I believe NWA MEC was supposed to meet today towards approving the joint contract...did anybody hear anything yet?

 

[Superpilot92]

I believe NWA MEC was supposed to meet today towards approving the joint contract...did anybody hear anything yet?

Waiting patiently :nuts: Nothing yet i am assuming we will get something tonight.

 

[~~~^~~~]

My certainty that the Delta pilots will ratify this is beginning to slip to a mere probability.

There may be some real good reasons to try to stop this. For starters, the absence of any discussion of scope in the Chairman's Letter leaves me wondering if scope was a priority.

We need a plan to deal with the DC9 displacements.

We need to understand the SLI before we vote on a contract.

The SLI determines what the contract means. Particularly in the area of scope. We have scope triggers that depend on certain pilot's seniority which is now, unknown.

Lots of questions, few answers, the next few weeks will be informative. I would prefer that we table the contract until after the SLI.

 

[Cobraair75drvr]

Fins,

Were you not one of the rjdc guys? If so, why are you so concerned with scope now? I thought scope was a bad thing and was harmful to fellow union members? Could it be you are on the other side now and acting somewhat hypocritical?

My certainty that the Delta pilots will ratify this is beginning to slip to a mere probability.

There may be some real good reasons to try to stop this. For starters, the absence of any discussion of scope in the Chairman's Letter leaves me wondering if scope was a priority.

We need a plan to deal with the DC9 displacements.

We need to understand the SLI before we vote on a contract.

The SLI determines what the contract means. Particularly in the area of scope. We have scope triggers that depend on certain pilot's seniority which is now, unknown.

Lots of questions, few answers, the next few weeks will be informative. I would prefer that we table the contract until after the SLI.

 

[Superpilot92]

My certainty that the Delta pilots will ratify this is beginning to slip to a mere probability.

There may be some real good reasons to try to stop this. For starters, the absence of any discussion of scope in the Chairman's Letter leaves me wondering if scope was a priority.

We need a plan to deal with the DC9 displacements.

We need to understand the SLI before we vote on a contract.

The SLI determines what the contract means. Particularly in the area of scope. We have scope triggers that depend on certain pilot's seniority which is now, unknown.

Lots of questions, few answers, the next few weeks will be informative.

I agree SCOPE is a huge issue. Hopefully there is something in the agreement that will take issue of this. However i dont see either side not approving this. Look at the rest of the industry right now, WE as a new company NEED to get this done to ensure our best shot at coming out ahead. Look at USAIR they are burning through cash and the company isnt running very good at all mainly because of the merger that went down the wrong road. ON top of that $140 a barrel today for oil!! We are in a much better position than the rest of the industry and this might be our only opportunity to maintain an upper hand with this negotiation. You have good guys working on your behalf just as we do and i am sure cooler heads will prevail just as they did with the joint contract. We are in a much better position than most in this industry lets hope we stay that way.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Cobra:

Yes, me, my MEC Chair, ALPA Committee Chairs and Volunteers. You probably are one of the plethora of folks who did (do) not understand the solutions would have made scope stronger. ALPA getting scope that binds parent companies was a big step in the right direction. Unfortunately it was too little too late to stop the majority of the outsourcing. (try not to get me and Joe Merchant confused - he just hates ALPA. He is not representative of what the RJDC was trying to accomplish)

My opinion since the 1980's was that all Delta flying should be performed by Delta pilots. I've been very consistent. I disagreed with the sale of scope and actions to prevent ASA and Comair from getting their own scope.

Currently the Delta MEC has been holding the line and I'm supportive of those who work to represent us. However, I'll push for taking it back at every opportunity.

At it's core, our union has to be about bringing pilots together to negotiate collectively - otherwise it is pointless.

~~~^~~~


Super92:

They can merge the operation without a joint contract. We can do the SLI, then the contract. Heck, that's ALPA's merger policy.

If we knew the SLI our negotiating priorities might be better and we would be better able to negotiate what we need - issues like scope, commuting, relocation, displacement bidding and furlough - all issues that we might take more seriously if we knew that we were effected.

 

[Schwanker]

We need a plan to deal with the DC9 displacements.

Would you like to share with us exactly what DC-9 displacements you're talking about? I'm just as concerned about the 767 displacements.

Schwanker

 

[~~~^~~~]

Schwanker:

You should be concerned. However, the 767 displacements will be to a mainline jet. The DC9 replacements will be off the list.