dojetdriver
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2004
- Posts
- 1,998
Agree that DL canceled the contract, but if ACA had let its completion factor fall too low (the figure I remember was 96%) then DL could have canceled the contract for performance, not due to scope issues, which would not have allowed ACA/Indy to put the aircraft on DL. I just remember it was crazy that summer because of the engine issues and management pushing to get flights completed even though we had 2 or 3 gliders in Columbia all summer with no engines.
Actually, the MX issues on those planes was a nightmare from day 1 in the summer of 2000. Our mechanics were top notch, but if you don't have the parts support from the manufacturer, forget it. It's funny we fly those planes for 4 years before Pratt and Fairchild/Dornier FINALLY decide to do reduced thrust takeoff data.
Supposedly they were looking at Skyway and Comair to operate the aircraft when Mesa came along and offered to take over the Dojet flying and pay DL for the leases on the Dojets. The rumor was JO was willing to lose money initially to get his nose into the Delta tent. Then DL dumps the leases in bankruptcy and JO is off the hook. Not saying all that is true, but its what I heard from multiple sources.
SkyWay was the winner.
I've been in and out of MYR several times, and the sight of those Dojets suffering a slow death is pretty sad. The Dojet operation in Cincy was the most fun I've had in this business, it was a bunch of great people with a fun airplane and I think about it every time I go thru CVG.
I've seen a lot of the places at various FBO's across the country, some went to Europe/Asia as well as UJC in the U.S. I talked a UJC guy that picked one up in MYR and they had to repo it to a facility with the gear down. CVG was good times, but so was LGA at the beginning as well as BOS. Especially on the TDY.