A-320 ETOPs ? VA yesterday

[uhdt]

This is the crux of the issue as I read it. As of now, VA is limited to the 162nm limitation on the SFO/LAX - CUN flights requiring an excessive routing near land when crossing the east coast of mainland Mexico over the gulf to CUN. In order to exceed the 162nm limitation (out to an approximate 300nm limit) VA needs to install life rafts. VA's plan seems to be to proceed with ETOPS certification, which will both satisfy the CUN "shortcut" and eventually allow for west coast/Hawaii service.

S

SFO-CUN is not a route that requires ETOPS. To exceed the 162NM limit, life rafts have to be installed. A company can do ETOPS experience flights on domestic runs, they just have to treat them as ETOPS flights rule wise. The airline I was with did that when getting approved for ETOPS.

 

[cameltoad]

why is something on VA being posted on a forum for the majors in the first place

 

[Old School 737]

I started it with A320 question and it also had to do with VA. This is where you get the most hits anyway..I'm not a big lover of them by any means....

 

[tzskipper]

why is something on VA being posted on a forum for the majors in the first place

I believe they were just recently classified by the DOT as a "major" (meaning they have at least 1% of the domestic market.

S

 

[HAL]

I believe they were just recently classified by the DOT as a "major" (meaning they have at least 1% of the domestic market.

S

To be considered as a major, an airline has to make $1B in revenue per year. Virgin America doesn't make it yet - total revenue for 2009 was $548M, and 2011 was $724M. They're getting closer, but not there yet.

HAL

 

[tzskipper]

To be considered as a major, an airline has to make $1B in revenue per year. Virgin America doesn't make it yet - total revenue for 2009 was $548M, and 2011 was $724M. They're getting closer, but not there yet.

HAL

Thanks-

Where did you find the full year 2011 revenue number?

S

 

[The Victors]

To be considered as a major, an airline has to make $1B in revenue per year. Virgin America doesn't make it yet - total revenue for 2009 was $548M, and 2011 was $724M. They're getting closer, but not there yet.

HAL

Wonder how they'll do if the pilots EVER stand up and start accepting pay for work instead of flying for free just to get their hands on a Big Shiny Jet??

 

[jayme]

I'm making almost triple what I did at my regional a few years ago. Do you actually do your job "just to get your hands on a big shiny jet?" If not, why would you think others would do the same? Are you somehow superior to every pilot at Virgin? How about our guys who lost their jobs at United, Aloha, ABEX, ATA, Midwest Express? Or the guys who retired from Southwest and Delta and came here when age 65 came to be. Most of whom are now captains and are making much more than they would be if they had gone to Delta in 2008 (perhaps the only other airline hiring at the time)? Did they "just want to get their hands on a big shiny jet?"

Retard.

 

[IAHERJ]

I'm making almost triple what I did at my regional a few years ago. Do you actually do your job "just to get your hands on a big shiny jet?" If not, why would you think others would do the same? Are you somehow superior to every pilot at Virgin? How about our guys who lost their jobs at United, Aloha, ABEX, ATA, Midwest Express? Or the guys who retired from Southwest and Delta and came here when age 65 came to be. Most of whom are now captains and are making much more than they would be if they had gone to Delta in 2008 (perhaps the only other airline hiring at the time)? Did they "just want to get their hands on a big shiny jet?"

Retard.

Yeah, I think they did. To retire from SWA or Delta and then hire on at VA is sad.

 

[jayme]

Yeah, our ex 767, 757, 737, and DC9 and DC8 captains had Shiny Jet Syndrome and came to VX to get their fix. Got it.

Retard.

 

[cameltoad]

enjoy it while it lasts, at some point Sir Dick will get tired of the big sucking sound.....

 

[Chairman]

To be considered as a major, an airline has to make $1B in revenue per year. Virgin America doesn't make it yet - total revenue for 2009 was $548M, and 2011 was $724M. They're getting closer, but not there yet.

HAL

Love how people are so called experts. According from an internal email from our CEO on 3/15 we have crossed the $1B threshold to be considered a major. I am sure you have a more credible source however..

Chairman
http://www.examiner.com/airline-industry-in-national/virgin-america-makes-dot-consumer-report-debut

 

[Dan Roman]

Love how people are so called experts. According from an internal email from our CEO on 3/15 we have crossed the $1B threshold to be considered a major. I am sure you have a more credible source however..

Chairman

Love how people like to jump on people and don't take the time to read carefully what the person they are dissing actually said.
HAL correctly described the definition of a Major and said as of last year they weren't quite there yet. His using "yet" in a way that indicated he thought they were on their way to that benchmark.
You come back with an indignant "as of 3/15 WE ARE A MAJOR!" as if Hal was wrong. All he said is they were on their way and as of last year they hadn't quite reached it yet but they would soon, your little diatribe sounded like it came right out of the cable news playbook.

 

[Chairman]

Love how people like to jump on people and don't take the time to read carefully what the person they are dissing actually said.
HAL correctly described the definition of a Major and said as of last year they weren't quite there yet. His using "yet" in a way that indicated he thought they were on their way to that benchmark.
You come back with an indignant "as of 3/15 WE ARE A MAJOR!" as if Hal was wrong. All he said is they were on their way and as of last year they hadn't quite reached it yet but they would soon, your little diatribe sounded like it came right out of the cable news playbook.

He wrote we make only 724M in 2011....That would not make us a major and would give him inside info to our 2011 earnings

 

[Flyer1015]

enjoy it while it lasts, at some point Sir Dick will get tired of the big sucking sound.....

Somebody busted their Virgin America interview...


It's ok, don't be mad.

 

[Flyer1015]

Yeah, I think they did. To retire from SWA or Delta and then hire on at VA is sad.

Sorry, but not everyone was as lucky as you to flow from ExpressJet Continental Express to Continental Airlines while still in their 20s.

 

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

..I'm not a big lover of them by any means....

That's not what you said last night! :blush:

 

[HAL]

Love how people are so called experts. According from an internal email from our CEO on 3/15 we have crossed the $1B threshold to be considered a major. I am sure you have a more credible source however..

Chairman
http://www.examiner.com/airline-industry-in-national/virgin-america-makes-dot-consumer-report-debut

Wow, time to switch to decaf Chairman. Dan Roman is right - I was simply telling the previous poster what the official definition of a major airline was. As far as the U.S. government definition, it is more than $1B in revenue in a calendar year. Your CEO may certainly be correct in saying that in the previous 12 months (as of 3/15) the airline's revenue totaled one billion. But as far as the official definition by the DOT, you'll have to wait until the 2012 numbers come out in the spring of 2013 before you can pop the cork. All I did was look at the public financials for 2011 when I quoted the $724M number. It's nothing devious, nothing denigrating Virgin America, and certainly nothing against the pilots there. They've been nothing but great to me when I've jumpseated on them, and I even bought tickets on them last year for my family vacation to California. They loved it, and we're booked on them again in a few weeks. Chill out. Not everyone on this board is out to get you.

HAL

 

[The Victors]

Wow, time to switch to decaf Chairman. Dan Roman is right - I was simply telling the previous poster what the official definition of a major airline was. As far as the U.S. government definition, it is more than $1B in revenue in a calendar year. Your CEO may certainly be correct in saying that in the previous 12 months (as of 3/15) the airline's revenue totaled one billion. But as far as the official definition by the DOT, you'll have to wait until the 2012 numbers come out in the spring of 2013 before you can pop the cork. All I did was look at the public financials for 2011 when I quoted the $724M number. It's nothing devious, nothing denigrating Virgin America, and certainly nothing against the pilots there. They've been nothing but great to me when I've jumpseated on them, and I even bought tickets on them last year for my family vacation to California. They loved it, and we're booked on them again in a few weeks. Chill out. Not everyone on this board is out to get you.

HAL

The jets are purchased for VA by a foriegn billionaire and given to VA illegally. VA then hires pilots that are willing to "fly" them around for 50% below industry averages. Wonder how you will feel when they start flying to Hawaii and undercut the crap out of HAL forcing you to take a major paycut?? And please.....no stupid comments about a superior product or customer service. The only thing that matters to people is the ticket price.

 

[The Victors]

I'm making almost triple what I did at my regional a few years ago. Do you actually do your job "just to get your hands on a big shiny jet?" If not, why would you think others would do the same? Are you somehow superior to every pilot at Virgin? How about our guys who lost their jobs at United, Aloha, ABEX, ATA, Midwest Express? Or the guys who retired from Southwest and Delta and came here when age 65 came to be. Most of whom are now captains and are making much more than they would be if they had gone to Delta in 2008 (perhaps the only other airline hiring at the time)? Did they "just want to get their hands on a big shiny jet?"

Retard.

Almost triple from your regional job?? so what....$15,000*3= $45,000?? to program around an A320 is BS and half what you should be making! You're an idiot and a huge part of the problem we face in the pilot profession these days. I am not superior to anyone, but I would never prostitute myself or my profession either just to "fly" something bigger than my RJ.