COMAIR in Atlanta....

[captainv]

long legs

Rjcap,

actually, the crappy ramp workers in ATL work in my favor. Most CMR pilots try to avoid ATL because of the problems on the ramp. Still, all the MCO guys will make the switch if we open a crew base there (much easier commute) but i'm hoping the FO's stay away. Sitting reserve from my house, it's too much to hope for.

and while the ramp slows y'all down, it's the tower at CVG that drives us nuts. coming back from IND we got a 20-mile final (to the south, of course) at 180 knots. almost doubled our actual flight time. we'll take some of your rampers if we can have some of your controllers too....

Gen. Lee, i'd do anything to avoid flying in the back of an RJ for more than an hour or so. and the jumpseat cuts off the circulation to the legs after that long. of course, at 6'5", there's not much out there that is comfortable. deadheading in the back of a 767 to ATL then to JAX, i could actually read the newspaper of the guy in front of me (over the seat) when he reclined at 10,000 feet. *sigh*

Captainv

 

[Palerider957]

Captain V

Uh, I don't think many of our rampers are allowed to leave the state without the permission of the parole board

 

[General Lee]

Captainv,

I agree, it is nicer to fly in the back of the mainline planes, but I was not saying we should scrap the RJ's. I think the RJ's have their purpose and they do great things for Delta. I think they are advanced and the are probably great airplanes to fly. I just think there is a comfort issue on the longer flights, especially over 3 hours. Passengers flying out of DFW may choose an AA MD80 over one of our RJ's to the West Coast because of the comfort factor. But, we have obviously seen that maybe we can't fill one of our mainline planes on those routes, so I guess an RJ that keeps some market share is better than no service.

RJCAP,

What? I was stating a fact, and you know it. If the economics aren't there, then fine. But as far as the comfort factor, I am right on. An MD-90 with a movie is better than a CR7 without. But, revenue is key.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[sleepy]

Why harbor any ill feeling toward any other pilot group (Comair, ACA, Skywest, Chit, or Comair)? There is nothing any of us in the DCI system can do about flying that we are getting or giving away. We are all just pilots trying to do our jobs. We have no control over this process. I can't imagine DCI management giving us any either.

 

[captainv]

long RJ flights

Gen Lee: "I agree, it is nicer to fly in the back of the mainline planes, but I was not saying we should scrap the RJ's"



Gen. Lee, whoa, man! reread my post, i was in 100% agreement with you. all i said was that when i'm riding in the back, i don't want to be on an RJ more than an hour. i never said (or implied, as far as I'm aware) that you want to scrap the RJs.

all i meant was, I'm freakishly tall, and there's not many airplanes out there where i can take sitting in coach for long. be it an RJ or a 777, but the RJ is definitely worse. now that we're on this, though, how do the seat dimensions comare between the RJ and mainline?

thankfully ATL-CVG is only 55 minutes, and that's on Mad Dogs and 737s. Up front, the RJ is quite comfy, although the new seats don't recline nearly as well as the old ones.

you've said some very nice things about the RJ and its role, and I appreciate it. i also appreciate your devotion to the furloughees (one who's a good friend of mine), if not always the solution...

Cheers,
Captainv

 

[ERJdca]

sleepy Why harbor any ill feeling toward any other pilot group (Comair, ACA, Skywest, Chit, or Comair)? There is nothing any of us in the DCI system can do about flying that we are getting or giving away. We are all just pilots trying to do our jobs. We have no control over this process. I can't imagine DCI management giving us any either. sleepy Why harbor any ill feeling toward any other pilot group (Comair, ACA, Skywest, Chit, or Comair)? There is nothing any of us in the DCI system can do about flying that we are getting or giving away. We are all just pilots trying to do our jobs. We have no control over this process. I can't imagine DCI management giving us any either.


I only wish more people thought like this! I got treated like **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** trying to commute home the other day on comair(and they had plenty to say about CHIT and how they dont like those guys). I didn't vote for my contract(mesa). I wasn't trying to steal someone else's flying. I was hired as a pilot and thats what i do. I can't help managements decisions, neither can those guys. Im sure not all comair guys are like this, infact i have quite a few buddies over there. I just wish we would stop attacking "pilot groups!"

 

[General Lee]

Captainv,

I was not attacking you and I certainly would not want any of the RJ's scrapped. No way. I think they play an important role in our Delta family. I understand their use, and sometimes I bring up the fact that I wish we had some at Mainline, only because I know quite a few of our 1300 or so furloughs. I never wanted to "take" any of your 70 seat RJ's away, I just want to do something with our furloughs. I am not against any particular Comair pilots---with the exception of Lawson and some of his cronies. I just have the opinion that their views may one day hurt the chances of the regular Comair line pilots. I respect all professional pilots, and would never treat anyone poorly on any jumpseat. I thank the ASA pilots for helping our furloughs, and wish the Comair MEC would allow the same for our pilots out of work. I understand how it feels when you are "freakishly tall," and think that you will someday feel relieved when you are piloting a 767 at Delta----the cockpit is huge---and you can easily do jumping jacks in there.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[captainv]

Gen. Lee,

Once again I am in complete agreement with you, especially in support of bringing the furloughees in at Comair with no strings attached. perhaps one day we can make it happen.

i've had the pleasure of jumpseating on a 767 several times already, it's like an apartment up there. i can only imagine how cavernous the 777 must be. one day!

 

[General Lee]

No doubt--captainv--no doubt

 

[surplus1]

Gen. Lee,

Once again I am in complete agreement with you, especially in support of bringing the furloughees in at Comair with no strings attached. perhaps one day we can make it happen.

It's amazing captainv, that you're busy agreeing with General Lee, who advocates banning you for life from Delta, but (in another thread) you don't even know what your union dues will be when you get off probation. Nevertheless you are willing to disagree with your MEC. It's little wonder the union is so screwed up.

I hope you realize that when the people you are supporting win the battle they are waging against us, and succeed in transfering our airplanes to themselves, it is YOU that will be on the streets. Ignorance is truly bliss.

 

[General Lee]

Surplus1,

Maybe Captainv actually understands the situation better than you do. All I have ever said was that I was mad that Comair, a company owned by Delta and a sister/brother of ASA, was not allowing our furloughed pilots a chance at the bottom of their list without resigning their Delta number. I didn't think this would be such a huge request since ASA (Your brother/sister) has allowed the same. I am not mad at the regular Comair line pilot, only the MEC chair and some of his immediate cronies. Captainv understands the fact that we should have some "unity" here, and my aggression has been focused on people who think they should hold our furloughed pilots, who mostly can't find new work in this great jobmarket, as hostages for things that they want. That is essentially what your Mec Chair expressed to Buergey. He did not come to our aid when we needed it, sort of like when we did support you when you needed our help. I would much rather have unity and our furloughs to have the ability to get back into the cockpit, especially since you are hiring. I have commented on the fact that we should get some of the "new" 70 seaters---over the 57 you will get---because we will have 1300 pilots out of work. What should we do with them? I am concerned because I have many friends that are among them. That is why I have advocated getting some 70 seaters. I have stated that the "comair pilot group" might have some problems getting hired at Delta in 3-4 years (after our furloughs come back) because it is TRUE that your MEC Chair is hurting your collective image. This is a true statement. His lack of wanting to be an FO someday on a Delta MD-88 is hurting all of your chances. He wants to stay a Captain, and could never see himself as an FO for anyone else. That is bad for you. I have stated all of this to hopefully spur some of you into action, to tell your feelings to your elected people. If you do not wish to ever fly at Delta someday, well--fine. Some people do not want to, and I can understand that.

All I have ever wanted here was to help my fellow pilots and furloughs through this tough period. I do not have a specific agenda, and I am not a spokesman for anybody other than myself. I can see that captainv might want to eventually fly for Delta, and I am sure that others might feel the same. It is a great job and I love doing it. But, some people have to understand that this period of time is one of our lowest here at Delta, and a lot of our people NEED HELP and SUPPORT, kind of like what you were going through in the Summer of '99. It would appear to some people (most people) that a double standard is going on here---we help you when you need it (in every legal way we could), and in return you do not help our furloughs when they need help. (Going to the bottom of your list, flying the crappy trips, being on reserve forever, etc) That is what I am talking about. I think captainv has it right, and he might want us to pull together in bad times like these. You don't always have to "get something" when others are in need. (example---less limits on 70 seaters, and more 50 seaters, more growth) Those limits in our contract have not restricted you in the past 2 years. You have grown HUGE in the last 2 years, with many many upgrades and fleet expansion. And now you want more, at the expense of our pilots who are out of work. That just doesn't seem right. And we DID help you when you were striking---giving money (along with others), some walked the line with you, and we did not fly any struck work. What have you done for us and our furloughs??? I'm waiting.

Thanks Captainv for your support. I know there are a lot out there just like you.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[JECKEL]

I am not against any particular Comair pilots---with the exception of Lawson and some of his cronies. I just have the opinion that their views may one day hurt the chances of the regular Comair line pilots.

General Lee,

I'm kinda tired of the this stuff your are shoveling. You make a statement like the one above and you think people will be fooled about your true intentions.
The only way "regular" Comair pilots are going to "one day" be hurt is not by JC Jawson and his views, but by Delta mainliners, like yourself, who are going to stick it to every Comair guy when the day comes.
For what it's worth, my jumpseat is always open to you and all Delta pilots and I wish the best for the furloughees.

 

[General Lee]

Jeckel,

I also am very nice to you and your Comair pilots who wish to jumpseat. I am sure there are a lot of "tired" furloughed pilots from Delta who are "tired" of looking for a job without having to move their whole family out of CVG. As far as mainliners like me "sticking it" to the average Comair guy that wants to get hired someday at Delta, what about the 1300 or so mainline furloughs that weren't even offered the chance to interview without losing their own numbers at Delta? You seem to forget about the "help" we gave you during your strike. You and your friends who might want to interview someday at Delta might want to say something LOUD to your MEC and change their mind. They are speaking for you as a whole. I am "tired" of Comair people saying it is not their FAULT. Do something about it. The senior guys have helped elect their friends, but you probably have a lot more junior people who might want to get on someday with Delta. Your MEC Chair has said "CRM" is the factor here----relayed by Fred Butrell at a recent Delta pilot meeting in ATL. Well, why would we want to hire any of you? There could be huge CRM problems......Guys are retiring quickly, the economy is getting better, and loads are going up. When the furloughs come back (maybe within 3-4 years total)---we will start hiring again. The ball is in your court.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[embdrvr]

How is it that Rectal Lee turns every subject into bashing the CMR MEC for not doing more for furloughed mainline pilots? I don't have a lot of love for Lawson but he didn't come out and say don't hire DAL guys. He just didn't insist that company policy be voided to accomodate them. If I was in his shoes I would have tried to do more to help but I'm tired of every thread turning into Lawson bashing. I'm also tired of the assumption that every regional pilot wants to be working for mainline Delta. It ain't so.
G.L., can't you find a hobby, wife, girlfriend and not spend every day on these boards? You must carry a laptop with a wireless connection. I'm guessing whenever you have 5 or 10 minutes free during a turn you must be on the PC.
Get a life and quit ragging on the regional pukes.
Seriously.

 

[General Lee]

Embdrvr,

You're really cool. I'd love to slam you but I have many friends who fly Embreaers and I think they are neat planes. Rectal lee huh? Creative. I have been called an "a$$" before by many people. So, Lawson "didn't insist the company policy be voided to ACCOMODATE us" huh? What a load of crock. Even Fred Butrell told us in a recent ATL crew lounge meeting that it was due to "CRM" issues. Fine. We can do the same. And, you don't want to work for Delta? Ok? You are in the MINORITY. The industry runs in cycles, and when we start hiring again after our furloughs get back, you might be changing your mind. If not, well ok then---stay there.

Why do I write on the board often? Well, I often go flying on 3 to 4 day trips, and I do not have a laptop. I actually care about the furloughs at this company, and I check the news often and check this board from time to time. In my free time I lift weights, play tennis, and kiss my wife. Atlanta has a lot to offer out doors, and I take advantage of that. Thanks for caring.

As far as staying off YOUR board, I thought anyone was allowed to write on any board? Is that wrong Embrdrv? Are you the boss? Lay off.

Bye Bye--General Lee