George selling ATA to John Travolta?

[I.P. Freley]

Agreed! I thought I was the only one that read it...

Not at all... I read it too.

Twice.

That book is absolutely BRILLIANT, the best sci-fi book I've ever read. As long as you have the perseverance to make it through a thousand pages, of course.

 

[StopNTSing]

ATA only has 737-800's with winglets. We currently are only taking deliveries of 737-700's without winglets. There is a reason for this.

I'd love to know the reason, because we didn't decide that winglets made sense (i.e. the money was right) until just last year...and that was when oil was still $30/barrel. What are you guys holding out for?

 

[On Your Six]

I'd love to know the reason, because we didn't decide that winglets made sense (i.e. the money was right) until just last year...and that was when oil was still $30/barrel. What are you guys holding out for?

Plus, the winglets look waaaaaay cooler! The AirTran 737-700s look nerdy without them. By the way, are the 717s actually longer than the 700s? They look pretty close to me....

 

[F/O]

Everyone gets a "Royale with cheese" for their crew meal.

 

[FL717]

I'd love to know the reason, because we didn't decide that winglets made sense (i.e. the money was right) until just last year...and that was when oil was still $30/barrel. What are you guys holding out for?

I had an executive tell me directly that they felt ATA was making a business blunder by getting too large of aircraft for their business model. AirTran believes in flying too small of an airplane versus too big. I was told our final -700 versus -800 mix is undecided as of yet, but current projections call for 1 737-800 for every 10 737-700's.

As far as winglets, I was told there is an associated "cost" for them, even if puchasing used aircraft with them already outfitted. To get the cost benefit, you must increase your stage length for that particular aircraft with winglets. With SWA, you have/are/will increase your average stage length with more transcon flying year over year, the increased cost savings over acqusition cost, and hence the late decision by your management to make the investment. We only currently have a couple flights to LAX and SFO. Not enough savings to justify the cost.

These two factors are the reasons that have been explained to me... right or wrong.

Plus, the winglets look waaaaaay cooler! The AirTran 737-700s look nerdy without them. By the way, are the 717s actually longer than the 700s? They look pretty close to me....

I agree... winglets look waycool.

As far as length (717) 124ft versus (737-700) 102ft I believe.

 

[LJDRVR]

He might want to jump senority and fly Capt

First he's got to go back to school.

According to the FAA website, Mr. Travolta is a Private Pilot, Airplane Multi Engine Land, with type ratings in the LR JET G1159 CE500 (VFR only on the Citation)

Now, that having been said, I would love to fly his 707. I always wondered why he never got an ATP, I know he does recurrent at Simuflite and American Airlines. Heck, he's got more flight time than me, what's the reason for flying around in the heavy iron as a private pilot?

 

[Skybusdriver]

I heard he failed the ATP type ride on the 707, and can only qualify in the right seat. I don't know though.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

...........

 

[apdsm]

I always wondered why he never got an ATP

There really is no need for him to get an ATP unless he wants to fly for 121 or 135 operator. I'll bet you a case of your favorite expensive beer that he has no intention of doing that!

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Make it a Big Kahuna Burger!

Everyone gets a "Royale with cheese" for their crew meal.

....and don't even think of dippin' your fries in mayo.

 

[flyboy]

It doesn't seem that Travolta is in a lot of movies these days and the ones that he's in a marginal at best. Does he have some other business going on the side? With the way he spends money, (707, Gulfstream, mansions all over the place), it would seem that he would need something else going to finance his hobbies. It's not like he's the biggest movie star on the planet.

 

[ATA73Pilot]

...it would seem that he would need something else going to finance his hobbies. It's not like he's the biggest movie star on the planet.

Royalties and Residuals are my bet.