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Mesaba Saabs soon to fly for Delta in ATL

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Butters

Keepin' it real...
Joined
Aug 7, 2005
Posts
169
Mesaba will soon be operating Saabs for Delta in Atlanta. Here's the article with all the deets. It's also posted below.

Also, a friend at FlightSafety told me Mesaba is getting the new CRJ-900 sim configured for AHRS as well. Just like the Freedom 900's.

Hmmm.

Delta plans to open Saab 340 base at Atlanta hub
By Brendan Sobie


Delta Air Lines is preparing to open a new Saab 340 base in Atlanta to replace the 12 ATR 72s that are now in the process of exiting the carrier's regional fleet.

Industry sources say that moving some of the 49 Saab 340Bs operated by Northwest Airlines subsidiary Mesaba Airlines to Atlanta is part of the new network and fleet plan that Delta and Northwest are finalising in the lead-up to their merger. The two carriers plan to complete their merger by year-end and will begin shifting aircraft between their hubs next year to exploit network synergies.

Delta seeks turboprops in Atlanta so it can restart its lucrative service to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, which it is dropping when the last ATR 72 exits its regional fleet at the beginning of December. Hilton Head's runway is too short for regional jets and Delta's withdrawal will leave US Airways subsidiary Piedmont Airlines, which operates Bombardier Dash 8s, as the only carrier serving the popular resort.

Delta is also interested in reintroducing turboprops on several short-haul routes from Atlanta such as Myrtle Beach that Delta is now switching from ATR 72s to regional jets. Jets are not seen as the ideal aircraft on these routes given current oil prices. Sources say a solution seriously being looked at and expected to be implemented is basing several Mesaba 340s at Atlanta. Mesaba now flies out of Northwest's hubs Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis but the merger opens up new opportunities for it to start feeding Delta.

Sources say Mesaba has indicated all 49 of its Saab 340s, which are leased from the manufacturer, will continue to fly after the merger. But over the long term the merged Delta-Northwest is expected to look at new turboprops. Northwest was evaluating new turboprops, including the ATR 72-600, late last year and early this year but stopped looking after it unveiled plans to merge with Delta.

Sources say Delta was satisfied with the ATR's performance but were keen to close the books on a three-way transaction that was forged when the ATR 72 entered service with Delta's then subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines. Delta sold ASA in 2005 but retained ownership of four of the ATR 72s. The other eight were leased by ASA, but under the terms of the original deal ATR was committed to eventually taking back all 12 aircraft. ATR confirms it has an agreement to take all the aircraft back and says it is now working to remarket them, with several carriers outside North America having expressed interest.

Meanwhile, regional jets are being singled out more than any other aircraft type as Delta and Northwest work on a post-merger fleet plan. Delta earlier this year unveiled plans to remove 70 regional jets from its network, many of which have already been phased out. Managing director of network planning Joe Esposito warns: "It will actually be north of that when we complete our business plan this year".

Northwest has already reduced its McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 757 domestic fleets. Delta is also now looking to remarket two 767-300s, which Esposito says will come out of the international fleet in November. But he says there are no plans to sell additional widebodies this year or in 2009 and that Delta plans to continue expanding its international operation.
 
I certainly hope that the sim has AHRS. Hard to fly a computerized turbojet without it...

Maybe they are cheap and didn't buy the AHRS.

I figured the SAAB would show up in ATL within six months of the completion of this deal. There are many places that do NOT justify jet service.
 
I certainly hope that the sim has AHRS. Hard to fly a computerized turbojet without it...

Maybe they are cheap and didn't buy the AHRS

The new CRJ-900's have IRS, not AHRS. AHRS would have to be retro-added to the sim.

Thanks for playing, though.
 
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The new CRJ-900's have INS, not AHRS. AHRS would have to be retro-added to the sim.

Thanks for playing, though.


INS and not IRS's?

I always preferred the IRS's...never had to worry about those damn HDG flags coming off the hardstands at LGA...uhhg...
 
Just so you all know...the CRJ900NG can come with either AHRS...9E's are configured this way, they also have duel head radar...AWESOME!! They also have HF radios...all those beach locations...Mesaba's have IRS's....
 
Just so you all know...the CRJ900NG can come with either AHRS...9E's are configured this way, they also have duel head radar...AWESOME!! They also have HF radios...all those beach locations...Mesaba's have IRS's....

Wow, this is the biggest case of SJS I've ever seen.
 

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