NWA DC-9's

[Truckdriver]

When we can put household trash into the Flux Capacitor to achieve Mach .80

Exactly. Until oil gets back under $90/bbl, I doubt things will pick back up. If it stays where it is at or climbs higher, we'll be parking more aircraft.

 

[Poahi]

Wow. Like bell bottoms and leisure suits, fuel has become so expensive, the DC-9 is back in style.

 

[Occam's Razor]

I thought they were all retiring on schedule because all your older pilots have pensions. At least that's what your merger committee claims.

Knock it off.

Got it?

 

[Occam's Razor]

Are these Second Officers? How many are coming back?

Guess it does not change the new hire situation, if they are vacating Second Officers slots, does it?

The guys coming back are the "gappers" who either started here after a 20-year career in the military, or matriculated from another airline at a later age.

Most of the senior guys are into the Excess Plan since they've been widebody captains for a long time...so they're leaving. About half of the mid-range guys (narrowbody captain or widebody f/o) hitting 60 are sticking around. Their frozen DB is waaay below the guys getting the Excess.

Crew Planning is in a tough spot. Every one of the guys over 60 who are sticking around can pull the plug any time they choose, and many of them have gobs of sick leave accrued. The poobah-ette of Crew Planning told us she didn't have a "high level of confidence in their utilization".

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

FWIW, I heard the same today about the 9's, as well as the MD-90's are "still coming."

rumors rumors...but these are better than bad, they're good!

 

[tomgoodman]

Real dollars vs. promised dollars

Strange indeed!!! With an intact pension and golden years ahead, it amazes me that we have even one pilot who would rather be schlepping around airports than enjoying retirement. The difference in dollars between flying after sixty and retirement is negligible.

Some guys just have no life, I guess. Sad!!

How safe are those pensions? If it hadn't been for the 50% lump sum option, many of the DAL guys who retired in the last 5 years would still be on the seniority list. Do NWA retirees get any lump sum? Is their annuity safely in their own names and held by an outside financial institution? I'm not predicting another bankruptcy, but almost nobody predicted the last ones either, until a few weeks before they happened.

 

[JAM-BRO]

They are PROMISED dollars...


Don't say the B word...

 

[jetflier]

This sounds like good news. But, there has not been any info from NWA ALPA or the company about this.

I wouldn't count on it until it's in writing.

 

[comair00]

I'm in the pool until next April. Have you guys heard anything about our status or any guesses as to what might happen?

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

The overall consenus is that both sides, DL and NWA, will have to be hiring by the end of the year/early next year.

On top of that, when the lists are integrated, depending on how they honor the poolies, the DL staffing model will likely be used which requires more pilots.... meaning more jobs.

Don't take that as hard and fast- thats mostly repeating stuff I've heard and uneducated guessing.

 

[comair00]

Thanks for the quick reply. I interviewed at Delta and wasn't offered a job. (Can't apply again) Now sitting in the pool at NW so I am concerned that if the pool expires or they don't honor it, I won't be able to interview again. Things got complicated in a hurry

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

Ain't that the truth... I suppose it will all depend on the speed of the integration, which likely go at the standard snails pace.

I can't imagine them not honoring the pool for either side. The chances of this stuff getting sorted out by the end of the year are pretty low. There I go again...uneducated guesses.


Complicated? Yes!

I jumpseated on an NW DC-9 today- the guys were super nice, and the Captain was wearing a Delta lapel. It was pretty funny to say the least- also a bit ironic that I also have an NW sticker on my flight kit. The general consensus from everyone I've talked to (away from the zoo that is flightinfo) is no one wants our team or their team to get screwed. The trick is going to be how to pull that off.

 

[generaltso]

I think a fair SLI should favor the DAL side. Look at how the NWA group will benefit from this... much improved pay, improved work rules, better bases, better equipment (access to more widebody pay).

What does the DAL side gain... as far as PILOTS are concerned? Don't say the "Asia routes".

I don't buy in to all this "hiring by the end of the year". We will be lucky if there are no furloughs on either side, before or after the SLI is complete.

 

[clippyrip]

I think a fair SLI should favor the DAL side. Look at how the NWA group will benefit from this... ....better bases...

Really.

I for one, think your bases suck. But, that is just this Northerners perspective.

We also brought more cash on hand than Delta.

 

[Occam's Razor]

Really.

I for one, think your bases suck. But, that is just this Northerners perspective.

We also brought more cash on hand than Delta.

Steady, brother.

Ignore the trolls.

Things are going to start moving quickly.

 

[General Lee]

Yes, however the 9's can be parked without having to make lease payments, while a parked RJ - which NWA owns and leases to PCL, CPZ, and XJ all have payments monthly. The DC9 acts as shock absorber, and unfortunately so do the pilots flying them.

I have heard rumored that RA wants to reallocate the DC9's and run them on routes against AAI and other mid-continent flying. As he said in the merger conference calls there is nothing in the inventory between 76 and 152 seats other than DC9.

Despite GL's leanings that somehow your dick size is tied to the newness of your aircraft, or the ability to go direct, the DC9 is still a work horse, and is built like the proverbial brick @hit house - keep maintained and they will go for ever. Let's not forget that it was RA who originally refurbed and renewed the DC9.

I hope the rumors correct, because it represents more jobs for all of us, and I wouldn't be surprised to see even a few Widgets bidding -9 Captain. It's still more fun for some to be Captain of the tug boat as opposed to the second first mate on the Queen Mary

So, you must fly a piper cub, right? I hope the DC9s stick around, let's hope for the best.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[sweptback]

Heard that the DC-9 will fit in the RJ jetway gate boxes being constructed at ATL concourse C.

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

Heard that the DC-9 will fit in the RJ jetway gate boxes being constructed at ATL concourse C.

Heard that you're dad used to force you to bend over and "submit to him" at concourse C.

 

[737 Pylt]

Really.

I for one, think your bases suck. But, that is just this Northerners perspective.

That's because where you're from, nothing spells a lovin like marrying your cousin! But that's just an east coast perspective, where, not everyone's "relative!"

We also brought more cash on hand than Delta.

What do you have a mouse in your pocket??
The only thing you bring junior, is more furlough fodder!

737

 

[sweptback]

Heard that you're dad used to force you to bend over and "submit to him" at concourse C.

Ok, big shot. What part of that statement made you assume that I was saying that it would be flown by regional pilots? Why then, the incredibly stupid reply?

Doesn't Delta operate all the gates at ATL? Couldn't a Delta plane park at any gate?