SWA is in position to dominate ATL

[mule]

ATC in ATL is the best in the country. But once you get on the ground it all goes to $#$@@.

I might have to disagree. MEM is pretty amazing...have you ever tried to land during the PM arrivals during a thunderstorm? They put ATL to shame!

 

[GuppyWN]

Agreed, that number has got to be high. If they are power by the hour, why is it a big deal aside from operational problems a diversion creates?

A) Cause there aren't many spares left.
B) The contract will cost WAY more next go around.

Gup

 

[redflyer65]

why is it a big deal aside from operational problems a diversion creates?

That one line right there might be why they wouldn't want to keep them. Southwest would not really tolerate any hanger queens. It's all about keeping it moving..

 

[Ty Webb]

Agreed, that number has got to be high. If they are power by the hour, why is it a big deal aside from operational problems a diversion creates?

"Power by the hour", just like any sort of lease or insurance product, is a completely numbers-driven proposition. GE or whoever has the leases on those engines will have their analysts/economists pore over the reports, and come up with a new hourly amount reflecting the costs.

Most, but certainly not all, of the BR715 engine problems I have heard about do not occur during a critical segment, but often are a rollback to flight idle in cruise.

 

[carl p]

Agreed, do we know how long the term of the PBH contracts are? Makes you wonder if there are other options moving forward, perhaps the MD-90 engines? Hopefully, RR gets their stuff together with the 715.

 

[GuppyWN]

The problem is the 717 is a one-off engine. You can't just throw another motor on it without a lengthy certification process. One that think will HAVE to happen very soon.

Gup

 

[redflyer65]

but often are a rollback to flight idle in cruise.

Wow, inflight rollbacks. That doesn't sound very good.

 

[-9Capt]

The 717 had a rash of PCDU overheat issues around 7-8 yrs ago and caused at least 1 evacuation and numerous inflight emergencies (smoke, screens blank). Something about a blocked cooling airflow duct. Boeing fixed that. Now the issue seem to be with the engines shutting down.

I flew it for a number of years and never had a major engine issue. Worst engine prob I've seen was when it wouldn't spool up from idle when we pushed the power up for TO. Lots of pain in the ass nuisance alerts, especially when you try to wake it up after it sat overnight in cold temps.

Good airplane though. Very automated and basically takes care of itself.

 

[BOX OFFICE]

Best thing SWA could do is somehow "convince" the ATL airport authority that all the RJ's should be in the A concourse and push them all into Ramps 1 and 2.

That would go a long way towards clearing up all the congestion. Don't see nearly as much of a monkey with a football on Ramps 1, 2, and 5 as we do in 3 and 4 fighting with the RJ folk.

Keep Delta planes on Delta ramps, keep SWA/AAI planes on SWA/AAI ramps. Problem solved.

Whatever happened to that south side concourse Airtran was supposed to be building? They cleared the land but never did anything with it. I would think SWA would be all over that. It would turn ATL into a fortress for them. They even have their own runway down there.

 

[redflyer65]

Whatever happened to that south side concourse Airtran was supposed to be building? They cleared the land but never did anything with it. I would think SWA would be all over that. It would turn ATL into a fortress for them. They even have their own runway down there.

Sounds like an interesting idea.