Should the MD83 Be Retired?
- Dave Blake
- Command Captain
- Posts: 840
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 10:47 am
- Location: Loves Park, IL (KRFD)
Should the MD83 Be Retired?
Since the SAX MD83 flights have seen very little use we are thinking about retiring the aircraft. If we do retire it we could replace the MD83 and have another aircraft fly the MD83 flights like the A320, B737 a mix of both, or maybe a new aircraft type. If you want something new to fly the MD 83 flights please post your suggestion here.
We want to know what the SAX pilots think. Please vote. Thanks and keep 'em flying!
We want to know what the SAX pilots think. Please vote. Thanks and keep 'em flying!
Dave Blake - SAX212
- Marty_Becker
- Command Captain
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- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:40 pm
- Location: Schaumburg, IL (KORD)
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One goal of the airline should be to reduce the number of aircraft types when feasible to take best advantage of economies of scale. Compared to the other types, the MD83 has few routes and few aircraft. I'd suggest reallocating the flights of N555SX, N556SX, N563SX and N565SX to the A320 (26 flight legs), and the shorter flights of N569SX, N575SX, N588SX to the 737 (24 flight legs).
As a matter of interest, I looked through the pilot logs today and found the 4 most recent users of the MD83 - Steve Monk at 30.8 hours in type, last flown Apr 27-07; Roy Brent at 85 hours in type, last flown Jan 11-07; Juanjo Guerrero at 50.4 hours in type, last flown Jul 28-06; and Jim Tilley at 59.6 hours in type, last flown Jun 2-06. They are also the only 4 pilots with more than 20 hours in type. Theirs are the opinions that should really count. [Data is based on the POC log book entries going back to mid-2005 or so.]
I do have one other slight reservation about eliminating the MD83 and that is I expect AS3 to have a wonderful flight model for it, and I'll want to fly it all over again whenever that product comes out.
___
Neil
As a matter of interest, I looked through the pilot logs today and found the 4 most recent users of the MD83 - Steve Monk at 30.8 hours in type, last flown Apr 27-07; Roy Brent at 85 hours in type, last flown Jan 11-07; Juanjo Guerrero at 50.4 hours in type, last flown Jul 28-06; and Jim Tilley at 59.6 hours in type, last flown Jun 2-06. They are also the only 4 pilots with more than 20 hours in type. Theirs are the opinions that should really count. [Data is based on the POC log book entries going back to mid-2005 or so.]
I do have one other slight reservation about eliminating the MD83 and that is I expect AS3 to have a wonderful flight model for it, and I'll want to fly it all over again whenever that product comes out.
___
Neil
- Dave Blake
- Command Captain
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- Location: Loves Park, IL (KRFD)
- David Vega
- Command Captain
- Posts: 783
- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2002 6:40 am
I also voted "don't care" and like Neil, I'm waiting for AS3; like the play, "Waiting for Godoh." If we retire the MD83, we could always bring it back on another market, like Canada or South America. Isn't it the fashion now to retire and return to the game within a couple of years?
Regards,
Dave Vega
Regards,
Dave Vega
-
- Command Captain
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I also voted "don't care". Like others, I have the background of flying AS2 when the MD83 was one of the main aircraft. Haven't flown the MD83 recently, though there are some interesting routes which I hope would be continued if the MD83 is retired. I too am looking forward to the completion of AS3!
Roy Brent
Roy Brent
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- David Vega
- Command Captain
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- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2002 6:40 am
I don't care either mostly because I have built a B737 home cockpit that doesn't look or fly much like a MD83. I have flown it in the past and really enjoyed it. I heard that Alaska Airlines is getting rid of theirs to keep pilots more current in one platform rather than multiple ones.
Command Captain Lyle Kirgan
ATL Hub Chief
SAX 0272
B737NG Home Cockpit Builder
ATL Hub Chief
SAX 0272
B737NG Home Cockpit Builder
- Dave Blake
- Command Captain
- Posts: 840
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 10:47 am
- Location: Loves Park, IL (KRFD)