Make money fast (by stepping up to captain...)

I have probably half of my Delta miles in the back of a MD90. They are only noisy if you end up all the way in the rear of the cabin. Up front you barely hear the engines, it's all wind noise.
 
They make it seem like the MD is hated among pilots. It's really the last bit of 'aviation from yester-year' that's still in operation. I know of one gal who just took an FO position on the -88 and is thrilled to fly it.
 
Ryanb said:
They make it seem like the MD is hated among pilots. It's really the last bit of 'aviation from yester-year' that's still in operation. I know of one gal who just took an FO position on the -88 and is thrilled to fly it.
Click to expand...

I know a retired captain who flew the whole series DC-9 through the 90, he loved them, said they were fun to fly.
 
My father-in-law upgraded last year from an MD88/MD90 Captain to a 767 Captain. He didn't seem to like the MD very much. He had to scrub flights for mechanical issues on a pretty regular basis. He told me that one time they loaded up all the PAX and found an issue that forced them get everyone off and switch planes. Then after loading up the second plane they found a different issue and had to switch everyone to a third plane.

He seems much happier with the 767. He even passed up an opportunity to be an MD line-check captain for more money than he makes flying the 767.
 
Delta has one of the quickest upgrades in the industry. It's a good time to get on with the airlines.
 
wsuffa said:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ots-to-captain-if-they-can-fly-this-old-plane

Sadly, I can recall being on one of Delta's first revenue flights of the '88.
Click to expand...

I think it is cool as hell that Delta is still flying them for the time being. I wish I was in a position to take one of those jobs, I would jump on it long before an Airbus job. If only I was more than a private single engine instrument pilot.......

Ryanb said:
They make it seem like the MD is hated among pilots. It's really the last bit of 'aviation from yester-year' that's still in operation. I know of one gal who just took an FO position on the -88 and is thrilled to fly it.
Click to expand...

It really is the last of a dying breed of aircraft. I just think they are cool old airplanes, and I like those sort of things. New stuff is boring to me. I was on one last week from Portland Maine to Atlanta (I live in Charlotte, so it's usually American on an Airbus...boring). I was pretty happy to be riding in one, my soon to be brother in law was kind of like "Ok dude, whatever". I'm the guy that looks in the cockpit on the way out, hoping for older avionics and worn out looking stuff. Am I weird? Probably, but who cares.
 
MassPilot said:
My father-in-law upgraded last year from an MD88/MD90 Captain to a 767 Captain. He didn't seem to like the MD very much. He had to scrub flights for mechanical issues on a pretty regular basis. He told me that one time they loaded up all the PAX and found an issue that forced them get everyone off and switch planes. Then after loading up the second plane they found a different issue and had to switch everyone to a third plane.
.
Click to expand...


Ouch.... I bet he was not happy that day....
 
jordane93 said:
The joys of living in NY man. If I ever get on with a major I'll take that quick upgrade on NYC!
Click to expand...

With a Delta captains salary, La Guardia wouldn't be bad as a base. Lots of nice places on the North Shore or in CT within commuting distance. It doesnt have to be a 'crash pad in queens'.
 
weilke said:
With a Delta captains salary, La Guardia wouldn't be bad as a base. Lots of nice places on the North Shore or in CT within commuting distance. It doesnt have to be a 'crash pad in queens'.
Click to expand...
Yep I live in Long Island. Upgrades at my airline are happening pretty much only in NYC which will work out for me because no one wants to commute to NYC.
 
jordane93 said:
Yep I live in Long Island. Upgrades at my airline are happening pretty much only in NYC which will work out for me because no one wants to commute to NYC.
Click to expand...
So, how long until we can begin calling you Captain Jordan?
 
TRocket said:
I think it is cool as hell that Delta is still flying them for the time being. I wish I was in a position to take one of those jobs, I would jump on it long before an Airbus job. If only I was more than a private single engine instrument pilot.......



It really is the last of a dying breed of aircraft. I just think they are cool old airplanes, and I like those sort of things. New stuff is boring to me. I was on one last week from Portland Maine to Atlanta (I live in Charlotte, so it's usually American on an Airbus...boring). I was pretty happy to be riding in one, my soon to be brother in law was kind of like "Ok dude, whatever". I'm the guy that looks in the cockpit on the way out, hoping for older avionics and worn out looking stuff. Am I weird? Probably, but who cares.
Click to expand...

Once you get a few hours under your belt you'll realize that high tech and automation is a much better way to earn a living. I moved from a relatively high tech PC-12 to a old as dirt Hawker 700. Situational awareness was a struggle, and the antique avionics resulted in a very high workload, even for two pilots. I fly a much more modern airplane now, and the workload is much lower.
 
Unloved because:

New York base
Multiple legs (covering regional routes)
Leaks in the winter (one of the cockpit storage compartments was nicknamed the aquarium)
Cockpit is hot in the summer
More work than more modern jets
 
weilke said:
With a Delta captains salary, La Guardia wouldn't be bad as a base. Lots of nice places on the North Shore or in CT within commuting distance. It doesnt have to be a 'crash pad in queens'.
Click to expand...
The problem, at least for me, is commuting and reserve.
 
Kritchlow said:
The problem, at least for me, is commuting and reserve.
Click to expand...

I understand commuting into NYC is a bear. My point was that if one was willing to move to the base, with a little bit of money coming in, LI and CT are actually nice places to live. The downside is that you do get clobbered with not only property tax and state income tax, to add insult to injury in that income range you are going to pay AMT.
The question is what happens after they scrap the last MD88 ? How likely would it be for a 1-2 year MD88 captain to transfer to another type with a La Guardia base (at comparable pay, doesn't have to be captain).
 
Last edited:
Oh, and the last row of seats in the DC9, MD88 or MD90 are patently unconstitutional as cruel and unusual punishment. The seat doesn't recline, the lav stinks, you dont have a window and with your ear right next to the engine intake you are deaf after a DTW --> MSP.
 
weilke said:
... LI and CT are actually nice places to live. The downside is that you do get clobbered with not only property tax and state income tax, to add insult to injury in that income range you are going to pay AMT.
Click to expand...
Not to mention the government leaves you defenseless.

So, sooooo happy I moved out almost 30 years ago,
 
TRocket said:
I think it is cool as hell that Delta is still flying them for the time being. I wish I was in a position to take one of those jobs, I would jump on it long before an Airbus job. If only I was more than a private single engine instrument pilot.......
Click to expand...

Wouldn't do me any good if I had an ATP and tons of hours - I'm 65. Oh well...
 
Lets see... Delta? Captain? Maddog? Yes, please.

Where do I sign up?
 
The Delta 88 NY base no longer exists! There was a large bid as a result of that to shuffle those pilots around the system into different birds and bases as it winds and closes down. Most junior CA slot is now the ATL 88

I have several good friends at Delta, while the ones that fly it say the plane is fun to fly they don't like the qol and style of trips, one of my best friends is a 757/767 driver at that company and I asked if he would take the upgrade, he said the decrease in QOL back to reserve and the trip structure isn't worth the money, he enjoys his one or two leg days with mostly transcons/transatlantic instead

I've jumpseated a few times on the 82/83/88 definitely a different species that won't exist very long and interesting to see!
 
Last edited:
jordane93 said:
Delta has one of the quickest upgrades in the industry. It's a good time to get on with the airlines.
Click to expand...
It will be a short upgrade, as well. The MD88s are being retired and this very junior Captains will be the first ones bumped off as the fleet shrinks and they won't be able to hold any other Captain seats so they'll be right back to being relatively junior first officers again.

The standby compass mirror system, from the video above, actually works pretty well. The same system as in the DC8 as well as all of the DC9s.
 
yeah, it's regional work structure, and the workload is high. Not worth the money for most, which is why the thing went so junior when it did. One of my squadronmates did a stint on the maddog. He's happy to be going to the 73, and lord knows the stretch guppy is a POS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top