Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations |
B757 program changes - ACARS usage |
DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM
Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"I'd rather be flying!" Church Hill, TN USA
862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs,
165.2 hours online 299 legs,
485.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 08:24 ET by George Lewis
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ACARS is a great tool to aid and assist pilots who are new to an equipment type. Self-analysis after the flight can help First Officers better prepare themselves for future flights in areas such as fuel planning, flight planning, navigation, etc. For some time B727 and MD-11 First Officers on a trial basis were required to complete the 10 flight legs using ACARS submitted reports. While the programs are small, overall there were no issues raised by the participants or program Chief Pilots. It was decided that it was time to conduct a trial in a mainstream program.
We decided with Charly Azcue's support to conduct a 30-day trial in the B757. The trial will begin on October 10th. First officers on their journey to accumulating 10 flight legs will be grandfathered. Flights up to Oct. 10th will be counted as ACARS submitted flights. Any B757 First Officers experiencing difficulty using ACARS should create a help desk issue describing the problem in detail so we can help get it resolved.
B757 pilots will be informed in advance of the trial by email.
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DVA4728
Captain, B737-800
Joined on July 11 2007
Western United States
31 legs, 55.0 hours
2 legs,
2.6 hours online 7 legs,
8.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 17:32 ET by Jason Hoppenrath
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I am not in the 757 program as of yet, but I see one issue with the ACARS requirement. It is that some folks like me are not able to connect our computers to the internet for long periods of time due to our jobs. In my case I have internet access, but it is through a DOD computer while underway on a ship and I can not connect my flight sim computer to the DOD network. We do pull into port calls, but most of them do not have internet capability that is available to us. Understandably we can fly using ACARS off line and when we can connect it will up load all of our flights to be counted, however that means that if we are trying to promote or change programs it just takes us that much longer to do. An example is of course all of my flights have been off line due to the fact that I am underway. I am waiting to pull into port to do my CR for the MD-88. Some will argue that since I have to wait anyway then it does not matter. However when you look at it from my point of view, we might pull into port and because of duty and other issues I may be able to connect for a couple of hours only. That is not enough time to send in the flight data, have it verified and the flights credited to my log book and then have the system updated so I can take my test, then wait for that to be graded and then get the email for my check ride and do the check ride. One fix I see for this is to be able to do the flights off line using ACARS and be able to email in the files from ACARS. This of course adds a work load to the volunteers that will have to put it back in the system manually. Don't get me wrong I love the fact that with DVA I will be able to fly online when I get back from this patrol and will do so quite often, but until then I have enjoyed being able to show my accomplishments as I complete each flight without the ACARS and the fact that I am ready to take my CR as soon as I get a few hours off the ship has made it all the more worth while. Just one issue and a potential solution from maybe the only person this will effect. Regardless of the course of action, flight sim is a great hobby and being a member of DVA has made it that much better. If I am only able to do the flights ACARS then that is how it will be and I will still enjoy the sim. as I float around out here in the big blue ocean. Hopefully there will come a time when emailing in the ACARS data will become a viable solution. Fair winds and following seas.
Jason
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DVA4949
Captain, DC-6
E-MAIL
Joined on September 04 2007
"The Hemisphere Dancer" Southeastern United States
92 legs, 119.2 hours
49 legs,
67.2 hours online 67 legs,
93.4 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 17:56 ET by Chris Prine Jr.
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Jason I don't know all the regulations yet, but I have seen a lot of people recording their flights or somehow posting them to you.tube. Maybe you can see if they will give you video options and just email in the links to your youtubes, with your offline acars information and see if that might help, once again I may be the completly wrong person to bring up ideas on this but it seems like that could be an option.
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DVA4728
Captain, B737-800
Joined on July 11 2007
Western United States
31 legs, 55.0 hours
2 legs,
2.6 hours online 7 legs,
8.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 18:15 ET by Jason Hoppenrath
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Chris,
I have not heard of that, but unfortunatley there are filters inplace that keep us from being able to go to sights like You-tube, my-space, hotmail, gmail, yahoo, and so on. I am lucky I can even access the DVA web sight. Thanks for the info though, it might help some of the other people out that are in the same position I am but dont have the blocks like I do.
Jason
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DVA3196
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP, COMM
Joined on June 03 2006
Online Double Century Club
50 State Club
Six Century Club
"pitchpowertrim.com" Anderson, MO
619 legs, 1,093.4 hours
292 legs,
503.1 hours online 580 legs,
1,026.5 hours ACARS 89 legs,
191.0 hours event 236 legs dispatched, 110.1
hours
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 18:43 ET by Michael Brown
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Good move. ..... a step towards mandatory ACARS across the board
(just to clarify, mandatory ACARS usage is an opinion of mine, not DVA policy)
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DVA3363
Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on July 20 2006
Online Quadruple Century Club
Quincentenary Club
"Follow your bliss." Hollywood, FL USA
529 legs, 1,550.6 hours
437 legs,
1,317.2 hours online 493 legs,
1,449.8 hours ACARS 16 legs,
42.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 18:51 ET by Ricardo Sosa
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Quick question... what is the "actual" reason that this is being put into place? I know that it's for a 30-day trial, but what is the reason of the results that you are wanting to get out of it? Just wondering... Either way, I always use ACARS for filing my flights, except when it somehow crashes during the middle of my flight.
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DVA3355
Senior Captain, B777-200
Joined on July 19 2006
Online Century Club
Flying Colonel
Everett 1500 Club
Four Million Mile Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"guiding you home..." Denver, CO USA
1,959 legs, 8,711.6 hours
181 legs,
715.0 hours online 1,891 legs,
8,382.8 hours ACARS 18 legs,
67.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 19:22 ET by Daniel Hodnik
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Not sure how you will go about submitting your flight data Jason. I think I have read you can email such data as was suggested, but I am not sure. Hope you don't get the short end of the stick during the 30 day trial
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DVA4526
Captain, MD-11
Joined on June 04 2007
Double Century Club
"Fly Navy Jets!" New York, NY USA
257 legs, 1,298.7 hours
14 legs,
38.3 hours online 122 legs,
480.4 hours ACARS 590 legs, 2,849.0 hours total
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 19:47 ET by Brady Molloy
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Me and my mom are moving to a new apartment where I will have a steady internet connection for my laptop.So if mandatory ACARS comes into play for DVA I will be ready
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DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM
Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"I'd rather be flying!" Church Hill, TN USA
862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs,
165.2 hours online 299 legs,
485.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2007 20:28 ET by George Lewis
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There will be no "across the board" mandatory move to ACARS. Sorry, but it just isn't going to happen.
All we're doing at this point is moving the ACARS requirement out from the 727 and MD-11 to the 757 program, which has many more pilots in their program. If the test goes well, we may expand this requirement out to some other programs, but this would only be for the F/O 10 flights requirement to make Captain.
ACARS is already required for fulling checkride and Flight Academy requirements and in fact, over 70% of flight reports are submitted using ACARS.
Hope this helps somewhat in addition to what I've already mentioned in the beginning of this thread. We realize there will be situations where some pilots will not have internet access when they fly, etc. As we test this and run across these scenarios, we will take them into consideration to make the process even better in the future.
Regards
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DVA4522
Captain, B747-400
Joined on June 02 2007
Triple Century Club
"Too much fuel is for sissies" Middle East
322 legs, 577.6 hours
42 legs,
71.0 hours online 274 legs,
467.1 hours ACARS 1 legs,
2.5 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 06:33 ET by Fathi Qaisi
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George ,
Please correct me if I am wrong, surely the soloution to Jasons problem is already there in that, he can fly he flight using the offline ACARs utility..then submit the PIREP when he has the online connection.....NO?? I've doen it before ...mind you ...I did not understand what you meant (George Lewis ) by "grandfathered" so I could be wrong.
Fathi
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DVA4522
Captain, B747-400
Joined on June 02 2007
Triple Century Club
"Too much fuel is for sissies" Middle East
322 legs, 577.6 hours
42 legs,
71.0 hours online 274 legs,
467.1 hours ACARS 1 legs,
2.5 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 06:36 ET by Fathi Qaisi
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Sorry i
gnore my last post... i have just dug deeper into Jasons long post dilemma ánd now know what his paradox is.
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DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM
Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"I'd rather be flying!" Church Hill, TN USA
862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs,
165.2 hours online 299 legs,
485.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 09:14 ET by George Lewis
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Grandfathered - an example - I'll make this non-aviation specific....
You buy a car and a year later the government says that anyone that buys a car has to pay $100 tax. Those that already own a car are grandfathered in - their cars were purchased prior and won't require this tax, even if they bought it yesterday. New car purchases from this day forward would require the payment.
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DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM
Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"I'd rather be flying!" Church Hill, TN USA
862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs,
165.2 hours online 299 legs,
485.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 09:16 ET by George Lewis
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It could also be interpreted as "not taking something away"... suppose, in our case, we removed a rating from an airplane, for example, suppose we removed the Concorde rating from DVA. Those that already have a Concorde rating would be grandfathered in... we wouldn't take their rating away from them, but no new ratings would be issued from that day forward.
disclaimer - we are NOT considering this, just trying to come up with an example for Fathi to understand the term "grandfathered"
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DVA3064
Captain, B757-200
E-MAIL
Joined on April 17 2006
Century Club
Online Century Club
"Conquering the western skies" Western United States
195 legs, 466.9 hours
149 legs,
361.7 hours online 109 legs,
263.4 hours ACARS 3 legs,
8.3 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 10:24 ET by Nick Garner
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Personally I think it is a good idea, ACARS is a big aid Fuel planner (better to plan your own) but it makes fuel loading in general easier and for that on the go flight. Also It will influence more people to use, hopefully it would be nice to see alot more DVA pilots using ACARS, its awsome to know your fellow pilots, ask questions, and find charts. Not to mention its easier to file a flight at the end. ANd like stated in my email I recieved, its good for tracking flights and seeing your improvement and you can criticize your self with your own data if you wish. That is all things that a captian should be capable of. To know your own aircraft as much as possible. Anyway I am all for it, good choice staff.
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DVA057
Senior Captain, B777-200
COMM
Joined on June 02 2002
Events Century Club
Six Century Club
Online Quintuple Century Club
Everett 500 Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"We Are ... Penn State!" Atlanta, GA USA
672 legs, 1,338.4 hours
531 legs,
1,076.4 hours online 392 legs,
786.1 hours ACARS 190 legs,
406.3 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 11:11 ET by Terry Eshenour
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Nick, thank you for your words of support.
Honestly, we did not put Nick up to his fine endorsement of ACARS.
Terry EshenourSenior Captain, B777-200
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DVA4949
Captain, DC-6
E-MAIL
Joined on September 04 2007
"The Hemisphere Dancer" Southeastern United States
92 legs, 119.2 hours
49 legs,
67.2 hours online 67 legs,
93.4 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 12:08 ET by Chris Prine Jr.
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Haha thats funny, Acars is great, I have already learned twice as much per flight since I started using it, I love you .progress function as thats also the only one I know but it helps me in planning and maintaing my flight, I just wish I had started using it earlier so as I could track my progress.
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DVA4589
Senior Captain, B737-800
Joined on June 15 2007
Online Century Club
Triple Century Club
Romania
341 legs, 810.0 hours
181 legs,
422.7 hours online 314 legs,
754.1 hours ACARS 8 legs,
20.9 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2007 12:44 ET by Marius Petrascu
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Really good choice Staff! I second Nick.
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DVA2192
Senior Captain, A320
OLP
Joined on March 14 2005
50 State Club
Million Mile Club
Flying Colonel
Online Fifteen Century
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Long Beach 500 Club
Attleboro, MA USA
1,703 legs, 3,149.7 hours
1,635 legs,
2,989.8 hours online 1,667 legs,
3,076.4 hours ACARS 3 legs,
5.5 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 23 2007 21:03 ET by Richard Walsh
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I like the idea. ACARS is a GREAT tool to look back at your flight (not just for landings). The red dots indicate something that went wrong ie: too steep of a decent , or overspeed.
Richard WalshSenior Captain, A320
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