SLVRBLT From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1814 times:
.....Hope FEMA at least pays for the damn fuel...
--AMERICAN FLYING KATRINA RELIEF MISSIONS OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND---
All-Volunteer Crews Operate Flights to New Orleans
American Airlines dispatched three aircraft to New Orleans Saturday - all of them manned by volunteer crews - to pick up flood victims and fly them to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
American will fly similar missions Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Each MD80 aircraft will make two trips each day for a total of 24 trips. More than 3,000 flood victims are expected to be flown out of the stricken city as a result of American's four-day operation.
Everyone who works the flight is a volunteer.
"From the mechanic to the ramp worker to the pilots and flight attendants --- they are all volunteers, " "We've got a long list of American employees wanting to help in the effort."
American's airport manager in New Orleans, who was airlifted out of New Orleans on Tuesday when American flew the first rescue mission into the Louie Armstrong International Airport -- was on the first flight Saturday to oversee the ground operation there.
AirAmericaC46 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 590 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1786 times:
God bless AA and its volunteer crews! I hope it pays off as a good karma by putting in a miraculous profitable AA in the coming years. Other airlines should follow the lead! My prayers!
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11742 posts, RR: 51 Reply 2, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1779 times:
Actually AA is getting in to the MSY Relief flight a little late. TZ used a B-737-800 yesterday on 4 round trips to Kelly AFB (Lackland doesn't have an airfield). They RON'd the airplane at DFW, and are going back again today, another four trips are planned. DL, Sprite, and WN are also flying these missions.
No, they are not. All of this is at no cost (except to the airlines). The airlines have to tanker in their fuel, as their is no pumping capability at MSY, yet.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9292 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1599 times:
.....Hope FEMA at least pays for the damn fuel...
FEMA has agreed to pay for fuel only. All other costs must be picked up by the airlines.
Also, AA does not stand alone here. Most every major North American airline is running relief flight in and out of MSY. Air Canada, ATA, ATI, America West, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, AirTran, JetBlue, UAL, Shuttle America(E170), USAirways .....etc, etc....and just look at all the cargo airlines running flights....
[Edited 2005-09-04 18:52:39]
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
AirRyan From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 2530 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 6 days ago) and read 1487 times:
I'm in AUS and we received a few flights from MSY yesterday as well but I wasn't able to see who. I was watching the end of Saturday Night Live last night and they broadcast a little banner on the bottom saying they need 100 volunteers to help set up cots for a bus arriving by 0530 and by the time I got down there so many people had showed up they no longer needed any help at that time. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people even at that time of night on short notice were willing to help out.
I've heard that FEMA is paying for the fuel on these flights, is that pretty much the status quo for all the airlines? And what exactly does the volunteer crews mean? I mean the crews are salaried correct? The crews are still on certain crew days with a max number of hours they can fly every day and month anywyas, so are they really down there on their own time?
And my last question is what else are these airlines doing with these aircraft since they were all allocated to MSY anyways? I'm not knocking anyones efforts but just trying to understand the reality of all perspectives better!
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1422 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 2): Actually AA is getting in to the MSY Relief flight a little late. TZ used a B-737-800 yesterday on 4 round trips to Kelly AFB (Lackland doesn't have an airfield). They RON'd the airplane at DFW, and are going back again today, another four trips are planned. DL, Sprite, and WN are also flying these missions.
Several hours after the FAA cleared MSY for traffic AA flew in a 757 with 8400 pounds of supplies. So much for being a "little late".
Swadispatcher From United States of America, joined May 2004, 427 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1395 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 2): No, they are not. All of this is at no cost (except to the airlines). The airlines have to tanker in their fuel, as their is no pumping capability at MSY, yet
The Federal Govt is paying for the fuel.. we have 8 flights from Pope AFB flying supplies and troops into MSY throughout the day.
I saw a bunch of MSY-SKF and MSY-AUS flights yesterday; even a B6 MSY-SLC flight! Today I've seen MSY-LBB, AMA, MDW and AFW just to name a few..
Looks like right now there are 2 C130s from SWF, 1 UPS 767 from RNO, a US 733 from MGM, and a TRS 737 from POP all flying in..
Maintain 2300 until Boiler, cleared for the VOR-A approach, report BATLE inbound..
Tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6195 posts, RR: 9 Reply 8, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1364 times:
Good for AA! They do have very good morals especially during a time like this.
AA October 13th LAX-EWR!
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
SATL382G From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1343 times:
Quoting Swadispatcher (Reply 13): The Federal Govt is paying for the fuel.. we have 8 flights from Pope AFB flying supplies and troops into MSY throughout the day.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that all these commercial aircraft into MSY are gov't contract flights. Anybody know?
Swadispatcher From United States of America, joined May 2004, 427 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1334 times:
Quoting SATL382G (Reply 15): I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that all these commercial aircraft into MSY are gov't contract flights. Anybody know?
I know ours were.. but we are also carrying troops inbound..
Maintain 2300 until Boiler, cleared for the VOR-A approach, report BATLE inbound..
Airlinerfreak From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1291 times:
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not the place over arguing if they are too late or not. AA is simply doing a good thing, whether it is late, early, or anything indifferent. We shall be greatful that they decided to do anything at all. By the way, AA is paying for the fuel, and lastly, may god bless AA!
Afay1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 1293 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1276 times:
What goes around does indeed come around...AA and others got billions in taxpayer monies after 9-11, and now they are paying it back! One good turn does indeed deserve another...
Continental From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 5477 posts, RR: 20 Reply 13, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1221 times:
It's good to see that aircraft are coming and going to MSY for relief efforts. A look now on flytecomm shows a TZ 737-800 flying MSY-POB, 1 of 3 Arrow Air DC-10s are flying MSY-MIA, a Southwest 737 is doing MSY-POB right now, a UPS 767-300 flying to RNO, and that seems to be it inflight. I was surprised to see Northwest flying in a DC-9 today from AUS, US using a 737 to MGM, United, B6, Frontier, Champion Air, etc. This is GREAT!
AAR90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3410 posts, RR: 50 Reply 14, posted (7 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 945 times:
Quoting AirRyan (Reply 5): I've heard that FEMA is paying for the fuel on these flights, is that pretty much the status quo for all the airlines?
FEMA has "promised" to pay for fuel only.... no payments received by anybody yet though.
Quoting AirRyan (Reply 5): And what exactly does the volunteer crews mean? I mean the crews are salaried correct? The crews are still on certain crew days with a max number of hours they can fly every day and month anywyas, so are they really down there on their own time?
Don't know about anybody else, but AA pilots volunteer their time on a "not-to-interfere with your monthly schedule" basis. IOW, on your own time without compensation. Pretty much removes west-coast crews and anybody who commutes.
Quoting AirRyan (Reply 5): And my last question is what else are these airlines doing with these aircraft since they were all allocated to MSY anyways?
Expect the planes to be ones that are used for "schedule protection" --laymen's term: spare aircraft. If not needed for the published schedule, the airline will try to fill out a crew (from volunteer lists) and operate MSY. Again, this means relatively short notice to the crews limiting volunteers to those locally based. Overall, about the best way the airlines can provide assistance at minimum cost (since few are profitable and those that are are not wildly profitable).
*NO CARRIER* -- A Naval Aviator's worst nightmare!
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