LiveATC Discussion Forums

Aviation => Pilot/Controller Forum => Topic started by: american2492 on April 21, 2009, 07:53:23 PM

Title: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 21, 2009, 07:53:23 PM
Most of us here on this forum are pilots and others are aviation enthusiasts. Whatever the case, most of us have more experience than the general public. What in your opinions, through the economic crisis, has stayed on top as the "U.S. Flagship Carrier" In terms of appearance, timeliness, and equipment. So basically my question is.... If you had to pick 1 carrier to represent the U.S..... who would it be? Whether it be American, Delta-Northwest, United, Continental, Southwest... etc... In your opinion... who is the best?

cheers,

Austin
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 21, 2009, 07:57:50 PM
AA all the way!
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 21, 2009, 08:48:06 PM
I would put in a vote for United. Quietly getting the job done in there sweet new colors!  8-)

American is a great airline, but they have had a few setbacks...see the other threads about the AA 757 and two MD-80s losing engines...not to mention the one that was hit by lightning!  :wink:

All that aside, American would get my vote for "Most Recognizable Flag Carrier".
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 21, 2009, 09:02:23 PM
After all your picture is of Trans World so you've got to have some love for AA... they have all your planes!
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: mhawke on April 21, 2009, 09:46:53 PM
Despite being a premier executive on United for a number of years.  I still have to say American.  Always liked flying them the best.

The brushed aluminum planes with sleek paint is very recognizable and eye catching.

From pure standpoint of on-time, cost, etc, I would say Southwest.  However I still depise being treated like cattle.

Just the humble opinions of a frequent flyer, not a pilot or controller.

Problem is, the out of US flags carriers still outdue the US flag carriers in customer service everyday.
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 21, 2009, 10:31:47 PM
After all your picture is of Trans World so you've got to have some love for AA... they have all your planes!

Well, some of them!  :wink: 

The only aircraft American had long term plans of keeping were the 757s, 767s, and MD-80s. The B717s were returned to Boeing. The 727s and 747s were retired. The L-1011 fleet went to the desert. The DC-9 fleet was also sold off.

I clearly remember the day when I saw the first TWA 757 in American trim with TWA titles and that little slogan near the boarding door..."An American Airlines Company"... :cry:  Here is B757-231 N708TW (cn 28480/750). See below...

http://www.airliners.net/photo/TWA-Airlines-(American/Boeing-757-231/0213845/L/&tbl=&photo_nr=1&sok=&sort=&prev_id=0218963&next_id=0200640

This aircraft is not even with American anymore. She was sold to Trans Meridian, operated in the "Funjet Vacations" livery, then sold to Ethiopian Airlines and re-registered ET-ALY, she flys for Ethiopian to this day.

Sad to see TWA go. I feel the same way about the Delta/Northwest merger. Sad to see NWA, a pioneer in the aviation world, disappear from sight, especially for a native Detroiter.

...by the way...Go Redwings! 8-)
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 22, 2009, 09:20:36 AM
We could take this another way if people want to...

In your opinion..."Greatest U.S. Flag Carrier OF ALL TIME"...that opens the list up just a bit!
So who would it be? TWA, Pan Am, Eastern, Braniff, PSA, Piedmont, Northeast?

I would say I'm torn between TWA and Pan Am...
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 22, 2009, 12:54:56 PM
Also..... AA leased several acquired TWA 757-232's to Delta. I think there were 11 of them.... not sure though
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 22, 2009, 02:22:27 PM
Also..... AA leased several acquired TWA 757-232's to Delta. I think there were 11 of them.... not sure though

I think you are correct. The issue was that the B757s aquired from TWA were equipd with P&W 2037 powerplants, while all of Americans' 757 fleet have RR RB211 powerplants. TWAs 767 fleet also was powered by P&W engines.

American retained all of TWAs MD-80 fleet (103 birds if I am correct), all thou some of them were placed in storage.

 
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 22, 2009, 02:54:55 PM
Did they start replacing the TWA or AA Md-80s with the 738s... do you know?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 22, 2009, 03:19:50 PM
Did they start replacing the TWA or AA Md-80s with the 738s... do you know?

The MD-80 is still a staple in the American fleet. The B737-800 is a replacement for the aging 727 fleet. American began was utilizing the B737-800 in 2001, seen here, in an awesome "Astrojet" scheme, is N951AA at CYUL in May 2001.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/American-Airlines/Boeing-737-823/0168550/L/&tbl=&photo_nr=6&sok=&sort=&prev_id=0288123&next_id=0203828

Final B727-200 flight was on 04-30-01 from KTPA to KMIA. Here is a pic of B727-223 ADV N864AA, the aircraft that performed the final pax flight, doing a fly-by.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/American-Airlines/Boeing-727-223-Adv/0235656/L/&tbl=&photo_nr=10&sok=&sort=&prev_id=0434653&next_id=0221374

And, just to prove my point, here is EX-TWA MD-83 N979TW performing passenger service into KLAX on 02-14-09! Happy Valentines Day Old Girl!  :-D

http://www.airliners.net/photo/American-Airlines/McDonnell-Douglas-MD-83/1513354/L/&tbl=&photo_nr=3&sok=&sort=&prev_id=1514383&next_id=1513015

Here she is in TWA trim...I miss TWA... :cry:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Trans-World-Airlines/McDonnell-Douglas-MD-83/0134479/L/&tbl=&photo_nr=7&sok=&sort=&prev_id=0259921&next_id=0106907
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 22, 2009, 09:15:16 PM
Ill tell you what.... the MD-80 is a great looking bird. Why didnt united acquire any of them.... i know they were a major customer of the 727
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 22, 2009, 09:53:55 PM
Ill tell you what.... the MD-80 is a great looking bird. Why didnt united acquire any of them.... i know they were a major customer of the 727

Are you referring to United picking up B737-800s?? If so, they have not up to this point. United operates a fleet of B737-322s and B737-522s. That is the extent of the B737 fleet at UAL. They also have a large B757 fleet. But their replacement for there retiring B727 fleet is the Airbus A319 and A320 family of aircraft.

Or is your question about United picking up TWAs' MD-80s? The MD-80/DC-9 families never fit well with UAL and their existing fleet. The only modern Douglas products to wear a United uniform is the DC-8 and DC-10 families. As far as props go, UAL did operate DC-2s, DC-3s, DC-4s DC-6s and DC-7s. After the DC-8, United became a major Boeing Coustomer, having operated the B727, B737, B747, B757, B767, and B777 at one point or another, like iI said, the lone exception being the DC-10. I think you may be able to get United to buy a DC-9...if you put in in a B717 box!  :wink:

If you are asking why United didn't pick up any of Americans B727s...well that's simple! They were already in the process of getting rid of their own!  :wink:  :-D 
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 23, 2009, 06:52:10 AM
No I meant at the time AA and United were the largest carriers. I know that AA replaced its 727 fleet with the MD-80... .What did united replace its 727s with?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: cessna157 on April 23, 2009, 07:06:34 AM
<deleted>
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: cessna157 on April 23, 2009, 07:10:57 AM
In your opinion..."Greatest U.S. Flag Carrier OF ALL TIME"...that opens the list up just a bit!
So who would it be? TWA, Pan Am, Eastern, Braniff, PSA, Piedmont, Northeast?

I would say I'm torn between TWA and Pan Am...



When you say "Flag Carrier", which definition do you mean?  Usually, "Flag Carrier" is an airline that is state owned.  This would never be the case of any US based airlines (other than military carriers).


Do you mean internationally flying airlines?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 23, 2009, 10:13:53 AM
No the question I am intending is if.... We had to have a U.S. "flag carrier" a national represented airline who would it be? Essentially who would be the British Airways of the U.S.?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: cessna157 on April 23, 2009, 04:21:14 PM
Ahhhh, okay, we're on the same frequency now.


Well, then the answer is an easy one.  Comair, of course!     :-D
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 23, 2009, 05:52:18 PM
Hmmm as pretty as that cr9 i see at ohare everytime I am there is.... They dont even have any planes that could fly overseas haha
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 23, 2009, 06:39:02 PM
No I meant at the time AA and United were the largest carriers. I know that AA replaced its 727 fleet with the MD-80... .What did united replace its 727s with?

United replaced it's B727s the A319/A320...

And American was operating the MD-80 LONG before it retired the B727...
They replaced the B727 with the B737-800...
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 23, 2009, 06:44:17 PM
Ahhhh, okay, we're on the same frequency now.


Well, then the answer is an easy one.  Comair, of course!     :-D

 :-D Agreed!

Maybe I should have worded that differently...how about "Greatest U.S. Based Airline Of All Time":

I would still say Pan Am or TWA.  8-)
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 23, 2009, 08:53:38 PM
I am sad to say I never got to fly on Pan Am.... the stories I hear are amazing though. Its like there was so much pride when you were able to say... ya i work for pan am
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: cessna157 on April 23, 2009, 08:59:37 PM
I am sad to say I never got to fly on Pan Am.... the stories I hear are amazing though. Its like there was so much pride when you were able to say... ya i work for pan am

Call me sentimental, but I flew out of the JFK Pan Am saucer on almost a daily basis, and I just couldn't help but to think of the history of the place where my jet was parked.
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 23, 2009, 09:10:19 PM
you flew for or on them?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: cessna157 on April 23, 2009, 09:19:57 PM
you flew for or on them?

Neither.  My airline parks at 2 (sometimes 3) gates under the saucer right now.
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: joeyb747 on April 23, 2009, 09:49:17 PM
you flew for or on them?

Neither.  My airline parks at 2 (sometimes 3) gates under the saucer right now.

Are you referring to the old Pan Am Worldport Delta took over? That place does have a ton of history.

Very much like the Saarinen, or T5, or TWA Flight Center...whatever you would like to call it. Jet Blue has rejuvenated T5, including the landmark Saarinen Terminal. Great building!
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 25, 2009, 10:29:09 PM
Where does comair fly from in NYC?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: cessna157 on April 26, 2009, 10:50:54 AM
Where does comair fly from in NYC?

Well, let's see...

JFK - our largest hub in the system.  We've got 30-40 gates there, including pad 11.
LGA - still quite a large hub for us.  We practically own the 5 parking spots on the southwestern blast fence, plus a couple gates at the terminal.
EWR - a few flights a day to CVG and ATL
HPN - a few flights a day to CVG  (this might all be RP now though)

I think thats it?  We don't go to ISP or SWF anymore.  Does BDL count as NYC?  We do a lot there too

Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 26, 2009, 11:23:09 AM
How did you get involved with comair?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: cessna157 on April 26, 2009, 01:17:45 PM
How did you get involved with comair?

Well, it all started when my mommy and daddy met and fell in love....
skip a few years...
When I was 12 years old, I decided it would be my dream to fly for Comair
skip a few years...
Went to college, got 2 degrees in aviation, graduated, started working in non-flying positions for Comair, then 4 years later, was hired on as a first officer.
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: american2492 on April 26, 2009, 06:22:08 PM
Thats pretty cool. I am working on getting my private, then instrument etc.... I am going to be heading to the Air Force Academy so I am looking to fly either C-17s or KC-135s and then eventually work for an airline. What is the best way to get involved for getting hired at an airline?
Title: Re: Top U.S. Carriers
Post by: 727fubar on June 20, 2009, 03:10:04 PM
Did someone really say Comair was a top carrier???

DL in the pre western era (70's and early 80's) was a class act, aviation professionals that started at entry level positions and worked their way up. That said;

Comair was a good commuter carrier until DL took control. Most of the management that DL sent over to run Comair were rewarded for their political tricks at DL with positions at Comair. They were no longer effective at DL as their coworkers did not trust them, they burnt too many bridges.

I feel for the long time Comair folks, they were raped and pillaged by their new parent company DL.

As far as top carrier, the majors fall short of any kudos’s. They are ranked next to Greyhound!

I am not trying to insult anyone that works for any airline (major or commuter) or FAA for that matter.

Having cut my teeth on DC8-51's, I remember the good old days and am saddened by what these great carriers have done to themselves.