Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
RSP 149 Chambliss 12/4/08
The RSP Periodic Email Archive:
With somethings old, somethings new, somethings borrowed and sometimes blue!
Please realize that the focus of RSP was never intended to be a pension mess. When this is over and done with, I will direct this email and website in a lighter direction. I post almost every email that I receive, with last names removed unless granted permission. The editor does not always agree with contributors, but protects their right to share opinion We will share info that we think our community will find pertinent and enjoyable. Thank you for staying in touch and happy retirement!
The following are the RSP email archives that I still have, complete with grammar and mis-spelled SNAFU's! Caution, when reading archives keep in mind our world is a dynamic place and many bits of information become dated and are super-ceded by later updated info.
Dear Retired Delta Pilot,RSP WELCOME! Gentlemen, welcome! Every once and a while the RSP receives a number of new subscribers and most of this new group have joined because Dave Roberts shared my latest offering. Again, welcome. The RSP (Retired Slug Portal) newsletter is not designed to compete or replace other retiree offerings, but rather, simply be another way to keep our fine group of aviators connected. In a real short history lesson, I started a Senior Slug online group when still active and after I retired I quickly found out that the active guys rarely wanted to hear from (or stay connected with) those who moved into retirement. So, the RSP is dedicated to you---DAL retirees and their families. I do a periodic email and try to only put one out when there is worthy info. Our email boxes are sometimes way over cluttered and I am sensitive to that. I will try to share info that I hope you can use, with humor and stories that I think you will enjoy. That is about it. Welcome aboard, stay connected for as long as you wish, contribute when you can, and please set your emails filters to receive from these two emails:[email protected]@gmail.com
+++++++++++++++++Chambliss wins GA runoff for US Senate!Regardless of your political persuasion, Saxby Chambliss has been a real friend to the retired DAL pilot's plight. His re-
election could be very helpful in our attempts at any amount of pension restoration. Now that he has been re-elected, please visit the following CapWiz sight and let your politicians know your views about our lost benefits.I know you have been prodded before, but this doesn't take long and you never know what our collective efforts could bring:
DP3 ACTION ALERT: Please click the following CapWiz Link to contact your Senators and Congressmen about restoring our lost
qualified pension benefits. -->Restore Our Lost Qualified Benefits>>
++++++++++++++++++++++
Update on Unsecured Claims and Share Distribution - October 2008
November 19, 2008
Delta has issued their summary of unsecured claims and share distribution for October 2008. It is now posted on our web page, which you can review by clicking the link below:
Summary of Unsecured Claims and Share Distribution October 2008
Please note on the summary that Delta has not determined when a final distribution will take place. We have been asked if that may occur in 2008, as it may affect your tax planning. We have no authoritative or definitive information one way or the other on that question and Delta has not provided us any guidance, but we think it’s unlikely. For further information on this subject, please review the letter from Mr. Kight posted in the Bankruptcy section of our web page, which represents the latest official information on this matter. It is available by clicking the link below:
June 2008 Update on Bankruptcy Claims
++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++
Update on Unsecured Claims and Share Distribution - October 2008
November 19, 2008
Delta has issued their summary of unsecured claims and share distribution for October 2008. It is now posted on our web page, which you can review by clicking the link below:
Summary of Unsecured Claims and Share Distribution October 2008
Please note on the summary that Delta has not determined when a final distribution will take place. We have been asked if that may occur in 2008, as it may affect your tax planning. We have no authoritative or definitive information one way or the other on that question and Delta has not provided us any guidance, but we think it’s unlikely. For further information on this subject, please review the letter from Mr. Kight posted in the Bankruptcy section of our web page, which represents the latest official information on this matter. It is available by clicking the link below:
June 2008 Update on Bankruptcy Claims
+++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++
Update on Unsecured Claims and Share Distribution - October 2008 November 19, 2008
Delta has issued their summary of unsecured claims and share distribution for October 2008. It is now posted on our web page, which you can review by clicking the link below:
Summary of Unsecured Claims and Share Distribution October 2008
Please note on the summary that Delta has not determined when a final distribution will take place. We have been asked if that may occur in 2008, as it may affect your tax planning. We have no authoritative or definitive information one way or the other on that question and Delta has not provided us any guidance, but we think it’s unlikely. For further information on this subject, please review the letter from Mr. Kight posted in the Bankruptcy section of our web page, which represents the latest official information on this matter. It is available by clicking the link below:
June 2008 Update on Bankruptcy Claims
++++++++++++++++++
I don't know if you have seen this letter exchange or not, but if you haven't it is worth a read. 1st letter from Sen. Chambliss, then response from Anderson, finally the follow by DP3. Interesting:
http://www.dp3.org/data/102308_Isakson_Chambliss_to_Anderson_Moak_re_Retired_Pilot_Pensions.pdf
http://www.dp3.org/data/Anderson103108.pdf
http://www.dp3.org/data/IsaksonChamblisltr11182008.pdf
+++++++++++++++++++++++
This is the Final Announcement of the Annual Retired Pilots Holiday Dinner. If you would like to attend the dinner next Monday evening, December 8th, please e-mail me ASAP. We still have several openings.
This will be the fifth year that we have been at the Vinings Club – last year’s event was attended by 95 retired pilots and guests, and was a blast.
We have scheduled the Dinner for Monday evening, December 8th in Vinings, Atlanta at the Vinings Club – a beautiful restaurant in Vinings. It is located in the "Overlook" complex just inside I-285 on Paces Ferry Road. The dining room of the club has a fabulous view overlooking the city of Atlanta.
It will be a gourmet 4 course dinner with choice of several entrées (the Filet is fabulous). Happy hour will begin at 6:30pm. The cost should be very close to the cost last year – about $110 per person ($220 per couple) – that price is all-inclusive. It will include dinner, bar, parking, tax and tip.
If you, or a friend, would like to make a reservation please e-mail that request to us at [email protected] We must have your request by Friday.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
George and Dee Leatherbury
______________________________________________
Calendar:2008 - Secondary and final distributions? (Now likely in 2009 -according to Kight) if there is one!
2008 - Effort for DAL pension help. Mar 10th letter for reinstatement - never answered
May 6th, 2008 - IRS final ruling on recovery of withheld FICA taxes.
Jul 3rd, 2008 letter asking for voluntary PBGC contribution - response pending
2008 - DAL-NWA Merger Timeline announced April 14, 2008 April '08 - filed Hart-Scott-Rodino with Dept of Justice - completed April 14th, 2008
May '08 - Non Rev cross airline improvements - completed April 29th, 2008
By Sept 25th, 2008- Merger Shareholder approved NWA 98%, DAL 99%
Combined PWA. - TA as of June, 24, 2008 (MEC approved 6-29-08) Pilot ratification vote closed Aug 11th, 2008 - NWA 86.76%, DAL 61.74%
By Fall 2008 - complete regulatory process, close merger - Approval by DOJ on Oct 29, 2008 By Now Dec 20th '08 - complete integration (SLI) (Will be effective as of contract effective date)
________________________________________________
DAL/NWA NEWS/RUMORS: (DAL AJC, DAL Yahoo,)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - 9:01 AM CST
Delta to cut capacity and jobsMinneapolis / St. Paul Business JournalDelta Air Lines Inc. will trim its capacity by up to 8 percent in 2009 and suggested more jobs cuts are on the way due to the global economic slowdown and softening traffic.
The Atlanta-based airline revealed the cuts in a memo to its 75,000 employees from CEO Richard Anderson and President Edward H. Bastian. The memo noted domestic capacity would shrink up to 10 percent while international capacity will be down up to 5 percent.
The memo also said Delta (NYSE: DAL) might soon cut more jobs, noting the airline is “analyzing the impact on staffing as it pertains to these capacity reductions and, as in the past, we will offer voluntary programs to adjust staffing needs.”
Read more: http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/12/01/daily12.html?ana=yfcpc_ __________________________________________
Other Airline News:
AMR's American Airlines could shrink furtherAP - Tue 6:07 pm ET
US Airways Group November traffic down 7%at MarketWatch - 2 hours, 29 minutes ago
__ __________________________________________
FINANCE: CLAIMS/PBGC/HCTC/ INSURANCE/PLANNING/TAX/ESTATE Remaining 6 Watch: After Aug 2007 there are 6 retirement items remaining with financial consequence.
1. PBGC 2nd look re-calc at qualified annuity benefits - completed 8/24/072. PBGC make up lump payment for underpayments since termination: most reported received 1/31/083. 2nd (final) claim distribution by DAL through BSI - pending (now likely in '09 according to Kight)4. Class Action suit against DAL concerning 5 yr lookback worth in excess of $100 million - withdrawn5. Final PBGC re-calc "determination" of qualified annuity (likely after claim stock sale) - pending6. Pension reinstatement/contibution request by DP3 representing the retired pilots. very long shot....pending
______________________________________________________________________________
2nd Career: (Header contains helpful sites)Partial listing - Job sites/info: WFFF Climbto350 FLTops Airline Pilot Central
Headhunters: Parc WASINC Rishworth Dir Pers IASCO AeroPers Crew Res Paramount IAC
Job Forums: APC PPrune WFFF
Dear Captain
We are pleased to announce that Korean Air are holding a screening in January
1) 19th – 23rd January 2009
If you wish to be considered for this screening please send me the application documents before Thursday 4th December 2008.
Please note: Korean Air have not yet selected pilots for their December screening. If you have applied for the December screening, we will be in touch as soon as we have heard from Korean Air.
Our pilots on contract with Korean Air enjoy a stable roster, good quality hotel accommodation and excellent commuting options.
Please find attached details of the Korean Air contract.
Any applications which do not include all of the completed documents (including signed/scanned copies of the fully completed KAL application form) cannot be submitted to Korean Air.
Please bear in mind that the accuracy you demonstrate in completing the application documentation is part of the selection process.
If you are interested please email me:
The attached Rishworth Summary Form with your details completed in full. NEW
The attached Questionnaire with your answers completed in full. NEW Scanned copy of your CV with photo (template attached for reference).
The attached Application Form (9 pages) completed in full. Scanned copy of your passport. Scanned copy of your licence and rating. Scanned copy of your CAT II/III certification. Scanned copy of your current Medical Certificate.
If you have made an application to Korean Air in the past and wish to resubmit your documents for the December screening please confirm your availability to attend screening by return email. Please note that the questionnaire and summary form have been amended. Please ensure you send us the NEW forms.
The order of priority in which KAL currently considers pilot applications are:
B744/757/B767 Captains for B777 Non Type Rated Captain positions - KAL has advised that only Captains currently flying PIC on B744/757/767 will be accepted
To qualify you need at least 5000hrs total Airline Transport PIC hours along with 1000 + PIC hours on B744, B757 or B757
If you are accepted by Korean Air and pass their screening process you will be required to self fund your type rating. We may be able to assist you to receive a discounted rate.
Please note:
1. There is no guarantee you will be accepted for a screening due to the high number of applicants.
2. “Cruise Captains” or “Relief Captains” will not be considered for Captain positions.
3. By providing us with the above information and requesting us to put your application forward to Korean Air, you agree and acknowledge that:
(a) you are using Rishworth Aviation as your sole agent to apply for the above position; and
(b) if you are accepted for screening, you will use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that you are available to attend that screening (note: if you withdraw after being accepted for screening you may not be considered for further screening opportunities).
4. If you are selected for screening and are selected to join Korean Air, but do not start on contract with Korean Air, then you may be required to pay a fee for screening expenses.
5. Korean Air only consider applications from candidates for a maximum of 3 consecutive screenings, so we recommend that you take special care to clear your schedule so that you are available in the event you are selected for a screening. If you have already had your application submitted three times, you may be requested to reapply for a future screening session.
This non type rated opportunity is intended for senior Captains. To date only applicants who have 1,000+ PIC hours on type and 5,000+ PIC airline transport hours have been accepted for screening.
It is also important for you to ensure that you have registered your details on our website - www.rishworthaviation.com, and if you have already registered please make sure that your details are correct and up to date.
Once your application has been submitted to Korean Air, we will touch base from time to time to ensure that everything is on track for you to be able to attend screening with KAL.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Stacey Sinton
Recruitment Consultant
Rishworth Aviation Ltd
Asia Pacific Office
DDI: +64 9 374 0769
Tel: +64 9 302 0080
Fax: +64 9 308 0078
Mobile: + 64 21 981 600
Skype: stacey.sinton.ral
THIS EMAIL IS THE RESULT OF A DATABASE MAILOUT – PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS IN ERROR!
Level 1, 33 Bath StreetPO Box 37-434, ParnellAuckland 1001, New Zealand
Fax: +64 9 302 0078
Skype: stacey.sinton.ral
Email:
Tel: +64 9 302 0080 [email protected]
++++++++++++++for the adventuresome:December 1, 2008SAFI AIRWAYS (B767 Ferry Captain - Urgent)
Tel: NO CALLS
Email: [email protected] Site: none
__________________________________________________ Human interest: Thanks Rik:This is really good, especially anyone with ties to WWII-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-**-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-**-*-*-*-*-A P-51 Named February Well worth watching & checking the links on the homepage.. I sat here with a smile through most of it and ended up with tears rolling down my face. A very special video here! Please take the time after the show and look around check everything out you will love it. We should never forget the one's who fought for our freedom. This is a tribute to the Gray Eagles (WWII pilots) was in conjunction with an air show in Ohio called "The Final Roundup." was the last large gathering of the remaining P-51 Mustang fighters used during WWII. There were about 120 of the fighters there all of them in flying condition, of course. The flyover seen at the end of the video is composed entirely of P51s spelling out the number 51.. It was an event that may never be seen again.
link: http://www.grayeagles.org/video.htm Turn up the sound.... +++++++++++++++++++++++ MUMBAI From: Cliff, Jud, Judspin, whatever... Subject: Fw: From Mumbai
This is from a friend of mine who was in the Mumbai attack yesterday.
It is now 3:15 am EST and I am near the Mumbai airport. I should be gettingon a plane in the next several hours to come home. . . with nothing but theclothes on my back. I believe the fire in the Taj took all my belongings,only a few of which were precious to me. I write notes to my girls and keepthem in my flight case, and they may or may ... Read Morenot be recoveredlater. Still too "hot" in more than one way to think about retrieving anyitems. No passport, no uniform no airline ID, no computer, (this one isborrowed),no suitcase, no flight case, but I am thankful. . .for the gift ofbeing ab le to come home and hug my girls. My daughters don't really knowwhat happened and I prefer it that way, so please use discretion if talkingto them. I heard a lot of explosions, and gunfire, and had eaten atLeopold's a few hours earlier. The other First officer had been in his roomwhen the trouble broke out. He hunkered down for a while until the fire gottoo close, then made a break for it.
Fortunately all Delta crews are accounted for and Delta has done a very goodjob communicating with us and assisting from headquarters. I pretty much hidfor several hours in a cheap little hotel so as to stay out of sight (bigwhite guy draws attention) as I was not sure the streets were safe. At anyrate, I am coming home with no bags to check... Read More. Pray that Indiaand Pakistan doesn't get violent in the next several hours at least. Alsopray for the hostages in the TAJ, as well as a couple NWA pilots stillunaccounted for that were staying at the Oberoy. That's all for now. This ispretty surreal! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ From: scott
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 6:17 PMSubject: MUMBAI TERRORIST ATTACK
I just got back from Amsterdam and brought several NWA crew members with me who were at the Oberi Hotel hotel when the terrorists attacked. Here is an account from one of our NWA Captains:
Scott D
Dateline Mumbai;
I was lucky. Just two hours separated me from a life altering event.
Yes I was there. My flight was on approach to BOM when the first terrorist attacks took place. Our ETA to the Oberi/Trident hotel was about 90mins later. The outbound crew was scheduled to be in the lobby about 20mins after the first attack at the hotel (10:30pm).
My crew spent 6hrs on the aircraft before being relocated to one of the airport hotels. In retrospect, NWA should have gotten us there immediately. We were the crew who would fly out of BOM. Being off duty on the aircraft is not resting, and I correctly guestimated how most of the decision process was going to play out over the next 12hrs. We were eating into what would be a 48hr period with (in my case) just 4hrs of sleep. I thought my day couldn?t get much worse.
At this moment, I?m on a flight from BOM-AMS. My crewmembers are all safe, and we have nine of eleven of the crew who were at the Oberi/Trident. Sadly, a pilot and FA are still at the Oberi, holed up in their rooms. NWA hired two different civilian extraction teams to get them out of the hotel safely ... you know, expats - challenge/response passwords & all that James Bond stuff ... That may have worked initially; but the hotel was locked down by the local military (to the exclusion of those rescue teams) and that simply provided the terrorists time to reorganize, take hostages, and prepare for a long standoff.
Flashback to Oberi hotel. Some stories from that unfortunate crew follow: (Apparently, a well built hotel muffles sound more than you might think ..... )
F/A exits the elevator in the lobby of the Trident. The terrorists (probably) just gunned their way through the lobby, into a connecting hallway to the Oberi (their primary target). Bodies and pools of blood everywhere. The two girls at the front desk, Bellman, and Doorman all killed in the initial attack. All other people in the lobby were either shot/killed or helped the injured out of the hotel. The FA returned to his room then followed a housecleaner out through a (sort of) hidden stairway into the relative safety of the street. I later found out the hotel manager, who lives in the hotel with his wife and children, were all killed in the initial attack. That may point to an ´insider¡ helping the terrorists.
Another F/A goes to the elevator to head down to the lobby. Doors open and the interior of the car was splattered in blood. She returned to her room and got a few other F/A?s and left that floor via the emergency exit. Once out on the exposed outer stairway, the fire door locked behind them. If they ran into trouble down below, without another exit strategy, they?d be truly screwed. Near the bottom, they heard a lot of commotion beyond a set of double doors. They were potentially stuck in a real bad situation. They backed up a bit, laid down and played possum (wouldn?t have worked - no blood). A few minutes later a police team came up to their position and escorted them to the relative safety of a nearby parking garage.
A male Chinese F/A was trying to escape the hotel following a hotel employee through a different pitch black service stairway. He opened a door to a short hallway leading into the lobby. Shell casings and damage littered the floor. He started into the lobby and came face to face with one of the armed terrorists. Fortunately, he was not in uniform, and wearing a European style
black leather jacket.. He didn?t fit the victim ´profile.¡ He turned around, back through the hallway ... got out alive.
That crew eventually spent about 9hrs on an ascending ramp at a concrete parking structure about two blocks from the hotel. The F/O on the scene separated that crew from perhaps 300 other confused civilians. Automatic weapon fire and hand grenade explosions permeated the restless night. They were able to keep in touch with NWA security via an international cell phone. They got on a charter bus about 9am, and were transported to the hotel where my crew was located.
I?m now in AMS. I?ll be on a flight to civilization in another 3hrs. The two crewmembers stuck in the BOM hotel are still OK, but . still waiting to be rescued ... along with Lufthansa and Air France crews.
The above was a quick summary of what happened last night. I could get into a Lot more detail. But right now, there?s a shower with my name in it. __________________________________________________Misc. Emails Contributors: RE: RSP 148
Mark, Great RSP ! Loved the Raptor video and the military pics. The turkey brings back a LOT of bad memories !! Have a great Thanksgiving, and thanks for all that you do !! Bill+++++++++++++++++++++W-2 surchage question:Mark,Do you know of any way that I can get SSA to strike that W-2 payment from my record. That payment has caused both my wife and me to pay a surcharge for our Medicare. Not only did I get shorted on my stimulus check, but now I am paying more for Medicare because of it. I plan on calling SSA in the very near future, but don't know what attack plan to use. Do you have any suggestions? Robert Response: referred Bob to a former RSP that focused on this issue and than had a friend of mine respond below:Mark,
It's my understanding that the SSA looks at each years tax return and bases the surchargeon the last years return. So the surcharge should go away after this years return is filed. Iwould call SSA and make sure on that but I think I read that somewhere from somebodyelse with the same problem. I can't think that a lifetime of surcharges would result because of one years fluke income tax return.
As far as the shorted stimulus check, you and I both found out we can make that up onthis years return. Let me know if that helps and if not I'll research further. Hope you hada nice Thanksgiving.
Bob Yes, Mark, it is true the surcharge is only for one year. However, with both my wife and I that comes to $924 extra. I am not going to just rollover. I will keep you apprised of my quest. Keep us posted Bob.
_________________________________________________________
Commercial Section: Are your investments on an insane roller coaster?
Want to talk to someone sane about your portfolio?
Dial up INTEGRITAS and we'll give you some straight talk.
Call Mark at (859) 916-0259 or email [email protected] and I will direct you
to the best team member that can talk to you about your investments and retirement plan.
_____________________________________
How many people do you know use gas or electricity?
How many of them would like to pay less and earn travel rewards benefits too?
How would you like to collect monthly residual income on
every customer's monthly bill?
De-regulation in energy service industry has produced a very unique opportunity!
Click here to listen to a brief message
NY, TX, IL residents (OH in 2009)
(& soon many more states) can switch & save on utility bills.
email: [email protected]
+++++++++++++++++++++++
******************************Click for travel from cruises to
resorts. You'll find prices as low as anywhere on the net.Re-Newed Web site- Faster and Better!
Flights | Cars | Hotels | Cruises | Shore excursions | Vacations | Golf | Flowers | Tickets |
Concerts/Games
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you need SEO? What is it? Search Engine Optimization! If you have any online web business, than you need SEO. What does it do? It moves you up the rankings for a Google search. Any online business that lands in the first 3 searches or even the first page, will have dramatic improvements on hits and business. Contact my son Eric at Marketplace Earth, and he will hook you up.
Eric Sztanyo, SEO Specialist, Marketplace Earth, www.marketplaceearth.com ,[email protected] ,ofc://513-231-0637 ++++++++++++++++++++++ I never realized there were so many DAL authors. Thanks to Dave Roberts for this listing:
**CHRISTMAS SHOPPING**Hello all,When you're trying to decide what to buy for old "what's his name" for Christmas, ask him to select two or three books from this great list of BOOKS BY DELTA PILOT AUTHORS below, books that he would really like to read and have in his collection. You can find these at www.amazon.com or www.alibris.com, or preferably purchase them directly from the authors listed. You can have the author dedicate the book exactly as you wish when you buy it from them. You may want to forward this to your children and grand-children too.
Merry Christmas All,Dave
*******************************************
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This is the EIGHTH VERSION of a growing list of Delta Pilot Authors, Books About Delta Air Lines, Inc., and Books by Delta Pilot's Family Members. Version #7 was dated September 18, 2008. The newest books, those published in (2007 & later), have the copyright date in bold red font. A Replies & Comment section with additional information about the books and authors is an attachment below the list. We need biographical information on the authors....please. When they were hired, and for which airline originally, when they retired if applicable, where they were based, web sites, email addresses for those I don't have, et cetera. This list is a work in progress and your help is needed to add to these 44 published authors. Please send me the names of other Delta Pilots, or their family members, who have authored and published books along with the titles of their books.
REVIEWS OF THESE BOOKS ARE NEEDED. PLEASE SEND ME YOURS TO ADD TO THE REVIEW SECTION ATTACHED BELOW.
Many of the members of this email network are serious readers, and we like to know about Delta pilots who have written books. And you should know of other Delta Pilot authors more than anyone else.
Please send additions, and please make suggestions to improve this list. I will update it periodically. Thanks, Dave
>>
BOOKS BY DELTA PILOT AUTHORS # 8
Anderson, John Aubrey Black or White, (Broadman and Holman, 2005, 331 pages.) http://johnaubreyanderson.com/Anderson, John Aubrey Abiding Darkness, The Black or White Chronicles Book One (2006) Warner FaithAnderson, John Aubrey Book Two Wedgewood Grey (2007)Anderson, John Aubrey Book Three And If I Die (2007) http://www.johnaubreyanderson.blogspot.com/
Barr, James C. Airborne Weather Radar-A User's Guide Iowa State University Press(1993)
Bennett, Paul W. FLYING---A Look Back (1999), Hardback--stories about C&S and Delta. http://isbn.nu/0967421608/price/3.html
Blizzard, Dick An Eruption of Decadence (2006), http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~40183.aspx
Brantner, Robert M. My Year as an Alaskan Bush Pilot (2003) http://www.bobbrantner.coml
Couch, Tony "WATERCOLOR: You Can Do It!" (1987) "How to" Watercolor instruction bookCouch, Tony "Tony Couch's Keys to Successful Painting" (1992) Instruction book on design for painters
Crum, John "Unfriendly Skies" by Capt "X" and Reynolds Dodson (1989)
Dunn, Mike Sidewinder (1991) Dunn, Mike Task Force (1992) Dunn, Mike Quicksilver (1993) Dunn, Mike Bridge of No Return (1996)
Fay, Gerald W. From A-3 to A-10 (1988)
Ferrell, Mallory Hope Colorful East Broad Top, (1993) by Heimburger HouseFerrell, Mallory Hope THE SOUTH PARK LINE (2004) (Over 150 Links for "Mallory Hope Ferrell" at http://www.google.com)
Gandt, Robert L. China Clipper: The Age of the Great Flying Boats (1991) http://www.gandt.com/ Gandt, Robert L. Skygods: The Fall of Pan Am (1995) Gandt, Robert L. Bogeys and Bandits: The making of a Fighter Pilot (1997) Gandt, Robert L. Fly Low Fly Fast: Inside the Reno Air Races (1999) Gandt, Robert L. With Hostile Intent (2001) Gandt, Robert L. Acts of Vengeance (2002) Gandt, Robert L. Black Star (2003) Gandt, Robert L. Shadows of War (2004)Gandt, Robert L. The Killing Skies (2005)Gandt, Robert L. Black Star Rising (2007)Gandt, Robert L. Intrepid: The Epic Story of America's Most Legendary Warship... (2008)
Garrison, Kevin Clear Left, I'll Have the Chicken (An Airline Captain Looks at Life) (2006) http://www.kevincreates.comGarrison, Kevin So You're Dead -- A Novice's Guide to Non-Being (an E-book)
Gravino, Nicholas "A Pilot's Memoirs-From the Ground Up" (2008)
Gray, Steven R. Rampant Raider: An A-4 Skyhawk Pilot in Vietnam (2007)
Hopkins, Kendall, et al. WE PUSHED THE LIMITS – Reflections of Five Old Fighter Pilots (2005)
Hurley, C. D. "REVERIE" A Kaleidoscope of the Prose and Poetry in My Life (2004)Hurley, C. D. POT O' GOLD, Prose, Poetry and A Tale O'thu Sea (2005)Hurley, C. D. Squirrels And Quasars & Stuff (2007)
Ippolito, William Leaving on a Jet Plane (2002) http://www.leavingonajetplanebook.com/
Kerschner, Bill and Phyllis Plucky-Lucky Duck's Amazing Adventure, [Vantage Press, 2007)
Knott, Ron Trophies of Heaven (1995) http://www.godsguarantees.com/ Knott, Ron God's Guarantees for Giving (2002)
Koehn II, James J. and Werkema, Mark A. The Flight Before Christmas (2003)
Lawson, Archie B. View From the Cockpit: Looking Up (2004) http://www.viewfromthecockpit.com/
Lenker, Karl Final Trumpet (2008) http://talewindspress.com/
Mauldin, Bill State Troopers of America (2006) http://www.mauldin.net
McGinnis, Daryle D. The Skybrokers (2007)McGinnis, Daryle D. A Waterfall in a War (2007) McGinnis, Daryle D. And Then They Had a War (2008)McGinnis, Daryle D. Stewardess Stories (2006)
Morris, Gregory L. Candlestick Charting Explained (1992,1995)
Mudge, Robert W. Meteorology for Pilots (1945) Mudge, Robert W. Adventures of a Yellow Bird (1969), Hard back. A Northeast Airline History
Papadakis, M.P. Aircraft Accident Reconstruction and Litigation 1st ed (1996)- 623 pagesPapadakis, M.P. Aircraft Accident Reconstruction and Litigation 2nd ed (2000)Papadakis, M.P. Aircraft Accident Reconstruction and Litigation 3rd edition (2003) Papadakis, M.P. 4th edition planned 2009 Papadakis, M.P. Civil Trial Practice - Winning Technigues 792 pages (2000) Patterson, Robert 'Buzz' Dereliction of Duty: The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Endangered America's Long-Term National Security (2003) http://www.buzzpatterson.com/ Patterson, Robert 'Buzz' Reckless Disregard: How Liberal Democrats Undermine Our Military, Endanger Our Soldiers. and Jeopardize Our National Security (2004) Patterson, Robert 'Buzz' War Crimes: The Left's Campaign to Destroy the Military and Lose the War on Terror (2007)
Quilter, Charles J., U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf, 1990-1991: With the I Marine Expeditionary Force in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Washington: Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, History and Museums Division, GPO, (1993).Quilter, Charles J. and John Chapin, A History of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531. Washington: Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, History and Museums Division, GPO, (2001).
Rosenkranz, Keith Vipers In The Storm: Diary of a Gulf War Fighter Pilot (2002)
Ryder, Nicholas G. Ryder's Standard Geographic Reference, a satellite photo atlas of America
(1982)
Schwab, Allen High Performance IFR Flying (1982)
Severe, Errol The Last of a Breed. (1997).
Shettle, M.L. Jr. UNITED STATES NAVAL AIR STATIONS OF WORLD WAR II - Volume 1 Eastern States, Schaertel Publishing, 2000, many photos, 241 pgs. Shettle, M.L. Jr. UNITED STATES NAVAL AIR STATIONS OF WORLD WAR II - Volume 2 Western States Schaertel Publishing, 1997, many photos, 284 pgs. Shettle, M.L. Jr. UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AIR STATIONS OF WORLD WAR II, self-published, 2001, photos & history of each Marine Corps air station, 22 in all, many photos, 179 pgs. Shettle, M.L. Jr. Georgia's Army Air Fields of WW II - 140 pages, 213 photos. self-published. (2005)
Solohub, Roman T. Clear Thinking When Drinking: The Handbook for Responsible Alcohol Consumption (2007) http://www.thinkingwhendrinking.com/
Stannard, Louis China Diaries. (2004) www.chinadiaries.com
Sternstein, Ed From Takeoff to Landing (Everything You Want to Know About Flying but Have No One to Ask) (1991)
Stevens, Robert W. Alaskan Aviation History (Vol. I: 1897-1928)Stevens, Robert W. Alaskan Aviation History (Vol. II: 1929-1930)
Tripp, Bob Last Clear Chance (2008) http://www.bobtripp.com/
Vander Ende, Dirk Sting of Justice by Dirk Gerrit (pen name) (2005)
Vihlen, Hugo April Fool: Or, How I sailed from Casablanca to Florida in a six-foot boat (1971)Vihlen, Hugo The Stormy Voyage of Father's Day (1997)
Werkema, Mark A. On Fulcrum's Wings (2000)Werkema, Mark A. and Koehn II, James J. The Flight Before Christmas (2003)
Whitcomb, Darrel D. The Rescue of Bat 21 (1998)Whitcomb, Darrel D. Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm (2006)
Whitten, Louis G. Whitten's Flying Fables: How Not to Fly or How to Crash or How Not to Crash (1994).
>
BOOKS ABOUT DELTA AIR LINES, INC.Delta: The History of an Airline, by W. David Lewis and Wesley Phillips Newton (1979) A pictorial history.
Delta Air Lines: Debunking the Myth, by Sidney F. Davis (1989)
DELTA: The Illustrated History of A Major U.S. Airline And The People Who Made It, by
R.E.G. Davies (1990)
Delta Air Lines, by Geoff Jones (1998)
Delta Air Lines: 75 Years of Airline Excellence (Images of America), by Geoff Jones (2003)
Airline Without A Pilot - Leadership Lessons / Inside Story of Delta's Success, Decline and Bankruptcy, by Harry L. Nolan (2005),
Nolan’s book is an engaging history of Delta and its people. His focus is the company’s seven CEOs and the Board of Directors. In the book, he shows how the values and decisions of each one have impacted thousands of people for good or ill. His extensive research included in-depth interviews with 59 members of the “Delta family”; analysis of Delta annual reports and financial statements since its founding in 1929; dozens of media sources over the last 20 years. The book answers the questions about how Delta became successful; what caused the company’s decline; what Delta needs to do to emerge successfully from bankruptcy.
Bookwire Review – “At its core…a story of human drama and shocking corporate malfeasance…” “Nolan’s writing is refreshingly candid and unrestrained.” Amazon.com Customer Reviews: “Author GET'S IT `spot on', absorbing case study of Delta and its management” --- "The Best Business Book I Have Read”
Available at www.targetmarkbooks.com, www.amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Crew Outfitters (formerly Flight Station), Hudson airport stores and shops (ATL, ORD, DFW)
A portion of the proceeds from sale of the book are being donated to the Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum._______________________________________________________________
HUMOR/SOBERING/FUN Section: (Disclaimer: These are shared links. I cannot pass along attachments or images but hot links work well. All of the the links I pass along have been openned but none have been certified clean from problems. With a good anti-virus program you should be safe on all). An anonymous diatribe about a subject that most can relate too:
Cheap Bastards When my company hired me two decades ago, one of the first things I noticed about many of my fellow pilots was that they were cheap bastards. I consider this to be a compliment to my fellow aviators.
These pilots were not cheap when it came time to splitting the dinner bill, as they were all quite gracious in paying up. As a new guy, I had many meals and drinks bought for me by the captains I flew with. “I don’t want your money, just do this for your copilots when you’re a captain”, they would say. A friend of mine had one captain sternly make him take back the money he had just given the captain, for the prior evenings’ dinner bill. They were in the cockpit when the captain thrust the money back at the copilot and said, “Gxd damn it, I told you I didn’t want any fxckin money and when I say I don’t want your fxckin money, that means I don’t want your fxckin money! We have two more days of flying together dip shit and if I see one fxckin red cent come out of your pocket, I will cut your dic off and use it for a pitot tube!” A fraction of a second later the senior flight attendant burst into the cockpit and screamed, “Everything you just said went over the public address system, stop talking!” The captain had been resting his hands on the center
console, where the radio panels are. He had accidentally pushed the transmit button on the console, giving all 150 people on board a front row seat to his dialogue. He was mortified. Both pilots looked down the center aisle of the cabin and saw 300 eyeballs bulging out of people’s heads in disbelief. They had not left the gate yet, and had another four hours with these people. The captain performed an emotional Mea Culpa, hoping an offended passenger would not file a complaint.
Hotels offer a plethora of freebies that end up in the homes of pilots. There are soaps, shampoos, lotions, sewing kits, amenity kits, and other things of strategic value. On the nightstands in hotel rooms, there usually is a pad of stationary and a cheap pen. The stationary pads are commonly found in the cockpits, on the built in clipboards, but the pens are too valuable to leave behind. If there are free newspapers at the front desk, we are certain to take one. At some of the better hotels you can find a newspaper and a Wall Street Journal at the same time, major score.
There is the story of the pilot who finally sends his first child off to college. The young adult returns for the holidays and proceeds to tell the parents everything they have learned. The parents are told many things, but their child was most impressed by learning that most bars of soap are actually very big and shampoo comes in bottles that are bigger than their thumb. Being raised on hotel toiletries brought home by the student’s father, the young person was ignorant to this important part of life, only because the father, a pilot, was a cheap bastard.
Discounts and deals abound in the pilot world. Almost every airport eatery and hotel restaurant offers a percentage off of whatever we purchase to eat. There are coupons for free drinks or buffets. I have seen 50% off in some places, which none of us can pass up. I was at a coffee shop in a layover hotel recently, getting ready to head to the airport. The young woman working the counter got me my coffee and handed me two big chocolate chip cookies for free. Of course I shyly refused, but she insisted that I take the cookies. “You never know when you might get hungry”, She said. I was trying to smile and not drool at the same time. This treatment is not unusual. I was walking through the Cincinnati airport once, when a worker at the Mrs. Fields Cookies counter waved me over. “You can have all the left over cookies for five dollars”, the counter person said. I walked away with three bags of cookies and boasted about my good deal for weeks after. I had realized that the cookies kiosk was closing and instead of throwing the cookies away, they would offer them all at a price no pilot could refuse. I scored those bags of cookies several times but got so sick of them, that I eventually refused the good deal. The same thing happened in Buffalo New York one night. We were doing a turn around, so we were there for about an hour. I ran down to the cafeteria and ordered some wings. The man working the counter asked if I wanted extra wings. I said, “Sure, sounds good”. He brought out three large to go boxes of wings, mild, medium, and hot. We stuffed ourselves. When ordering a meal where the food is scooped up in a predetermined amount, the generous workers dishing out the food usually add a partial scoop more, smiling at us while they do it. I have never seen a pilot tell them to take it back.
There is a good chain of communication amongst pilots, allowing us to share the free things or good deals in our layover cities. A fellow pilot told me about free coffee at the hotel coffee shop in Boston. He said, “You have to be in uniform to get the free coffee”. I mentioned this to my copilot the evening we arrived at that hotel. The next morning I was in the lobby of the hotel studying the subway map. We had the entire day off and I was interested in visiting a museum. I was surprised to see the copilot walk by in his uniform, seven hours before we were to be picked up. He marched over to the coffee shop and picked up a free cup of
coffee, saving himself about $2.50. “You make me proud”, I said. He smiled, held up the free cup of Joe in a salute, and then proceeded to pick up a newspaper someone left on a chair. He went back to his room, drank free coffee and read a free paper. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I worked the Hawaiian operation for several years. Our layover hotel was at a gargantuan hotel complex with three, forty story towers. Through the grapevine, I had found out that the rooftop of every tower had a hot tub on it with an ice chest of soda next to it. Access to the rooftop was limited to the expensive business rooms on the upper floors. This was by no means a deterrent to us pilots. I discovered that if I took the elevator as high as I could go without using a room key, I could then take the stairwell up the remaining floors, to the rooftop. I was not interested in the hot tub, but drinking a free soda and taking in the incredible view from forty stories up, was great. I spent many hours up there over those years and never saw another person on that roof. On my way down one day I decided to take the elevator from the highest floor. As I walked towards the elevator I saw a door open to what looked like a lounge. I walked into the room and realized this was a suite converted into the business club lounge.
The suite was gorgeous, fronting the ocean, filled with food, drinks, newspapers, and a self-serve bar. The best part of this situation was realizing that there were no hotel employees in the room. I was alone with platters of food, free drinks, and 24 hours off. I settled in like I owned the joint. I left two hours later, only when another hotel guest entered the room. I went back many times, but one day, when I walked in, I saw a woman sitting behind a desk. “Good afternoon sir, can I assist you?” she said. I wanted to say, “Yeah, can you just go away from this good deal I have?” I remained calm and said, “I am trying to find my boss, and I was told to meet him here.”
“Oh, no problem, what is his name, I can look him up and contact him.” she said.
I was digging myself into a hole. I politely refused her help and left quickly. I could tell she was eyeing me suspiciously. When I got to the elevators, I turned around to smile at her. Next to every elevator were a big bowl of tropical fruit and a stack of newspapers. In an act of defiance, I picked up a papaya, a mango, and a Wall Street Journal while smiling. The elevator arrived quickly and I left. I called the front desk and asked when the business lounge was staffed. I was told that at 4:30 every afternoon, the business lounge was staffed. I had my answer. From then on I made sure I never spent time in that room after 3:00.
I spread the word about the rooftop and lounge to my fellow pilots. One of my fellow pilots brought his wife with him on a trip to Honolulu. He convinced the wife to go to the rooftop with him and sit in the hot tub. It was a beautiful night and they ended up having sex, then more sex, then running around the rooftop naked. Just as they were getting back to putting their clothes on, a security team came out onto the roof. Both parties were surprised as hell to see each other. The pilot apologized to the security team as he was putting his clothes on, grabbed a couple of free sodas and left with his humiliated and unhappy wife.
There was a time when most airlines served good food, especially in first class. I am allowed to sit in first class when I travel off duty. The pass system at my company allows me to travel unlimited times a year. Some years ago a pilot told me that over the weekend he took his wife and children on a flight that was a round trip flight to another city. He flew out on the first leg enjoying a nice lunch and free drinks in first class. They were on the ground for an hour before the same aircraft with the pilot and his family still on it, returned to its point of origin. He and his
family enjoyed a first class dinner on the way back, the children enjoying a few ice cream sundaes. That was how they spent their day and evening, enjoying free food, drinks, desserts, and movies. The monthly food bills were less than normal because the pilot was uncanny in his ability to be a cheap bastard.
Not that long ago I was riding to a hotel for a layover. Across the street from my hotel I saw a sign on the marquis of another hotel advertising free wireless Internet. My monthly schedule requests were due the next day and I needed Internet access to send my requests in. Instead of paying for the service in my hotel, I walked across the street that next morning to use the free Internet at the other hotel. I walked past the lobby and sat in a public area near a fireplace that had couches and coffee tables. As I was booting up my computer I saw a large urn of coffee across the room. “What the heck” I thought, it’s just a cup of coffee. I got up and fixed myself a large cup of coffee, just the way I like it. I was working on my computer with a solid Internet connection, drinking my coffee, when a hotel employee approached me. “Sir, the breakfast buffet is now open, would you like me to show you what we have this morning?” she said. Without the slightest hesitation, I said, “Why that would be great, thank you.”I proceeded to make myself a waffle, gather a plate of eggs and bacon, a glass of juice, and a container of strawberry banana yogurt. I was still there three hours later when they closed down the breakfast area. I was asked if I would like anything else, so I asked if I could take a snack to go. I have shared this nugget with many of the pilots I fly with and they too have enjoyed a scrumptious morning buffet, across the street.
This story could go on and on as there are endless examples of pilots being cheap bastards, but there is one last example I would like to share with you.
About 16 years ago, I was an engineer on the Boeing 727. The captain brought a bag onboard at the beginning of our trip. He handed me the paper bag and told me to put it in a safe place. When we got to our destination that night, he asked me for the bag. During our four-day trip, each day would start out the same, he would hand me the bag, I would put it out of harms way, and he would ask for it at the end of the day. On the last day, as he handed me the bag, I heard the clinking of glass. “Be careful with that,” he said. I asked him what was in the bag. He told me there were about ten light bulbs in the bag. I asked him why he carried all of these light bulbs around. He said to me, “I take the burned out light bulbs from home and exchange them with the working light bulbs in our hotel rooms.” I was at a loss for words, but I remember thinking that this guy is one cheap bastard! I am honored to be carrying his torch, twenty years later.
++++++++++++++++++++++Thanks Dave
An Obituary printed in the London Times........Interesting and sadly rather true
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, whohas been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. Hewill be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the
worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spendmore than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children,are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned butoverbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boycharged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspendedfrom school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired forreprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing thejob that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unrulychildren.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parentalconsent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but couldnot inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have anabortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live, as the churches became businesses;and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from aburglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed torealize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little inher lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, byhis wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son,Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;I Know My RightsI Want It NowSomeone Else Is To BlameI'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
_________________________________________________That all for this RSP issue! Until next time.
Tailwinds Always,Mark [email protected]"Airspeed, altitude, or brains; you always need at least two."
