Wikipedia reports these 25 year old warhorses are the oldest WB in Delta's fleet, routes are likely not the best, so apparently bidding by senior pilots isn't happening. As the article notes, seniority at a particular mainline carrier doesn't equate to flying experience - depending on Delta's demographics and training, shouldn't be a safety problem.

(Written on 01/27/2023)(Permalink)

I briefly invested and lost money in Ballard in the late 90s but recent developments have been encouraging, especially in Europe, though there's an ongoing US project with an informative video on Youtube. Beyond fuel cell engines, hydrogen can be efficiently manufactured at site from solar and other renewable electricity generation as a storage medium, effectively eliminating the need for massive expensive, dirty-mined lithium, etc. battery storage. The US video proposes existing car and truck fleet operators and even ordinary gasoline stations could add direct atmospheric hydrogen extraction on site without need for tanker truck delivery a new distribution infrastructure.

(Written on 12/02/2022)(Permalink)

Since Ontario's election campaign the official policy is for everybody to run out and get Omicron as often as they like, anybody doubting that can wear their own masks. Apart from their loutish behaviour, had to laugh at the noisy sniveling of truckers who stop their rigs at empty intersections every day only because a fascist government put a red light there.

(Written on 09/30/2022)(Permalink)

Apart from the crash, the described limitations of the aircraft and munitions it carries helps explain how little help Russia's greater air power has been against Ukrainian land forces - these things cannot chase after or reliably target the HIMARs or various mobile howitzers as might have been expected.

(Written on 09/16/2022)(Permalink)

Would these be the same satellite guidance systems they would use for their nuclear-armed ICBMs?

(Written on 05/13/2022)(Permalink)

Unionized FAs bid their schedules on a seniority-based selection system that's nearly as sophisticated, with less but still wide disparity in pay for hours / days, as that of unionized pilots. These changes would likely be much higher priority for more recent lower-paid hires who do the higher turnaround schedules or as a recruitment aid given the pandemic impacts on the appeal of these jobs in a challenging environment. More likely a subtle recalibration of total compensation than a tub-thumping issue of labor justice.

(Written on 04/29/2022)(Permalink)

Had a vague recollection, web search confirms Canada's federal govt has restricted 5G deployment around airports because of the altimeter interference question. Telecoms are the unhappy ones here. May turn into another "airplane mode" controversy with public uncertainty and regulators erring on the side of caution.

(Written on 12/10/2021)(Permalink)

Sorry boys, but odds are 50-50 for another serious winter lockdown caused by unvaxxed clogging of medical facilities for all purposes after the holidays. In that scenario the vaxxed majority is going to lose all remaining patience with providing the unvaxxed with anything at all.

(Written on 11/12/2021)(Permalink)

I'm increasingly coming to the view that with full public disclosure, all services including transportation and medical care should be open but segregated: let unvaxxed pilots and cabin crew fly unvaxxed passengers only, and keep services and facilities for the vaccinated strictly controlled to minimize exposure. Over the next year or so the unvaxxed will get infected, survive to natural immunity or die, I'm easy about both outcomes.

(Written on 11/12/2021)(Permalink)

There will be commercial consequences, this winter at least, for publicly self-identifying as "the anti-vaxxer airline". The more travelers who choose it, the cleaner the air on the mandate-abiding carriers. Just let everybody know, and let the chips fall where they may.

(Written on 10/15/2021)(Permalink)