Comments on: The “D” in “DC-9″ stands for “delay” http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/17/the-d-in-dc-9-stands-for-delay/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:21:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=6818 By: Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Short hops — January 22, 2007 — Danger! Danger! Edition — Dangerous flights, hotels, and t-shirts http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/17/the-d-in-dc-9-stands-for-delay/#comment-693 Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Short hops — January 22, 2007 — Danger! Danger! Edition — Dangerous flights, hotels, and t-shirts Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:16:42 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/17/the-d-in-dc-9-stands-for-delay/#comment-693 [...] Dangerous flight: Plane aborts takeoff, skids off runway A Northwest DC-9 went off the runway in Milwaukee after pilots “discontinued takeoff” thanks to an engine problem. No one was hurt. An engine problem? On a Northwest DC-9? A plane that hasn’t been built since 1982, yet is still the workhorse of Northwest’s operation? Unheard of!… [...] […] Dangerous flight: Plane aborts takeoff, skids off runway A Northwest DC-9 went off the runway in Milwaukee after pilots “discontinued takeoff” thanks to an engine problem. No one was hurt. An engine problem? On a Northwest DC-9? A plane that hasn’t been built since 1982, yet is still the workhorse of Northwest’s operation? Unheard of!… […]

]]> By: Jason http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/17/the-d-in-dc-9-stands-for-delay/#comment-198 Jason Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:15:00 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/17/the-d-in-dc-9-stands-for-delay/#comment-198 While this appears to be a telling statistic it is lacking some validity. What routes where these aircraft on? Did the author just use verified mechanical delays in the calculations or did the numbers include all delays? If it included all delays it is likely that some of the delay time can be attributed to weather. There needs to be more explaination of the numbers behind the findings! As the author points out, Northwest is replacing its fleet, but they certainly don't have the capital to buy a closer delivery date from Airbus. I'm suprised that they have the capital to purchase any new aircraft period. While this appears to be a telling statistic it is lacking some validity. What routes where these aircraft on? Did the author just use verified mechanical delays in the calculations or did the numbers include all delays? If it included all delays it is likely that some of the delay time can be attributed to weather. There needs to be more explaination of the numbers behind the findings!

As the author points out, Northwest is replacing its fleet, but they certainly don’t have the capital to buy a closer delivery date from Airbus. I’m suprised that they have the capital to purchase any new aircraft period.

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