Hey
Mark,
I hope this finds you
well and healthy. I still look forward to reading your PCN High Life.
I was changing
computers, going through old files and found this file.I was to give this
speech to our Golden Wings Pilots. It is a derivative from the presentation I
gave to the B-727 Training Dept family in December 2014. I cannot recall giving
this speech in 2015, but it does bring back a lot of memories. It may be
appropriate for some of the old guys to read and remember. It should be read as
if I was at a podium delivering it as a speech.
Stay healthy, stay
safe and be blessed.
Tony Papandrea, Capt
DAL (Ret)
In God I Trust
Life is Good
I was asked by George Blosser and
Steve Underwood to give a short presentation last December (2014) to a reunion
of a fine group of Delta B-727 Training Department people. From there
Julian Black asked me to expand a little on that and address the Delta Golden
Wings. I know the people who have made presentations from this podium
before me –and I am honored and humbled to follow them.
The path to the future is to embrace the past – here we are in the future and I would like to set the clock back. Look at the past.
I remember coming to work in January 1969. As I look back on my career with Delta which ended in 1996, I am taken back to my first ride on a Delta airplane. It was on a DC-9 jump seat with Rollin Jackson as Captain. We formed a bond that day which has survived all these years.
How many of us have formed those sort
of permanent friendships over the years. Isn’t that why we are here?
I’d like to talk a minute or two to
talk about people, things and memories.
Talk some about Delta – Focus on the
Training Dept.
Talk about airplanes and the 727
Program in particular.
Take a walk with me in your data bank
of memories:
I might not mention everything in
order, or everyone – you fill in the blanks as we go along……………
January 1969 Class A-69. My seniority # was in the mid 1200’s. +
Let me mention some
names: Charlie Dolson was President in ‘69, followed by WT Beebe and then
of course Dave Garrett. I’ll stop there. Pre Ball was VP, Herb Farnsworth
was chief Pilot.
The only prop plane on the property was the CV-440. Oh and yes – who could forget the L-100. Nah, hauling cargo would never make any profit.
They sent me to be an Engineer on the CV-880. How was that for a hot shot Navy Pilot? Then I met Gene Raymond of the FAA.
The Training Dept was in the basement of Hangar 1 – They had a Link Trainer – I remember Captain Hank Frese was the boss – and Lee McBride – and real Training Flights. I remember names like Greer Parramore – Dick Gillette, Sleepy Joe Watson – and a Class act, Charlie Greene; there were so many more. Who do you remember
1.
2.
3.
The 70’s brought in a period of
growth. Along came the DC-10; L-1011; B-747 – We were proud of our
“widget”.
The B-727 came with the Northeast
Merger in 1972 ……..really? a Boeing at Delta??? But it also brought us Pat
Malone a recall of our furloughed pilots and a delay in making
Captain.
We had ladies in the cockpit – Joy Walker, Connie Bowlin, later Kathy Jacon broke the barrier and came into the Training Dept.
1978 brought deregulation and an ATL
to London International route. More growth.
Meanwhile the Training Dept moved out to Greenbriar – remember Curly Vollrath – George Duncan, Buren Knopps – H Averitt was boss followed by John Ellington, – Rocky Bailey was a fixture and – Bill Doonan 727 PM. Times were good!
’82 Spirit of Delta – we actually bought them an airplane, a B-757!
Skip to the mid 80’s. August 1985, 191 crashed in Dallas – sent up a warning flag. We merged with Western in 87 and in August 1988, Flt 1141 crashed in Dallas. I was PM on the B-727 and while driving to work I heard of 1141 on Neil Bortzs’ radio program. Delta needed help.
They built OCI. – we were big time - 10 Simulator Bays – and a new org chart for Flight OPS. Harry Alger, Reuben Black at the top. A new Standards Department with a fine Italian gentleman as the leader – Nick Gentile. Flight Training was headed by Jay Whitehead.
Do you remember:
90 New hires a month -
Single Visit – CRM - The FAA – Dr Longridge from Washington, Bill
Dubis, 9400.10 – Data collection – Danny O’Harrow? -
The B-727 Program bought the first computer in Flight OPS -
$20 each from our 57 instructors. And we were on our way. Rocky Bailey,
Steve Howell – Lee Tysinger – the FIG – Bob Strachan and Jack Volkel opening
Juneau - we survived ourselves and the Western Merger – Somehow we integrated
those Western Cowboys and our Delta Good Old Boys to turn us into a great
airline.
Shortly after OCII was finished, I – I remember sitting on the
lobby stairs giving a presentation to a group of retired Delta Pilots touring
our new facility – pilots like Norman Topshe, Dana Jones, Hal Sumner. I thanked
them for their legacy. That was 25 years ago – and here we are
today.
Airplanes and pilots:
Let me read something written by
Ernest Hemmingway:
“You love a lot of things if you live
around them. But there isn’t any woman and there isn’t any horse before, nor
after, that is as lovely as a great airplane. And men who love them are
faithful to them even though they leave them for others, but that is where his
heart will forever be.” In my opinion, he was writing about the
B-727 years before it was built but each of you can apply it to your
favorite.
Spoilers in the detent, flaps to 15, stabilizer set, r&a trim, airspeed and EPR bugs – and off we go – but wait, I forgot the Pitot Heat - because someone else did and iced up.
Remember when anything
happened: “aw crap – protect essential”
Then along came Pan AM in ‘92 – the true aristocrats of aviation. We inherited some fine people and aviators as we moved toward the millennium.
Looking back, we integrated all of that into the most
professional, safest airline in the world – as it is today. Back in the day 25
years ago, our Line Pilots, the Training Dept and the B-727 Program passed a
NAISIP Inspection – with no negative comments. I guess they didn’t believe it
the first time for the Training Dept and came back for seconds a year
later. Same result – damn near perfect.
We Delta Pilots, and its Training Department overcame every
challenge thrown at us. Whether it was from management, leadership “across the
street” or the 4th Floor. We never lost sight of our mission – and in
the process have created a lasting brotherhood – and yes, sisterhood.
That mission always was and still is:
Service to the Line Pilot held to the highest standards.
To the Training Department, the B-727 Program and her
Instructors,
I salute you – To the Delta Line Pilot – the finest in the
world,
It is still one hell of a ride!
By Tony Papandrea
2015
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