I found an interesting web site...

[PurduePete]

...that someone put together which lists non-scheduled flights into and out of MSP (like diversions, ferry flights and charters).

http://www.mspupdate.com/chartsdiverts.htm

It should come as no surprise that Northwest is well represented on this list! 😀

 

[Kev3188]

Interesting site...Thanks for sharing the link. I wonder why they ran an A330 to ANC the other day?

P.S. Looking at the sports charters reminded me of how much I miss working the NBA charters...I still think getting rid of them was a foolish move.

 

[PurduePete]

You're welcome Kev.

Speaking of charter flights for professional sports teams, do you know if NW has any current agreements? A few days ago, I saw that the Local 33 web site had a blurb from the Lansing, MI paper saying that the Detriot Lions (whose players are unionized - NFLPA) will be using NW to fly to away games this season while there is an active strike against the airline :down: :down:

Also, according to the website that I referenced, the Minnesota Vikings will be chartering filghts on NW :down: :down:

 

[Kev3188]

I know we're carrying the Wisconsin Badgers football team on charters (the smaller teams, ie soccer, swimming, etc. fly on us using regular flights). Not sure about any other collegiate teams...

Professionally, I'm almost 100% positive that we're still flying the Packers around. I'm pretty sure that my beloved TPA Buccaneers are on us as well, though I may be mistaken. We're also still toting some hockey teams around during their season, but I can't remember which ones off the top of my head.

 

[Kev3188]

In an ironic twist, this appeared in today's NewsWire:

"NWA Operates NFL and College Football Charters

Northwest is operating charter flights this fall for six NFL teams that include the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals. Most flights are Saturday-Sunday operations using 757 and DC-10 aircraft. Northwest is no stranger to sports charters having flown NFL teams such as the Vikings, Lions and Packers for nearly four decades.

“Between the NFL and college football, sports charters account for approximately $13 million in annual revenue to Northwestâ€￾ said Bill Wernecke, manager – charter operations.

In addition to providing charter flights to the NFL, Northwest is operating college football charters this fall for 13 schools including Notre Dame, Michigan, Kansas State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, University of North Dakota, Mississippi Valley State, Drake, University of California – Berkeley and Western Illinois."

 

[PurduePete]

I'm disappointed that the unionized players on those NFL teams are using NW while us mechanics are still on strike. If it comes to pass, it sure would be a shame if the flight attendants chose some of those NFL flights for CHAOS, wouldn't it? 😉

 

[robbedagain]

that may be true until the teams expeience a typical SCAB AIR 10 hr wait on the plane after an emergence landing in the middle of noman's land!

 

[groundcontrol]

At least the PHL Eagles switched air carriers.
US Air is now the official carrier.
Good I don't have to look at SCAB Air signage at Lincoln Financial Field.

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

I'm disappointed that the unionized players on those NFL teams are using NW while us mechanics are still on strike. If it comes to pass, it sure would be a shame if the flight attendants chose some of those NFL flights for CHAOS, wouldn't it? 😉

Now THAT is a great idea!

Unfortunately white-collar unions (and I do consider the NFLPA white-collar) don't behave the same way as blue-collar unions.

And the vaunted Teamsters only care about their own dues-payers. Same with the pilots.

I heard Hoffa Jr on the radio this week bragging about organizing the ABX folks.

Its only all about the monthly dues....

 

[PurduePete]

UPDATE:

After hearing that NW was going to provide charter flights to NFL teams this season while its mechanics are on strike, I emailed AMFA National to see if they could make the unionized football players aware of our situation.

I want to share the courtesy copy that I just received of the letter that was sent to Gene Upshaw, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association:

Dear Mr. Upshaw,

The members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) have been on strike against Northwest Airlines for over 410 days. The reason for the strike is to protest Northwest’s outsourcing of their aircraft maintenance and the elimination of thousands of good American jobs. In 2001 Northwest employed over 9,000 skilled experienced union workers. Today, Northwest employs about 900 scabs who maintain Northwest’s fleet of aging aircraft. The rest of the jobs have been sent overseas to Singapore and China or the work is being done at non-union vendors in this country.

The Cardinals, Lions, Packers, Colts, and Vikings are all using Northwest for transporting NFLPA members.

As fellow union members we are certain you understand the importance of good union men and women sticking together and supporting each other. We ask that you exert whatever influence you have to stop the practice of using a scab airline to transport NFLPA members. There are many alternatives to Northwest Airlines. It is ironic that the one airline that is attempting to bust the unions and eliminate good American jobs is one of the ones that the NFL is using to transport players.

Thank you for your time and consideration of fellow union members who are struggling to maintain a strong and prosperous middleclass.

Respectfully,

Steve MacFarlane
AMFA Assistant National Director

I don't know how much good the letter will do, but now at least the players union knows what's going on at NW.

 

[groundcontrol]

excellent....

I do hope it has an effect.

 

[robbedagain]

i hope it has a great affect on them not to choose to fly on a junker but rather on another airline. good luck

 

[AMFAMAN]

UPDATE:

After hearing that NW was going to provide charter flights to NFL teams this season while its mechanics are on strike, I emailed AMFA National to see if they could make the unionized football players aware of our situation.

I want to share the courtesy copy that I just received of the letter that was sent to Gene Upshaw, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association:

I personally sent several e-mails to Gene Upshaw and followed up with phone calls to their office after witnessing the Eagles fly to DFW on NWA last season. I never got a response by e-mail from Upshaw, and their office would have no comment. I followed this up with e-mails to the Eagles addressed to the player reps about the situation, and to most of the nflpa departments heads of from the link below. I doubt it made any difference, but it's good to see that at least the Eagles stopped flying for this season. Next up goes the e-mails to Favre and the Packers, with links to the weekly emergency landings.

http://www.nflpa.org/Departments/Departments.aspx

Always got to question a labor leader who receives praise from management and the AFL-CIO.

"Gene shows the same level of ability at the NFLPA that he had shown on the field", said Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner of the NFL.

Serving as an AFL-CIO vice president, Upshaw has emerged as one of the most powerful labor leaders in America.

"Gene is a man of common decency who doesn't try to intimidate people. He has the sense of compassion that the great labor leaders all have", said L.A. AFL-CIO chief Bill Robertson.

 

[Kev3188]

It's too bad NW can't get it's house of cards in order; charters are nice for the bottom line (incremental revenue or not), and frankly, they're a lot of fun to work.

 

[Don Smith]

I personally sent several e-mails to Gene Upshaw and followed up with phone calls to their office after witnessing the Eagles fly to DFW on NWA last season. I never got a response by e-mail from Upshaw, and their office would have no comment. I followed this up with e-mails to the Eagles addressed to the player reps about the situation, and to most of the nflpa departments heads of from the link below. I doubt it made any difference, but it's good to see that at least the Eagles stopped flying for this season. Next up goes the e-mails to Favre and the Packers, with links to the weekly emergency landings.

http://www.nflpa.org/Departments/Departments.aspx

Always got to question a labor leader who receives praise from management and the AFL-CIO.

I sent emails to the QBs for each team and the team offices. We'll see...