[Lexy]

Well here she is parked at the gate overnight here @ BNA last night. The airport operations supervisor and I, along with my wife and a few fellow photogs, climbed onto the airport terminal roof to get this shot of it.

It formerly served as a corporate jet for Ford Motor Company, but was bought by WN and is now in their hybrid colors awaiting the holiday rush to slow down so it can enter the paint booths in Dallas.

N271LV
http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/72022439/original.jpg

[urbanflyer]

when are they going to stick on the blended winglets? ;)

this shot is a sure-fire a.net winner!

[Lexy]

when are they going to stick on the blended winglets? ;)

this shot is a sure-fire a.net winner!


You know, I don't know when it is scheduled to go into maintenance to get its winglets and paint job, but I heard from a WN higher up that it is after the Christmas season and before the vacation rush. That is especially why it is like a crapshoot to get pictures of it now while it still has its Ford livery. Supposedly, there is another one similar to this one floating around their routing system somewhere.

[alexjon]

I like the slightly overexposed C4 light

[WonderlandPark]

Just curious, what do you do that in this day of uber-security that can get you on the roof of a major airport to shoot some pics?

[Lexy]

Just curious, what do you do that in this day of uber-security that can get you on the roof of a major airport to shoot some pics?

I am a member of a large group of photographers here in Nashville. We are called the Nashville Aviation Photographers and we have "members" that range from scheduling agents for Evergreen Air in Arizona to one of the Airport Operations Supervisors @ Nashville International Airport. We usually can get out on the field for special arrivals, typical daily operations, or overnights to get pictures. Go to www.airliners.net or www.jetphotos.net and search "KBNA" and it will show you a bunch of what we got. You can also check out my website which is listed in my signature line for even more shots I have gotten this year.

It is important to note that we do have to clear security before going out on the field. Just as a passneger would have to clear before boarding an airplane.

[Lexy]

I like the slightly overexposed C4 light

I don't know what that has to do with anything on here, but okay. You try white balancing a camera on a dark cold roof with nothing white on or around you, and in a hurry. LOL!!!

[DallasTexan]

Cold? Maybe here in Nashville!

I just walked through C4 not 2 hours ago ;)

[Lexy]

Cold? Maybe here in Nashville!

I just walked through C4 not 2 hours ago ;)

Yeah, last night it was cold and damp outside. We took that shot around 1am and to be honest, the wind was howling on the roof and it was terribly raw feeling outside. We later retreated down into D concourse to grab a quick drink and stop off in the bathroom before continuing on.

[DallasTexan]

boo hoo, I live in Buffalo. It's not cold here in Nashville :D

[Daquan13]

Well here she is parked at the gate overnight here @ BNA last night. The airport operations supervisor and I, along with my wife and a few fellow photogs, climbed onto the airport terminal roof to get this shot of it.

It formerly served as a corporate jet for Ford Motor Company, but was bought by WN and is now in their hybrid colors awaiting the holiday rush to slow down so it can enter the paint booths in Dallas.

N271LV
http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/72022439/original.jpg


You're right!!

That's Boeing's old house colors before they switched to the present one.
Indeed, it was a rush paint job!

[urbanflyer]

well, not quite...

http://matthieu.papin.free.fr/french/Aeronautique/infos/images/Boeing%20747-400.jpg

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/jetliner/b777/b777_01.jpg

[tuy]

It is interesting that Southwest is buying used equipment. They must be wanting to grow their fleet faster than the delivery schedule from Boeing.

[Daquan13]

Yeah, what varient is that anyway?

Didn't think it was a new one.

[urbanflyer]

It's a 737-705, first flight date of 9/3/98. Previously owned by Braathens before Ford.

[Daquan13]

That's not too old - only eight years.

Still looks to be in mint condition.

[urbanflyer]

Probably wasn't used very much while flown for the Ford company.

[Daquan13]

Was it a business jet (BBJ) when Ford had it?

Looks like it might have been one.

[urbanflyer]

No, it was delivered new as a standard pax model to Braathens, a Norwegian budget carrier.

[Capt AWACS]

It is interesting that Southwest is buying used equipment. They must be wanting to grow their fleet faster than the delivery schedule from Boeing.

Boeing wouldn't bump up slots for them so Boeing sent them to Ford who wanted to dump the two big planes.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, The Captain formerly known as Lieutenant

[Lexy]

It is interesting that Southwest is buying used equipment. They must be wanting to grow their fleet faster than the delivery schedule from Boeing.

Their expansion versus equipment ratio isn't at the most comfortable levels and with them. They are expanding Philly and Denver rapidly, so they need all the extra a/c they can get.

[sammyk]

I don't think Southwest has ever been averse to buying used equipment to meet their capacity needs as long as it meets their specs/requirements.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Put on the damn winglets and repaint it canyon blue! :tup:

[Lexy]

Put on the damn winglets and repaint it canyon blue! :tup:

LOL! After the first of the year it's scheduled to get both of those PLUS a heads-up display for the pilots!

[DallasTexan]

Yay, I'm sitting at C20 right now getting ready to get on the BNA-CLE flight.

It's so full, too! 30 out of 137 seats are sold... how will I ever have any room to move around?

;)

[Policy Wonk]

Southwest has a number of second-hand 737's in their fleet, most of them 737-300's that either came from American Airlines after their merger with AirCal. or are one-off's like a 737-300 that was opperated briefly by Canadian Pacific. I think they also picked up the entire Western Pacific fleet when they folded.

Apprently WN is in talks with Easyjet about buying their entire 737 fleet.

[Lexy]

Yay, I'm sitting at C20 right now getting ready to get on the BNA-CLE flight.

It's so full, too! 30 out of 137 seats are sold... how will I ever have any room to move around?

;)


Surely there are more that will sell? LOL!! Seems like BNA-CLE has more demand on CO Express than WN these days.

[DallasTexan]

Well, we on 1532 ended up flying with 29 out of 137 booked... and arrived into CLE 10 minutes early.

[JMancuso]

i want a 737. i wonder if boeing would give me a good trade in for my 1997 ford ranger. it has low miles and sirius satellite radio.

[urbanflyer]

can ya handle the gas bill? she gets about 0.075 miles to the gallon :tup:

[Daquan13]

Not to mention the fact that he has to hire a captain and copilot to fly the plane. Also, one or two attendants to wait on the passengers if it's going to be used as a business jet. Haha!!

[Lexy]

Not to mention the fact that he has to hire a captain and copilot to fly the plane. Also, one or two attendants to wait on the passengers if it's going to be used as a business jet. Haha!!


Screw that! LOL!! Take a row of seats out and just put in a buffet man. That's high-rollin' right there!! LOL!!!!

[DallasTexan]

i want a 737. i wonder if boeing would give me a good trade in for my 1997 ford ranger. it has low miles and sirius satellite radio.


Although I would take a new Southwest 737-700 as my own, I would much rather have a 727-200, an L-1011, or a 707 to call my own :D

[Daquan13]

Actor John Travolta has a 707.

And he also flies it!

[Lexy]

Actor John Travolta has a 707.

And he also flies it!

He's quite the pilot too! I would love to fly with him on that Quantas 707.

[Daquan13]

That's about the only Boeing jetliner that I haven't flown on. That one and the 777.

But the 777 is STILL in production and in use, so hopefully someday, maybe I'll get to fly on one from Chicago to Honolulu.

[Lexy]

That's about the only Boeing jetliner that I haven't flown on. That one and the 777.

But the 777 is STILL in production and in use, so hopefully someday, maybe I'll get to fly on one from Chicago to Honolulu.


Yeah the 777 is one of many that I want to fly on before I stop flying late in my life. LOL!!!


Being here in Nashville, you really haven't got much choice unless you are flying abroad. Typically, our airport sees 737's, A319's, A320's, DC-9's, 757's, or ERJ/CRJ's the most. We have one flight a day on a 747-400, but it's a cargo flight to Taiwan. I obviously can't jumpseat on it because it's a cargo flight and it stopsover in Alaska, and I have no desire to go to Alaska just yet. LOL!! Pkus, I don't believe China Airlines Cargo does jumpseating like FedEx and others do.

[urbanflyer]

ORD-HNL? How boring. To do a 777 properly you need to go international.

[Daquan13]

ORD-HNL? How boring. To do a 777 properly you need to go international.



Well, it's a 9-hour flight. And to fly from Boston, New York or Washington to London is at least 7 hours.

I flew the ORD-HNL route three times, the first time on a DC-10 and the 2nd & 3rd time on a 747.

Yes Lexy, it's like that in Boston also. The larger craft like the A-330, A-340,
777 and 747 mainly fly overseas to london, Germany and Amsterdam.

I think Alitalia still uses a 767-300 or -300ER on its Boton-to-Italy route.

The smaller planes from the 757 down, and somtimes the 767, operate within the USA.

Iceland Air uses a 757 on its Boston-Iceland route.

[urbanflyer]

well thankfully we have more 777s here in Asia than you can shake a stick at.

[Daquan13]

I thought you lived in the USA.

But I think that's mainly because the Asian airlines are buying up 777s left and right from Boeing or are leasing tons of them from leasing co's.

They're doing the same thing with the 787 Dramliner as well.

[Capt AWACS]

Most were new build 777. There are not to many 777s on the market at the moment and the demand is high. Continental alone wants 3-4 more and can't find them.

Having done all the Boeing 7 series the 707 and E-3 are still my favourite with most 777-300 configs a close second. When I fly to America most Euro routes are 757 and 767, which is not a bad thing per se but the jumbo magic is gone :(

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Honk if you love Capt-AWACS

[Lexy]

Ahh, remember the old PanAm routes to Europe on the 742's?

[DallasTexan]

Well, I did the return CLE-BNA flight last night... only 40 people to Nashville. I enjoy these spacious flights.

I'm anxious to see how full the BNA-BHM flight I'm on is today.

[Daquan13]

Ahh, remember the old PanAm routes to Europe on the 742's?



Those routes got sold to United, didn't they?

I think I remember United buying up a bunch of routes from them, along with two or more L-1011s.:shrug:

[Lexy]

Those routes got sold to United, didn't they?

I think I remember United buying up a bunch of routes from them, along with two or more L-1011s.:shrug:


Yes sir they did. They now fly those flights out of ORD I believe, well what used to be those flights I assume.

Justin, you have to love those flights that are spacious, but keep in mind the time of the season you are flying too. Most people have returned home after the holidays. That may play some into the low numbers for those flights. As far as I know, operations out at the airport have now returned to pre-holiday levels.

[DallasTexan]

I thought people just didn't want to go to Cleveland :D

The BNA-BHM flight is usually *packed* so I probably won't have any room when I get on the plane in a couple hours.

[Lexy]

I thought people just didn't want to go to Cleveland :D

The BNA-BHM flight is usually *packed* so I probably won't have any room when I get on the plane in a couple hours.

It should be, that continues on to New Orleans. That's an odd flight too. BNA has direct, NON-STOP service to New Orleans and then the BHM flight continues on the New Orleans as well. How bizzare is that?

[DallasTexan]

SWA routed my mom through BHM when she met me down in Tampa a few months ago when I was on a business trip.

They do the same thing for flights to Orlando, Jacksonville, and several other Florida cities for flights originating in BNA as well. Weeeeird.

I myself prefer the nonstops, but hey, whatever gets ya there :D

[Lexy]

SWA routed my mom through BHM when she met me down in Tampa a few months ago when I was on a business trip.

They do the same thing for flights to Orlando, Jacksonville, and several other Florida cities for flights originating in BNA as well. Weeeeird.

I myself prefer the nonstops, but hey, whatever gets ya there :D

I know that BNA is a "hub" (or Focus City, how ever you want to call it) for them in the southeast, but I never realized how many flights actually connect here in Nashville for people from places like Jacksonville and Raleigh for example.

[DallasTexan]

I just wish we'd get a nonstop BNA-BUF route. There's nonstop from BNA to eveywhere else, so why not Buffalo? It'd make my life a lot easier. lol

[Lexy]

Well, there is currently a discussion on airliners.net about the lack of service Southwest has from here. Honestly, Nashville is underserved by Southwest and they know it. Too bad they aren't "man enough" to change it. LOL!!!

[Daquan13]

On the cable network channel that airs Airline, it's mainly about Southwest,
and from what I was watching on it, people who have flown it say that it's the worst airline around because they don't give a crap about the passengers and they're often treated like crap.

[urbanflyer]

Southwest is great, never had a problem. Then again, they have a tremendous presence on the west coast. As an ex-UA employee, it's still hard to give them that credit but they've certainly proved their mettle time and again for three decades.

The plain truth is that passengers are often idiots. They expect all kinds of service from their rock bottom $79 fare and think airlines and pilots should be able to control the weather, ATC, the FAA, and whatever else have you. US carriers certainly have a bad rep because they lie to their customers too often in those situations but it does get pretty ugly in the trenches...sometimes it's hard to blame them.

At any rate daq, I live in Japan...left the US awhile back now.

Lexy, hope BNA gets more WN metal soon :)

[brian_b]

On the cable network channel that airs Airline, it's mainly about Southwest,
and from what I was watching on it, people who have flown it say that it's the worst airline around because they don't give a crap about the passengers and they're often treated like crap.

I think most people that don't like Southwest don't like them because of the boarding process and no reserved seating. Their customer service is pretty good from my experience.

I did have an incident with them once and wrote a letter to them. They responded quickly with an apology, a personal booking agent, and a $500 credit to use with the personal booking agent.

You know, at certain times of the day if you take the train out to one of the Chicago airports your train car can be mostly pilots & crew, TSA, and other airport employees. After hearing many of them talk, Southwest appears to be a target employer for a lot of the pilots. Interesting, eh?

[Lexy]

Southwest appears to be a target employer for a lot of the pilots. Interesting, eh?


Unless you have tenure as a ramp agent for a Legacy carrier, ask any ramp worker and they will agree. Southwest ramp workers are treated, for the most part, like gold. I have heard the same as you have about the work experience for them.

[Policy Wonk]

I love them, but the boarding system at Southwest is a disaster - and odds are pretty good you will get stuck next to a member of a white trash family who got broken up in the process and is screaming at one another across the plane.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Southwest has by far the best customer service of any airline I've encountered, and I continue to fly with them despite the numerous and insufferably long delays I've encountered on my SoCal-PHX routes over the years.

And I love flying with "white trash." It makes the flights that much more entertaining.

Then again, I'm from Ohio, so that might explain that.

[Lexy]

Then again, I'm from Ohio, so that might explain that.

Ohio doesn't have White Trash? LOL!! Serisouly though, WN isn't that bad if you just want to save some cash and get to where you need to go fairly quick.

[Policy Wonk]

I just wish they had more direct service out of SNA - although I understand all too well that the newport beach assholes have put an end to that posibility for the forseeable future.

Give me SNA-SEA and I will personally deliver them the head of Jim Wright!

[Lexy]

Give me SNA-SEA and I will personally deliver them the head of Jim Wright!

LOL!!!:tup:

Contrary to what most people believe, Southwest operates hubs across the nation.

Those "hubs" would be:
Las Vegas
Chicago
Phoenix
Dallas
Baltimore
Orlando
Nashville


These are the cities with the most CONNECTING traffic coupled with the best O&D numbers for Southwest.

[SoCal Alan]

I just wish they had more direct service out of SNA - although I understand all too well that the newport beach assholes have put an end to that posibility for the forseeable future.

I take it you don't own a home and are living directly under or near the flight path of SNA departures?

[Policy Wonk]

As a matter of fact I live directly under the extended center-line of the runway of a major airport, close enough to read the N numbers with the naked eye. And the only planes that I so much as notice from inside the house are the 727 freighters, the odd military hercules and old clunker 1970's private jets.

SNA has been the site of an airport since 1923, find me a resident who has been there since 1923 and I will hear them out. When SNA developed into what it is today it was surrounded by orchards and cows who periodically got on the runway.

A decade from now the only way into Southern California by air will probably be parachute. Unless the NIMBY's get a serious ass-kicking.

The pending development of El Toro is nothing short of criminal given the looming airport crisis in Southern California. What are you guys going to do when LAX can't absorb any more traffic? Reflect on how nice and quite it is?

[urbanflyer]

Lexy - left one city off that list. OAK is also critical to the WN system.

[SoCal Alan]

SNA was flying commercial jets since 1923? Don't think so.

I signed up for the number of passenger flights that was flying out of SNA when I bought my home 10 years ago. Approximately 7 million passengers per year. I could live with that. It is now almost 10 million. Should I continue to accept more, lets say 12, 16, 20 million? Should we expand and handle 25 to 35 million?

I fully supported the El Toro airport project 25 to 35 million capacity. 10,000 foot runways compared to the 5700 at John Wayne. John Wayne is on 400 acres with no buffer zones. El Toro had 4000 with buffer zones. Don't quote me on the exact numbers.

So, maybe we should handle the problem by flying takeoff patterns directly over your house. Give me an f'ing break.

[Policy Wonk]

SNA got commercial jet service in 1963 and the planes flying out of SNA today are quiter today than they ever have been.

I get planes flying over my house all day - the only ones I notice are military, old cessna citations and 727's.

If the issue is noise, lets address noise. If you want to cut noise at SNA kick out the old private jet aircraft. But then I suspect the same assholes from newport beach who can't stand a 737NG that is barely noticable by the time it reaches them will probably cry communism or what not.

The loudest commercial aircraft you guys get is a handful of American MD-80's. There are few airports on earth that get as much accomodation of noise restriction as SNA does and still you complain.

and I bet you will blame the airlines a decade from now when it costs $800 to fly to San Francisco.

[urbanflyer]

Should I continue to accept more, lets say 12, 16, 20 million? Should we expand and handle 25 to 35 million?

That last sentence is alarmist straw man garbage and it has been recycled by airport NIMBYs from Dulles to O'Hare. Thing is SNA doesn't have anywhere near the potential for expansion the aforementioned facilities do.

If you want to cut noise at SNA kick out the old private jet aircraft. But then I suspect the same assholes from newport beach who can't stand a 737NG that is barely noticable by the time it reaches them will probably cry communism or what not.

Barely noticable because the airlines have agreed for years to a departure procedure that stretches the margin of safety to thin as ice levels (still don't know how the FAA approved that one). Getting rid of GA jets would be a great start except that they have nowhere to go (LGB is NIMBY land too) thanks to OC voters and stupidvisors time and again.

[Policy Wonk]

Don't you know the old socal mantra? they can go to LAX!

I don't really think they should go anywhere, I think the locals should suck it up or move to the middle of the desert. Or perhaps somewhere where the only air service is a Beech 1900D three times a week to Boise. What they should really do is build an international airport at El Toro, a once in a century oppertunity - but alas they won't.

If I had my way I would round up every airworthy DC-8 with its original engines and run a shuttle service every 15 minutes between SNA and LGB 24 hours a day.

[SoCal Alan]

So where do you live, Policy Wonk?

[urbanflyer]

Well the other way to go is complete NIMBY pacification, as has been done here in Japan. EVERY new airport can be a multibillion dollar pork project in the form of an offshore island :tup:

[SoCal Alan]

That last sentence is alarmist straw man garbage and it has been recycled by airport NIMBYs from Dulles to O'Hare. Thing is SNA doesn't have anywhere near the potential for expansion the aforementioned facilities do.

So, if this was a straw man argument, then you would be against any plan to utilize a second runway for commercial use, or to extend the current runway(s), or to remove or lessen the curfew hours correct?

Barely noticable because the airlines have agreed for years to a departure procedure that stretches the margin of safety to thin as ice levels (still don't know how the FAA approved that one). Getting rid of GA jets would be a great start except that they have nowhere to go (LGB is NIMBY land too) thanks to OC voters and stupidvisors time and again.

So, where in Newport did you live in to make the statement that the noise is "barely noticeable". I live as close to the beach, and as far away from the end of the runways as possible and I can really hear how loud the jet engine noise is. Then again, you live in Japan now so who really cares, huh? :)

[urbanflyer]

then you would be against any plan to utilize a second runway for commercial use, or to extend the current runway(s), or to remove or lessen the curfew hours correct?

extending the current runways is impossible. utilizing runway 19L/1R for commercial use wouldn't be feasible due to current runway separation safety standards. curfew hours have always been an acceptable compromise as much as operators despise them. so yes, I don't see any reason to oppose these existing limitations.

So, where in Newport did you live in to make the statement that the noise is "barely noticeable".

Living in Newport isn't a dependent variable for opining on this matter. I've been in Newport enough to get an idea of the noise and I've lived near the busiest GA airport in the world (Van Nuys). I have background in both land use planning and aviation so the data available regarding the noise footprints around SNA is easily digestible. You have neighbors who were around when traffic was half what it is now but 727s and 737-200s were the regular visitors to the facility. You are fortunate to hear the little noise overhead that you do now. The loudest and most frequent violators of noise procedures at SNA are still local community members who use business jets that are barely stage III compliant and have no qualms with paying the penalty fees for their convenience.

[Capt AWACS]

LOL!!!:tup:

Contrary to what most people believe, Southwest operates hubs across the nation.

Those "hubs" would be:
Las Vegas
Chicago
Phoenix
Dallas
Baltimore
Orlando
Nashville


These are the cities with the most CONNECTING traffic coupled with the best O&D numbers for Southwest.

From Southwest.com
Cities -DailyDepartures -Numberof Gates -Nonstop CitiesServed -Established
Las Vegas - 225 -21 -53 -1982
Chicago Midway- 216 -29 -47 -1985
Phoenix -207 - 24 -42 -1982
Baltimore/Washington -173 -25 -38 -1993
Oakland -142 -11 -20 -1989
Houston Hobby -141 -17 -28 -1971
Dallas (Love Field) -127 -14 -14 -1971
Los Angeles (LAX) -118 -12 -19 -1982
Orlando -96 -12 -31 -1996
San Diego -92 -10 -14 -1982

edit for link-http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/factsheet.html

I see no Nashville and no numbers in any of my industry pubs to show Nashville close, do you have WN's data sheets showing the load factors? and also on your list you ommited Houston-Hobby which is much higher than DAL even with the new Wright cities as this list is from Dec 13.

I can't stand flying Southwest but then again I mainly fly international so it is not a problem. Continental's BizFirst is my favourite among US airlines. Here in Europe BA all the way though KLM is getting good again.


As urbanflyer pointed out the sep standards are not going to change at SNA


Douce bags that move near airports and then complain about noise should be flogged.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Not all pilots are alcoholics, we don't go to meetings

[SoCal Alan]

extending the current runways is impossible.

Ever heard of the plan to extend the runway/buffer zone over the 73? Not cost effective? Perhaps it's less expensive than building a new airport at El Toro, now.

utilizing runway 19L/1R for commercial use wouldn't be feasible due to current runway separation safety standards. curfew hours have always been an acceptable compromise as much as operators despise them. so yes, I don't see any reason to oppose these existing limitations.

Thank you. :cheers:

Living in Newport isn't a dependent variable for opining on this matter. I've been in Newport enough to get an idea of the noise and I've lived near the busiest GA airport in the world (Van Nuys). I have background in both land use planning and aviation so the data available regarding the noise footprints around SNA is easily digestible. You have neighbors who were around when traffic was half what it is now but 727s and 737-200s were the regular visitors to the facility. You are fortunate to hear the little noise overhead that you do now. The loudest and most frequent violators of noise procedures at SNA are still local community members who use business jets that are barely stage III compliant and have no qualms with paying the penalty fees for their convenience.

I'm about as far away from the end of the runway as you can be and the noise is tolerable for most of the jets taking off, for me. However, there are the jets, as you mention, that make so much noise that it is not acceptable. How did the sound of those jets feel to you when you were here visiting? Maybe you didn't hear it because you haven't been here long enough to experience that.

Regardless of those non-compliant jets, can you imagine what it would be like to live a little closer to the end of the runways, in communities like Eastbluff or Eastside Costa Mesa, or Santa Ana Heights? Have you spent time in those areas? There not exactly places where tourists like you would venture to, but they are communities where familes live in and are subjected to much worst noise than I am subjected to. Would you think that the noise is "barely noticeable" there? Or do you just spend time at the beach. :)

Do you understand why people would at least want a limit to that amount of frequency of that noise? I really believe that the county blew it when we had the chance to build a first class airport facility at El Toro. Instead, we get... The Great Park. :koko:

[SoCal Alan]

Douce bags that move near airports and then complain about noise should be flogged.

Although I dislike John Kerry, maybe he was right.

[Capt AWACS]

Oh kid I don't know you must be mad cause you didn't get laid on new years. Sorry kid.

Did you think my comment was directed at you? Well you must be a self proclaimed douche bag then are you the nimby type to move to an airport then bitch about planes? Sad.

I don't really like American's Maybe Osama was right

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Hermano bebe que la vida es breve

[SoCal Alan]

Oh kid I don't know you must be mad cause you didn't get laid on new years. Sorry kid.

Did you think my comment was directed at you? Well you must be a self proclaimed douche bag then are you the nimby type to move to an airport then bitch about planes? Sad.

I don't really like American's Maybe Osama was right

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Hermano bebe que la vida es breve

You don't have to call me a kid. I already know I'm older than you by about 10 years. But you know, you're a real class act throwing out names no matter who it was directed at. I love the military and fully support them and their mission, wherever they are. I just don't think we need to be a member of a respected organization and lower ourselves by calling someone names, directed at me or otherwise. I fully take back my statement regarding John Kerry because that is idiotic. But you don't have to lower yourself by calling people names, now do ya?

[Capt AWACS]

(I don't feel like calling you pops just yet because you posted an assine reponse. Are the 40s as bad as they say or is it the new 30s) Who did I call a name again?

I never called you a name. Again do You somehow feel my douche bag comment was directed at you when as I noted above it was not? Well if you feel that way so be it, sorry.

People and developers who buy cheap land near airports to make quick land profits need not bitch about noise--- aside from the fact the planes how are 4x quiter than 30 years ago.
The only plane noise exempt in Europe is mine and it will soon be the same in the US. Developers should do a better job of soundproofing or move on. It is the same as building in aflood plain. I dealt with those idiots when I worked at Fidelity Flood. Don't build in a flood plain then be surprised when your house floods. Don't build near an airport then complain about noise.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Texas-It's bigger than France

[SoCal Alan]

(I don't feel like calling you pops just yet because you posted an assine reponse. Are the 40s as bad as they say or is it the new 30s) Who did I call a name again?

I never called you a name. Again do You somehow feel my douche bag comment was directed at you when as I noted above it was not? Well if you feel that way so be it, sorry.

Did you think my John Kerry quote was directed at you?

[Capt AWACS]

Well unlike my initial thread response I did not quote you or reference you in my post. You however did quote me in your response so I don't know.

Share with us who it was directed at in this post then. Other than the fact you already appoligised for making the off colour remark directed at me. Which I said was fine (seeing as how I resigned my commision to become a lobbyist in may itjust made me laugh anyway).

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Honk if you love Capt-AWACS

[SoCal Alan]

Well unlike my initial thread response I did not quote you or reference you in my post. You however did quote me in your response so I don't know.

Share with us who it was directed at in this post then. Other than the fact you already appoligised for making the off colour remark directed at me. Which I said was fine (seeing as how I resigned my commision to become a lobbyist in may itjust made me laugh anyway).

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Honk if you love Capt-AWACS

Just teasing you.

[Lexy]

These were just cities off the top of my head and Nashville is a Focus City for Southwest. With close to 90 daily departures, it is the smallest of the focus cities, but it's higher than just a typical station.

If I left a few off then so what. That isn't what this thread is about in the first place. Sorry for sounding brash there. Many of the flights out of the southeast connect through Nashville to other places. For example, Birmingham folks have to connect through here to get to Kansas City. Now, WN hasn't grown Nashville like the others, but hopefully that will change soon. They certainly aren't hurting for gate space here.

Matter of fact, it is the city right below San Diego on that list (that is, if that list continued on beyond San Diego).

[Capt AWACS]

fair enough. Veryyy niceee as Borat would say.

As for the airplanes I don't think anyone has to worry about SNA as urbanflyer noted the approach plates are not going to change anytime soon. Things will only get better in terms of engine noise. by 2010 I think the E-3 will be the only large jet not compliant.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Veni, Vidi, Bibi

[Capt AWACS]

These were just cities off the top of my head and Nashville is a Focus City for Southwest. With close to 90 daily departures, it is the smallest of the focuse cities, but it higher than just a typical station.

if I left a few off then so what. That isn't what this thread is about in the first place.

Do you have access to WNs load factors?

I just though your list was misrepresented I wasn't trying to sound harsh either.

One can argue Midland/Odessa is focus for Southwest by that logic. And Albuequerque has more transfers than Nashville. San Diego will only fall with no new airport/runway. I agree Nashville will rise.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Not all pilots are alcoholics, we don't go to meetgins

[DallasTexan]

As for my flight last night (1107) from BNA to BHM, all 137 seats were booked. lol

120 got off in the Ham and then it went on to TPA full.

[Lexy]

I don't have access to the loads, but a WN employee who was formerly the station manager here told me that as of the end of the summer, WN had very high load factors for all their focus cities with Nashville near the top through the summer months as far as %'s are concerned. Las Vegas and Chicago are the clear leaders in that area, but to even be close to the top is a good thing here. Believe it or not, BNA has a nice O&D to pull from.


They have 10 gates here with options on leasing more if the need arises. They are capable of running close to 150 daily departures from those gates. Of those cities that are listed above, Nashville is the easily the smallest out of all of them, so departure wise we are still high for a market our size. Compare us to Louisville or to Birmingham and you see what I mean.

Southwest carries over 50% of the PAX at BNA. With almost 10 million passengers last year here total you do the math, LOL!

[Capt AWACS]

Yes I would agree they will increase at Nashville and have the capacity for growth without adding more gates. Houston will see a rise when Hobby's reconsrtuction is finished and DAL will also with further wright amend. reductions over the next few years.

Still not a big Southwest fan but I normally go for the Texas Three in order of Continental, American then Southwest. Due to the nature of my commercial flying I can find Tickets on CO or AA that match WNs fares and allow me to keep miles and get upgrades I could notget on Southwest though when I have flown them WN has gotten me from point A to B without incident.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Who needs a hug

[Lexy]

I think you'll see a BNA-DAL flight starting up fairly soon. AA needs the competition on that route from here. LOL!! BNA already has same-plane service to there via Houston.