High Life 009a   PCN Home |  Post to PCN | G-Group | Calendar | HL Archive | Sign Up     10/04/2009 

PCN Services – High Life Newsletter, Event, Death, Illness, News Notices and PCN Calendar

Largest Web Community for World’s Largest Airline

A merger on Aug 1, 2009 of RSP and Delta Retired Pilots Communication Network 

High LifeFor all Delta people who have truly touched the High Life/

Dear PCN,

Group SectionAll rumors that I made this registration hard just to give ole

pilots a challenge, are false. I say that tongue in cheek, because in no way do I wish you to have any problems

signing up or receiving emails. Email me personally if you are, because I want you on board.

mark@pilotcommunication.net

All PCN Notices will be distributed through Google Group venue. It is required that you join our g-group to receive from the PCN. The traditional distribution of the PCN’s

notices and High Life will continue at least until group signup is more complete.

Mark’s Remarks:

Great Job Joining the G-GROUP!

But it is not over yet. If you have not joined the PCN google group click here for your invitation:

http://pcn.homestead.com/Submit_SignUp.html#anchor_51

If you have been “confirmed” - Thank You –Thank You!

Our network’s registration inside the g-group is approx. 1/3 home.

Mark’s Tidbits:

PCN Services – High Life Newsletter, Event, Death, Illness, News Notices and PCN Calendar

What IF I DO WANT EMAIL NOTICES!

You need to sign up for STEP II which joins you with our Google Group

http://pcn.homestead.com/Submit_SignUp.html#anchor_51

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT ALL THE EMAILS?

The G-Group CANNOT select which notices you receive. But there is good news. You have the complete control of your INBOX. Many of you don’t use this like you could but why not. Here is a quick tidbit of how to control where the PCN notices could go for you. Learn how to set up inbox “rules” that when a key word or from a certain address the email goes into a folder of your choice. As an example build a “sub-folder” for your inbox eg. Inbox PCN Misc and Inbox PCN ILLNESS. With such a system your normal inbox is left to you other emails and the PCN emails are completely organized for you.

Don’t need a new GMAIL (email) address! – Some of you have created a new email account with Gmail and that is certainly OK. I own one and really like it. NOW HEAR THIS --Please know, however, you did not need to create a new email account to join google groups. They are two separate entities. All you need is a google group login which allows you to join our group. Since some of you switched, a personal note about gmail is that it is a very comprehensive and good email account. However, if you want your ole standby (current email address) to be in our PCN G-Group that is a very simple matter. Create a google group account with your preferred email address and join out PCN.

PCN FAQ’s - http://groups.google.com/group/PilotCommunicationNet/web/pcn-member-faqs

High Life’s Archived - I hope you have done a little “click” exploring to see what is available but if you have not let me pass along that the High Life’s are archived. You can view the latest and earlier issues at 2 locations.

1. http://pcn.homestead.com/Archive_HL.html

2. http://groups.google.com/group/PilotCommunicationNet/web

News SectionDelta News (Recent stories of interest): Yahoo, AJC

Hottest Airline Stock: Delta Airlines Tops PollBy Jeanine Poggi10/03/09 - 08:00 AM EDT

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- As reported this week in TheStreet, the threat to the airline sector appears to be waning. The battle, then, no longer appears to be one against insolvency, but one between airline carriers fighting to solidify their place within the sector.

More from Jeanine PoggiSo we asked this week, "With the worst for the airline sector said to be over, which airline carrier will perform best in the final quarter of 2009?"

The answer, according to users of TheStreet, is Delta Airlines(DAL Quote). The airline carrier nabbed 33.2% of the vote as being best poised to outperform its competitors during the second-half of the year -- despite the fact that shares closed on Friday down 7% for week, to finish the trading day Friday at $8.32.

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Delta: King of the World?By Ted Reed10/01/09 - 01:05 PM EDT

Updated with recent stock price.

ATLANTA (TheStreet) -- Delta(DAL Quote) wants to leave no doubt that it is the world's dominant airline.

It will let nobody stand in its way, particularly American(AMR Quote), the second largest airline, with which Delta has picked a fight.

The prize? A significant presence at Tokyo's Narita Airport, the most important airport in the world" fastest growing aviation market. American has it, a result of its partnership with Japan Air Lines, Narita's largest carrier. Delta wants it, and is negotiating to replace American as JAL's partner.

Read More: http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10605558/1/delta-king-of-the-world.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

Other Airline News (Recent stories of interest):

Oct. 2, 2009, 4:20 p.m. EDT

Continental posts first monthly traffic growth in 13 months

Revenue still slumps; analysts wait for the business traveler's return

By Christopher Hinton, MarketWatch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Continental Airlines said late Thursday that its monthly traffic grew for the first time in more than a year, but fewer business travelers and lower ticket prices continued to pressure revenue.

For September, the world's fifth largest airline said its consolidated unit revenue plunged an estimated 18.5% to 19.5% from a year ago. Mainline unit revenue fell 20% to 21%.

Monthly revenue results were worse than in August, which saw a consolidated year-over-year decline of 17.2%, and a mainline decline of 17.9%.

However, after adjusting for the impact of Hurricane Ike last year, reduced capacity and frequent-flier liability change, September's decline was less than July and August, said FTN Capital Markets analyst Michael Derchin.

"It really is improving, [it's] just masked in September by unusual things going on last year," he said. Read More: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/story/print?guid=E8A1A2AB-AB60-4767-975E-B264CC56DA13

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October 2, 2009, 12:39 PM ET

Airline Labor Showdowns Unlikely Anytime Soon

Both American and United airlines have major labor negotiations underway, but travelers don’t need to worry about any major flight-disrupting showdowns anytime soon. The National Mediation Board isn’t going to let that happen.

That’s the view of two long-time airline industry labor experts, one on each side of the bargaining table. At a recent American Bar Association aviation conference, Russ Bailey, senior attorney at the Air Line Pilots Association, and Jerry Glass, a longtime negotiator for airline management, both said the Mediation Board is unlikely to set up any major labor confrontations while the economy is weak.

Read More: http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/10/02/airline-labor-showdowns-unlikely-anytime-soon/?mod=yahoo_hs

Finance Section (section containing items with financial consequence to our group):

FINANCE: CLAIMS/PBGC/HCTC/INSURANCE/PLANNING/TAX/ESTATE 

Remaining financial items for retirees to watch: After Aug 2007 these are retirement items remaining with financial consequence. 

1. PBGC 2nd look re-calc at qualified annuity benefits - completed 8/24/07

2. PBGC make up lump payment for underpayments since termination:  most reported received 1/31/08

3. Final claim distribution by DAL through BSI - pending (now likely in '10 according to Kight)

4. Class Action suit against DAL concerning 5 yr look-back worth in excess of $100 million - withdrawn

5. Final PBGC re-calc "determination" of qualified annuity (likely after claim stock sale) - pending

6. Pension reinstatement/contribution request by DP3 representing the retired pilots. very long shot....pending

7. Roth IRA creation as per Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 - deadline June 22nd, 2009

8. Expiration of HCTC 80% premium subsidy will expire on December 31, 2010.

Insurance (issues about health, life or disability that are of interest):

From: larrymarry@att.netDate: 10/2/2009 7:52:37 PMSubject: hi Hello Canada Licensed Medications http://www.e-decentmedicines.com

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NRLN Action Alert:  Tell Senators to Stand Up for Retirees on Prescription Drugs

Recently, during the Senate Finance Committee's mark up of its Health Care Reform bill committee members rejected, by the narrow vote of 10-13, an amendment that would have filled the "doughnut hole" in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.  This was a terrible blow to retirees who desperately need to have lower prescription drug prices.

The amendment offered by Senator Bill Nelson would have reestablished the annual rebates drug makers used to pay the government based on their sales to Medicaid beneficiaries. It would have provided $106 billion to fill the "doughnut hole." Furthermore, according to the

Congressional Budget Office, the rebate program would have raised about $50 billion more than needed to pay for the higher prescription drug spending.

I am asking NRLN Grassroots Network members to immediately send the NRLN's sample letter to your senators to urge them to support the NRLN's proposals for prescription drug legislation.  The NRLN advocates eliminating the "doughnut hole" and applying free market competition while also supporting safety in the production and marketing of prescription drugs through prescription drug reimportation. Congress should enable the safe and controlled importationcompetitive bidding of prescription drugs and robust formularies. Furthermore, Congress should ensure that the FDA accelerates access to generic prescription drugs. Backlogs of generic drugs awaiting approval have exceeded 5 years and must be eliminated through providing adequate staff needed to expedite approvals.  Equally important, agreements that restrain competition between brand and generic manufacturers such as pay-offs that keep lower-priced generic drugs off the market must be outlawed.  and

To access the NRLN's sample letter go to http://capwiz.com/abtr/home/ to access the Action Alert. Look for the Action Alert headline: SENATORS SHOULD STAND UP FOR RETIREES ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Click on "Take Action." On the next screen, type in your zip code and click "GO" to access the sample letter to email to your Senators.  Be sure to personalize the letter with your own comments about prescription drugs. If you have a problem accessing the Action Alert with the above link, go to www.nrln.org and click on the "Take Action Now" headline at the top of the NRLN Website's Home Page.

It is imperative that Congress move swiftly to ease the burden of prescription drug costs for retirees. Your letters to your Senators can help to make this happen.

Bill Kadereit, PresidentNational Retiree Legislative Network

Pension:

This is a re-print of the DP3 Whitepaper which they used to argue for legislative relief:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of the PBGC WHITEPAPER September 15, 2009 The PBGC currently treats changes in defined benefit pension plan annual earnings limits, mandated by Congress, as modifications to the pension plans themselves, and has applied the lowest annual earnings limit during a five year look-back period when calculating retiree benefits. For example when the Delta pilot defined benefit plan was terminated in 2006, the annual 401(a) earnings limit was $220,000 but when calculating the pilots’ protected benefits, the PBGC used the 2001 temporary earnings limit of $170,000.

The punitive results of this look-back process have been magnified by the efforts of congress to balance the federal budget by enacting the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 which raised tax revenues by temporarily reducing corporate deductions used to fund qualified pension plans. In 1992 the maximum qualified pension earnings limit was $235,840 but OBRA 93 temporarily reduced the limit to $150,000 in 1993 with a phase-in process designed to eventually restore the limits. By using the OBRA 93 pension

earnings limits in effect five years prior to a plan termination to determine a retiree’s PC3 benefit, a priority category only paid out of available pension plan assets, the PBGC magnifies the impact of OBRA 93 on retirees and changes a temporary limit into a permanent reduction in retirement benefits.

Unfortunately, the impact of OBRA 93 on the retirement security of retirees goes even further than the draconian reductions applied by the PBGC in its calculation of PC3 protected benefits. Pensioners who had previously earned a relatively high wage, who retired during the period the earnings limits were temporarily rolled back, often had a significant portion of their retirement benefits fall into the non-qualified category as a result of the OBRA 93 funding reductions, and these non-qualified benefits were usually eliminated in their entirety when the company underwriting the pension benefits went through a corporate restructuring during bankruptcy. This is another issue that was particularly troublesome for airline employees due to the devastating impact of the events of September11 on that particular industry, an event that happened at the height of the OBRA reductions.

This table illustrates the impact of the OBRA 93 reductions to the qualified pension limits: (Data between years 1992 and 1998 is omitted, but is consistent with other data)

Year 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1991 Original 401(a)17 limits

325,000 315,000 305,000 300,000 295,000 285,000 275,000 270,000 222,220

OBRA 93 reduced limits

220,000 210,000 205,000 200,000 200,000 170,000 170,000 160,000 N/A

The PBGC, under category PC-3, bases their pension obligation to a retiree on the terms of the plan 3 years prior to termination. They also use the income and age of the retiree at that same 3-years-prior point as the basis for calculating the individual’s PC-3 pension benefit. The purpose is to prevent unscrupulous companies from inflating pension obligations in anticipation of a plan termination. However, specifically anticipated changes in the IRS code that are contractually acknowledged prior to the 3 year “look back” period, are NOT equivalent to changes in the retirement plan itself, nor can they possibly be viewed as being implemented in anticipation of plan termination.

EFFECT OF REMOVING IRS 401A & 415B LIMITS FROM PBGC PENSION CALCULATIONS The following table summarizes the retirement calculations for 3 different retirees:

1. Retired at age 60 with 25 years of service August 31, 2005 with a Final Average Earnings (FAE) of $250,000.

2. Retired at age 55 with 25 years of service August 31, 2005 with an FAE of $250,000.

3. Retired at age 55 with 25 year of service August 31, 2003 with an FAE of $250,000.

All variations in the retirees’ qualified annuities are due to one or more of the PBGC look backs on IRS limitations, age, and length of service. Percentages represent the portion of the retiree’s pre PBGC Qualified annuity that is or would be paid under the given limitations.

Individual pensions Example #

2006 Qualified annuity Pre PBGC penalty

PBGC Qualified Annuity / % of 2006 Annuity

Remove IRS 401a 5 year look-back

Remove IRS 401a (5 yr.) & 415b (3 yr.) look-back

Use retiree’s actual age at retirement in PBGC calculations

Also Use retiree’s actual length of service

1 – Retired 8/31/2005 At age 60

$51,000 $ 13,210 / 26%

$33,965 / 67%

$33,965 / 67%

$40,920 / 80%

$51,000 / 100%

2 – Retired 8/31/2005 At age 55

$37,843 $ 7,568 / 20%

$14,425 / 38%

$24,349 / 64%

$34,782 / 92%

$37.843 / 100%

3 – Retired 8/31/2003 At age 55

$37,843 $22,950 / 60%

$31,867 / 84%

$37,843 / 100%

$37,843 / 100%

$37,843

In addition to a clarification of the PBGC’s lookback authority in determining pension benefits to be paid out of a terminated plan’s remaining assets, there needs to be more transparency regarding the factors the PBGC uses to determine a pension plan’s funding status under their distress termination guidelines. Another area that currently lacks full disclosure is the percentage of a terminated pension plan that the PBGC returns to the plan beneficiaries as opposed to the portion of the plan’s assets that the PBGC keeps for its own operations. The NRLN believes that beneficiaries of terminated pension plans should receive one hundred percent of the remaining plan assets, the PBGC’s operating expenses and pension guarantees for other terminated plans should be covered by employer premiums, not by taking earned benefits away from retirees.

SUMMARY Incorporating IRS code changes under sections 401(a) and 415(b) in Defined Benefit Plans is an integral part of collectively bargained contracts in accordance with the provisions of OBRA 93. By subjecting the earnings limits, reduced temporarily by Congress in 1993, to the five year look-back reductions by the PBGC treats these limits as if they were contractual changes, resulting in the failure to pay retirees a large portion of the contractual qualified pension benefits earned over their careers. To clarify what we believe to be existing congressional intent to protect retiree benefits, we propose that the following legislation be enacted: The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation shall use the Defined Benefit Plan income and pension benefit limitations defined in IRS codes 401(a) and 415(b) in effect on the date of the plan termination when calculating the pension benefits payable under Priority Category Three (PC3). In addition the greater of the retiree’s age and length of service used to calculate the pension at the time of retirement, or the retiree’s age and length of service at plan termination will be used when calculating benefits protected under Priority Category PC3. Regardless of these provisions, The PC-3 benefit shall not exceed the qualified benefit to which the plan participant was entitled on the day before the plan was terminated. These changes shall be retroactive and apply to all defined benefit plans terminated after Sept 11, 2001. In addition, the PBGC rules used to determine the termination values and funding levels of pension plans and all other PBGC rules and guidelines should be fully disclosed to recipients (or designated representatives) of covered pension plans. These provisions should be made part of the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006.

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From: H DONALD HULLDate: 10/1/2009 4:12:14 PMTo: mark@pilotcommunication.net Mark,I need to know what my wife will receive from PBGC if I should die before she does.Will appreciate any info you can give me.H.D. (Don) Hull   

Editor: $0. But that is not the end of the story. The PBGC is done with ya, at deat. But upon death, the Delta Pilots Disability & Survivorship Plan, kicks in. Here is a link to a page that I put together that answers some questions about “what do I have and don’t have?” http://rsp.homestead.com/RetDAL.html

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Commercial SectionInvestment (Many legitimate firms have helped our group. They are encouraged to contact PCN to add articles here):

Section reserved for future content.

Travel & Non-Revving (share a quick reco):

DLNet/ DnnHoliday buddy pass embargo dates addedOctober 2, 2009

Because Delta anticipates heavy passenger demand for the year-end holiday season, additional buddy pass embargo dates have been added. Additionally, Delta has released a list of embargo dates for next year. Buddy pass riders may not travel on any of these dates.

The remaining embargo dates this year are: Nov. 25, 29, and 30, and Dec.19, 24 and 27. These dates, as well as next year’s embargo dates, are posted on the Pass Travel site under Alerts.

Embargo dates reduce the number of nonrevenue standby travelers on peak traffic days and allow frontline employees to focus on serving revenue customers. Because employee standby travel also could be challenging on these dates, be prepared with alternatives for nonrev travel plans.

In addition to these systemwide embargo dates, all buddy pass travel to and from Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria, remains embargoed until further notice.

Embargo decisions are made cross-divisionally with consideration of what is best for customers, the airline and Delta people. Other embargo dates may be added because of operational reasons.

TravelNet automation will prevent employees from ticketing buddy pass riders on the embargo dates; however, if a buddy pass rider was ticketed on an embargo date prior to this announcement, the ticket should be reissued for a nonembargoed date to prevent any confusion or disappointment at the airport.

“It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that their buddy passes are used for family and friend travel only and that those guests are informed of and follow all pass travel policies and procedures,” said Denise Mapston, manager-Employee Travel. “Delta employees are responsible for the actions of their buddy pass riders while they use or attempt to use Delta pass travel privileges.”

See Also:Check out the Pass/Travel site for more details and a list of the buddy pass embargo dates.

Buddy Pass Embargo Dates Remaining 2009 Embargo Dates

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 Saturday, Dec.19, 2009 Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009

2010 Embargo Dates

Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 Monday, Jan. 4, 2010

Monday, Feb.15, 2010 Saturday, March 13, 2010 Sunday, March 14, 2010 Friday, April 2, 2010 Saturday, April 3, 2010 Sunday, April 4, 2010 Monday, April 5, 2010 Friday, May 28, 2010 Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010 Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 Friday, Dec. 24, 2010 Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010

Bag Limits - Nonrev checked bag limits for some int'l routes still in effect

October 2, 2009

Due to continued high passenger demand for these flights, bin space onboard the aircraft for carry-on baggage is extremely limited. Pass riders are strongly encouraged to limit their baggage to only ONE bag including the carry-on bag. When the onboard bins are full, carry-on bags are subject to being checked or denied at the time of boarding.

Nonrevenue travelers including buddy pass riders (Buddies) are still limited to one piece of checked baggage per passenger for designated markets. This limit will continue to apply for the foreseeable future.

The designated markets listed below continue to experience an unusually high number of checked bags from revenue passengers. Because we board revenue passengers, baggage and cargo first, nonrevenue passengers’ checked items often are not considered for loading until shortly before departure. This often means special handling by our Airport Customer Service teams in these markets, which could create the potential to affect operational performance.

ONE CHECKED BAG LIMIT APPLIES TO NONREVENUE TRAVEL IN EITHER DIRECTION FOR ROUTES LISTED BELOW:

Atlanta and Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) Atlanta and Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL) Atlanta and Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA) Atlanta and San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) Atlanta and Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) New York (JFK) and Georgetown, Guyana (GEO) New York (JFK) and cities in the Dominican Republic (Santiago – STI; Santo Domingo – SDQ; Punta Cana –

PUJ) New York (JFK) and Port of Spain, Trinidad (POS) New York (JFK) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) New York (JFK) and Accra, Ghana (ACC) New York (JFK) and Mexico City, Mexico (MEX) New York (JFK) and Dakar, Senegal (DKR) New York (JFK) and Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP)

As the employee or retiree, it is your responsibility to advise your eligible pass riders, including your Buddies, of these baggage limitations.

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Life SectionCares and Concerns:Sodemann, Neil death (last notice in thread): http://groups.google.com/group/PilotCommunicationNet/browse_thread/thread/14d4e05f5c0d0a6a#

Misc Posts:From: T J RichardsonDate: 10/3/2009 12:53:12 AMTo: mark@pilotcommunication.net Mark, First let me tell you that I really appreciate you taking over for Dave and spending the countless hours that you have to get the PCN up and running.  Second, I appreciate the reason for you trying to establish the Google group, as I know that you have had a lot of why's, what was wrong with the old way.  After all, you have a life and have to have time for it. Just curious, why do some folks have a problem with reading the distorted letters on Google to verify that they are who they say they are?  I think that it is a problem with depth perception.  I'm a 68 year old former WAL/DAL Capt who still doesn't wear glasses and I've never had a problem reading those.  I do use 2.0 cheaters for reading, but my ophthalmologist just told me last week that that is all I need.  As I said, just curious, does anyone know why some people have a problem with those letters and some people don't? TJ

Editior: Thanks, TJ, for the compliments. As all can attest Dave’s shoes are big ones to fill. About the crazy letters, some are more scrambled than others. In fact if you get some of Google’s best work, I am sure no one could unscramble them. They have gone overboard on the difficulty, yet on occasion they show a relatively simple one. As mentioned many times if you are signing up for anything that requires these scrambled letters and they are too tough – REFRESH the page and you will get a new look.

+++++++++++++++++++++++From: Richard Garvey

Date: 10/2/2009 12:58:36 PMTo: mark@pilotcommunication.netSubject: Kudos Dear Mark, Thanks for taking on the task that Dave so ably handled for so long.  Remember that no good deed goes unpunished.  You are using a different system and many people can't handle change.  I find myself getting left behind by technology.  I don't twitter, face page, or you tube.  My cell phone doesn't do anything but be a phone.  I hope everything settles down for you.  You are doing a great job.Dick

Human Interest:

Seeking persons:

Captain Charles M. Martin:Jake Holmes Email   jakeholmes@yahoo.comIssue Area GeneralComments -- I have a friend, a one-time Gran Prix driver, who is looking for a cousin with whom he has been out of contact. His cousin is retired Delta pilot Captain Charles M. Martin, who successfully ditched the Bermuda Sky Queen with all passengers and crew rescued by the U. S. Coast Guard cutter Bibb. The story is told at this web link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,854795,00.html and video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8koZ-aBVUw If anyone has contact information for retired Delta Captain Charles M. Martin, please email me at jakeholmes@yahoo.com. His cousin Fred would like to get in touch with him and would most appreciate it. JakeCan any one help fill in the blanks about Red?I remember Red but not the place or date he died.My guess is that Dave has the corrected information.

BYRON (Red) M ORRISON:This morning I was comparing my Deceased Delta Pilots & Spouses List and the Northeast Seniority List and the Social Security Death Index trying to get some additional dates for those persons with missing data - and to make sure the lists agreed with each other as much as possible.  I found this on Orrison, B. M.  "Red", whom you may have known.

The NE list shows this:353 Orrison B M Red   7/11/1919 6/9/1958 6/25/1958 G 8/  /1979 in Oct 1993 x ? Medical NE The SSDI shows this:Name Birth Death Last Residence Last Benefit SSN Issued BYRON M ORRISON 13 Jul 1919 11 Jun 1995 37343 (Hixson, Hamilton, TN) (none specified) 230-05-9802 VirginiaDo you think these are the same persons???  The dates of birth are within two days but the date of death on the NE list is October '93 and on the SSDI list is 11 Jun 1995.  The initials on the NE list and the name on the SSDI list "could" agree but it would need confirmation from someone who knew him.Just curious,  Dave Roberts

Good Read (Please share a quick reco about a good book you just read):

Note to our many pilot authors. Sharing writings, as below, with the PCN will be done when they are free of charge and judged to be of general interest. The PCN will help with advertising commercially sold books as we develop that in time.

Memories of a Delta career

by retired pilot, Gene Hall

Click Here for: (Note Intro and 9-10 are WORD docs rest are .pdf’s)

These are corrected links.

Gene Hall’s Memories Links:http://pcn.homestead.com/Gene_Hall.html

Intro: (MS WORD doc)http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_INTRO2.docCh 1:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_1.pdfCh 2:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_2.pdfCh3:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_3.pdfCh 4:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_4.pdfCh 5:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_5.pdfCh 6:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_6.pdfCh 7:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_7.pdfCh 8:http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_Hall_8.pdfCh 9: (MS WORD doc)http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_History_9.doc Ch 10: (MS WORD doc)http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_History_10.docCh 11: (MS WORD doc)http://pcn.homestead.com/files/Misc_files/Gene_History_11.doc

First 11 chapters attached as linksWhich everyone should be able to open Click on the above links to open and read or print

Editor: Thanks to Roger Lewis who forwarded these from Carole Neubrand for most of the above. A special Thanks to Gene Hall for personally approving the sharing here on the PCN and adding the Intro and Ch’s 9-10. You may notice that the links are archived on our PCN site. Thanks to Gene and all, Mark

Event Announcements (Click here for PCN Org & Groups Page):

Good Deal/Bad Deal (Share a quick good deal or bad deal you have found – no commercials here!)

Hangar Flying (Share a bit of ole hangar flying with the net) :

From: JDDate: 10/01/09 09:21:57Subject: Life Magazine - photos from the 50's of ATL airport For those of us who may be old enough to remember when airline travel was special and airplanes still had propeller's!  Some great old photos!! ...For the rest of you, just enjoy the old photos of how it used to be!

http://www.sunshineskies.net/life.html

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MIAMI TOWER (thanks Doane)

May 1941.."Old Number One" was initially erected annually by the City of Miami to serve as the judge’s stand and timing tower for the "All American Air Maneuvers" held during the month of January. Due to a rapid increase in air traffic by 1941, the tower was left intact. Because of the increase, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered than an airport traffic control tower be commissioned at the Miami Municipal Airport or National and Pan American Airlines would no longer be authorized to operate passenger flight into Miami Municipal. The control tower with only light guns available to control traffic was commissioned on May 1, 1941. Radios were installed by the following month. The CAA assumed operation of the control tower on January 1, 1946.

February 1942..Built by the City of Miami on what would become "Masters Field", then being constructed on a vast area bounded by the Seaboard Coastline Railway, NW 27th Avenue, NW 103rd Street and NW 119the Street. The new airport was to have five runways, some as long as six thousand feet, with the passenger terminal on the east side of the airport connecting directly with the Pan American Seaplane Base at Dinner Key via 27th Avenue. This structure was the first actually designed as a control tower, but, unfortunately, had a partial glass roof with no ventilation or air conditioning. The CAA staff occupied this facility in February 1942, and maintained it until it was turned over to the U.S. Navy as part of the Opa Locka Naval Complex in August 1942.

 

 

August 1942..In late 1941, through early 1942, Pan American World Airways, with funding by the Air Corps Airport Development Program, expanded the Pan American 36th Street Airport and constructed a control tower atop the passenger terminal. The Pan Am tower was commissioned June 1942, and staffed by the CAA on august 3, 1942. The old airport was renamed Masters Field and turned over to the Navy. All commercial activities were moved to Pan Am’s 36th Street Airport and general aviation operations were sent to the Sunny South Airport. The tower structure was later moved from atop the terminal and relocated to the Dinner Key Seaplane Base where it served the U.S. Coast Guard until the activity was relocated to the Opa Locka Airport.

 

October 1943..This building was constructed by the U.S. Army Air Corps to serve the Miami Army AirField, located immediately south of the 36th Street Airport. Because of wartime shortages, the entire structure was built of wood. This facility was occupied by the CAA staff on October 3, 1943, and utilized multiple telephone/radio frequencies. Between 1943 and 1948, the tower was damaged several times by hurricanes. This photo, taken in the spring of 1946, shows a completely refurbished tower after sever damage caused by the hurricane of September 1945.

 

 

 

 

October 1948..The Dade County Port Authority broke ground for this facility in June 1947; however, construction progressed very slowly and the tower was not turned over

to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) until late 1948. The most unique feature of this tower is that it later became number 7, after it had to be moved due to construction to lengthen Runway 9L/27R. It was relocated to an area adjacent to the 20th Street Terminal, a building used largely by non-scheduled air carriers. Today that area is immediately off the end of Concourse "F"

 

 

 

 

September 1952..A unique facility that was constructed as a temporary facility to be used during the move of Tower Number 5 (in background) to new location. It was opened in September 1952. The photo shows a historic moment when Tower Number 6 cleared Tower Number 5 to cross an active runway. The temporary tower was in operation until December 1952, when operations were transferred back to "Old Number Five", now Tower Number 7.

 

December 1952.."Old Tower Number Five" has now become Tower Number Seven. Old towers never die and when this facility was replaced by Tower Number Eight it was dismantled and stored along the southwest area of Perimeter Road. At the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis it was reassembled at the "old" Tamiami Airport and used until the "new" Tamiami Airport became operational.

 

Miami Tower Now

Humor & Fun (Share some “vulgarity free” humor with the net):

And they ask---Why I Like Retirement? (Thanks Denny)

Question:  How many days in a week? Answer:    6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday   

Question: When is a retiree's bedtime?  Answer:    Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

Question:   How many retirees to change a light bulb?   Answer:     Only one, but it might take all day.  

Question:  What's the biggest gripe of retirees?  Answer:     There is not enough time to get everything done.

Question:  Why don't retirees mind being called Seniors?   Answer:    The term comes with a 10% percent discount.   

Question: Among retirees what is considered formal attire?   Answer:    Tied shoes.  

Question:  Why do retirees count pennies? Answer:     They are the only ones who have the time. 

Question:  What is the common term for someone who continues to work and refuses to retire? Answer:     NUTS!

Question:  Why are retirees so slow to  clean out the basement, attic or garage?  Answer:     (  They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.  )

Question:   What do retirees call a long lunch?  Answer:     Normal   

Question:  What is the best way to describe retirement?  Answer:    The never ending Coffee Break.  

Question: What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree?   Answer :    If you cut classes, no one can call your parents. Question: Why does a retiree often say he  doesn't miss work, but  misses the people he used to work with? Answer:    He is too polite to tell the whole truth.  

Question: What do you do all week?Answer:    Monday to Friday; Nothing, Saturday & Sunday I rest.

_____________________________________________________________

Mark Mark Sztanyo, PCN Dir & HL EditorPilot Communication NetContact the Net

 

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