In the end, the final 737 flight operated by US Airways pulled into Gate D7 at Charlotte with no fanfare for the airplane, but with plenty of recognition for Captain Jeff Tarr, who, along with the 737, retired following the end of Flight US737. And, after all, that is the way it should be. Too often, an airline is defined by its aircraft, or its color scheme, or its catch phrase. But what should REALLY define an airline is its employees. For most of us who have been in this industry for any length of time, its more than a job...its a way of life. Most of us who have been here for awhile began working in the days when we were envied for our status as airline employees. We remember hearing, You have one of the best jobs in the world, rather than, I wouldnt have your job for anything in the world. An airline is about people, and not just airplanes. Having said that, the Boeing 737 has been part of the airline I work for during my entire 33-year career. I never got into keeping a log of my flights, but I am quite sure that I have flown more hours in the 737 than all other aircraft types combined. Admittedly, the Airbus offers many advantages to the passenger than the old 737 Classic. And, of course, once the merger is complete, I will, again, be working for a company that will be operating 300+ New Generation 737s. In my personal opinion, an Airbus simply cannot compare to a Boeing in terms of useful life and ruggedness. How can I say this? There are still plenty of 737s around with 30+ years on their airframes. Many of these have been converted to cargo carriers. I have no idea how many 737s have been converted to freight haulers, but I can tell you exactly how many A320s have been. So, vive la 737. Youve given me a great ride.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 09:32:53 +0000