Delta pilot killed in Iraq

Patriot

ALPA Member
Our MD88 FO killed in action in Iraq. RIP.



Family IDs pilot killed in F-16 crash

The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Jun 16, 2007 17:23:07 EDT

BAGHDAD — An Ohio National Guard pilot was killed when his F-16 fighter crashed shortly after takeoff from Balad Air Base in central Iraq, an Air Force spokesman said.

“They’re investigating the accident, and we won’t know the exact cause until that’s completed. But it doesn’t appear to be hostile fire,” said Col. Thomas Deall, a spokesman in the region for the U.S. Central Command Air Forces.

The pilot’s family identified him as Ohio Air National Guard Maj. Kevin Sonnenberg, 42, from Napoleon.

In an initial statement late Friday, the Air Force said the jet went down at 12:27 a.m. Friday while on a mission to support a ground forces operation. Deall said it crashed about 50 miles north of Baghdad, near the Balad base.

The identity of the pilot — the single crew member — was not immediately released, pending notification of the next of kin.

In Columbus, Ohio, a National Guard spokesman said Sonnenberg was a member of the 180th Fighter Wing based in Toledo. Spokesman Mark Wayda said about 270 of the unit’s 1,000 members were deployed to Iraq last month, operating under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad.

The loss of an F-16, a workhorse warplane in the Iraq war, is a rare event. One crashed last Nov. 27 in the western province of Anbar, killing the pilot.
 
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Sad news... RIP..


But does it mean that airline pilots can combine AirForce service and job with the airline? Is this voluntary or mandatory service?

Looks quite unusual for the rest of the world..
 
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In America former military pilots can continue service in pilot positions after retiring from active duty. If desired to do so they have two choices: Air National Guard on the State level or Air Force (or NAVY, or USMC, or ARMY) Reserve on the Federal level.

So, they get out of the military, find a job with airlines and (if they want to) fly for the military part time. Boils down to 3-5 days/month flying for the military the rest for the airline.

At Delta we have hundreds if not thousands pilots doing that.

In case of war the military can activate them to a full time status and use them worldwide. The airlines in such case give (what we call it) a military leave of absence up to 5 years. They come back and fly for airlines after they are done fighting.

Very flexible system.
Some guys never serve in the military full time. They start their careers in the Guard and from day one do it only part time working in civilian professions. My good friend from college is a dentist for the most of the time and an F-15 pilot at his hobby job.
 
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Patriot, thanks for comments.

Is there any motivation (besides patriotism) for those guys to serve for military such a way?

I can hardly imagine the situation when someone who left military service is williing to get back. Even part-time...
 
AEGOR,
Sure there is motivation.
Besides patriotism and desire to continue to serve the country people do it for fun, comradely, career and pension, money etc. When airlines after 9/11 were furloughing most of the military guys went to fly for the military full time - so it gives some sort of a job security in such cases.

The airlines by law have to give them time to do it. If, for example, average pilot at a certain airline works 15 days a month, a guardsman will work 11 and have another 4 for the military duty. The prorated pay in the Guard is better than first 3-5 years of airline pay.

And yes, some fly fighters and it is a kick in the pants, but some fly heavies - bombers, cargo or tankers.

Overall the attitude towards the military service is different here. In Russia it was more of a sacrifice and straggle, but here it seems a lot more desirable and honorable thing to do, especially in aviation.
 
RIP..

It is still amazing to me how low the US losses are in the war on terror. They really seem to take care of people in the uniform.
 
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Alexxx сказал(а):
I remeber good words which sung a legendary Status Quo ensemble, in not less legendary song - " In The Army Now " Citation:

"...Uncle Sam does the best he can..."

From here patriotism - or may be just washing of brains!

I hope everyone know who is Uncle Sam, if not - you can use the link below to familiarize with!

Your post does not make any sense.. Patriotism is brainwashing? Or result of brainwashing?
May be in countries where the press is government controlled and journalists are assassinated, but not in America.

A lot of pilots at my airline are part time military pilots as well for variety of reasons. Brainwashing is certainly not one of them.
 
Patriot сказал(а):
Our MD88 FO killed in action in Iraq. RIP.



Family IDs pilot killed in F-16 crash

The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Jun 16, 2007 17:23:07 EDT

BAGHDAD — An Ohio National Guard pilot was killed when his F-16 fighter crashed shortly after takeoff from Balad Air Base in central Iraq, an Air Force spokesman said.

“They’re investigating the accident, and we won’t know the exact cause until that’s completed. But it doesn’t appear to be hostile fire,” said Col. Thomas Deall, a spokesman in the region for the U.S. Central Command Air Forces.

The pilot’s family identified him as Ohio Air National Guard Maj. Kevin Sonnenberg, 42, from Napoleon.

In an initial statement late Friday, the Air Force said the jet went down at 12:27 a.m. Friday while on a mission to support a ground forces operation. Deall said it crashed about 50 miles north of Baghdad, near the Balad base.

Did you know him?
 
Patriot,
...by the way : any alley gossip about open hiring for new FA, if any... Just trying to check everything into the WEB...
 
Rocky Mountain,
In the spring 08 we did a massive international expansion adding a dozen new destinations. Delta hired around 1500 FA's to support that plus normal attrition.
We just announced 15 new destinations starting in the summer 09, but there is no indication of hiring yet.

I think they will start hiring a lot and soon. Keep checking the website.
 
pro&con,
Nov. 12, 2008

Delta’s new international service beginning summer 2009 includes:

Region
Route
Effective
Aircraft
Frequency

Trans-Pacific

New York-JFK to Tokyo-Narita, Japan1
June 4, 2009
Boeing 777-200ER
daily

Salt Lake City to Tokyo-Narita, Japan1,3
June 3, 2009
Airbus 330-200
five times weekly

Atlanta to Tokyo Narita, Japan1,3 (second frequency)
May 4, 2009
Boeing 747-400
daily

Tokyo-Narita, Japan to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam1,3
June 1, 2009
Boeing 757-200
daily

Africa
Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa1,2
June 1, 2009
Boeing 777-200LR
daily

Atlanta to Nairobi, Kenya1,5
June 2, 2009
Boeing 767-300ER
four times weekly

Atlanta to Monrovia, Liberia1,4
June 8, 2009
Boeing 757-200ER
once weekly

Atlanta to Abuja, Nigeria1,4
June 10, 2009
Boeing 757-200ER
twice weekly

Atlanta to Luanda, Angola1,4
June 14, 2009
Boeing 757-200ER
twice weekly

Atlanta to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea1,4
June 16, 2009
Boeing 757-200ER
once weekly

Atlanta to Cape Town, South Africa1,5
June 1, 2009
Boeing 767-300ER
three times weekly

New York-JFK to Lagos, Nigeria1
June 9, 2009
Boeing 767-300ER
five times weekly

Europe/Middle East
New York-JFK to Gothenberg, Sweden
June 11, 2009
Boeing 757-200ER
four times weekly

New York-JFK to Prague, Czech Republic1
June 18, 2009
Boeing 767-300
three times weekly

New York-JFK to Valencia, Spain1
June 5, 2009
Boeing 757-200ER
four times weekly

New York-JFK to Zurich, Switzerland
June 8, 2009
Boeing 757-200ER
daily
(seasonal)

New York-JFK to Tel Aviv1 (second frequency)
June 30, 2009
Boeing 767-300ER
four times weekly


1. Subject to government approval; Delta today applied with the U.S. Department of transportation seeking authority for the proposed new services on the New York-Tokyo, Atlanta-Luanda and Atlanta-Malabo routes; Delta’s wholly owned subsidiary, Northwest Airlines, Inc. applied for DOT authority to serve Tokyo-Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Replaces flight between Atlanta and Johannesburg via Dakar.
3. Flight operated under Northwest Airlines operating certificate.
4. Flight stops in Sal Island, Cape Verde.
5. Flight stops in Dakar, Senegal; Atlanta-Cape Town service replaces flight from New York-JFK to Cape Town.

http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=11185



Plus since this press release the company announced a closer relationship with Alaska Airlines and two more flights - LAX-GRU and SEA-PEK :

Nov. 17, 2008
http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=11186
 
Patriot,
Thank you very much.
I see Delta increases its presence in Africa.
 
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