Each summer Delta and the Organization of Black Airline Pilots (OBAP) invite more than seventy students to attend the Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy in Atlanta. During the two annual week long sessions, ACE campers take field trips to different aviation facilities, including tours of World Headquarters and the Atlanta airport, and they hear from a variety of guest speakers.

I am one of the very lucky students who was selected to participate in the ACE Academy this year. All of the students met in the auditorium of the Delta World Training Center, where we were briefed on all of the activities we would be taking part in on that day.

Our first activity of the day was a tour of Delta’s Technical Operations Center. I was amazed at the fine detail that the maintenance workers put into the aircraft and their various parts. Before this experience I never knew that there were so many people behind the scenes who kept all of Delta’s fleet safe and operable. One of the most astonishing objects I saw was the engine of a Boeing 777, which is the biggest in the world.

The next activity we participated in was a tour of Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International Airport itself. I was very excited when I was told how close we would get to the airplanes. Our first stop was the Bomb Squads office. Officer Botts, who operates the machinery required to safely handle and detonate the bombs also showed us the large containment chambers along with the robots that collect the explosives or suspicious items.

Our next stop on the Hartsfield tour was Radar Hill, which has the best view of all the runways. As I stood atop Radar Hill I saw the plane I one day hope to fly, the Boeing 747 in its new Delta colors coming in for a landing.

Our final stop of the day was the Hartsfield Jackson Fire Department. The fireman showed us around their facilities. Next they allowed us to ride in the Fire truck while he showed us some of the systems such as the infrared cameras and water cannons.

As an Ace Academy student, I have enjoyed the first day. The highlight of the day for me was seeing the Delta Airlines Boeing 747. I am looking forward to tomorrow, which the instructors promise will be even better.

Do you know someone who might want to participate in the ACE Academy next year?

Admission is offered to boys and girls from 14 to 18 years old who have an interest in learning about aviation. Stay tuned here at the Delta blog for more behind the scenes stories from camp in the coming days.

Rayjhan Bethune
15 years old
Conyers, Georgia

It’s been another extremely busy week for the airline with the summer travel season in full swing. In-flight Wi-Fi installations aren’t slowing down either with an additional 10 aircraft outfitted with Wi-Fi in just the last six days. So let’s break it down by the numbers…

Stats as of July 15:

• 205 Delta planes flying with Wi-Fi
• 63.5% of the pre-merger Delta domestic mainline fleet
• 700+ Wi-Fi flights every day

The remainder of the domestic fleet is scheduled for completion by the fall and Wi-Fi installations are scheduled for completion on about 200 pre-merger Northwest planes by summer 2010. Once complete, Delta will offer Wi-Fi on more than 500 aircraft and 1,300 flights per day.

The first 767-300 (ship 138) with Wi-Fi successfully completed flight tests, however it will be a few more weeks before you’ll be able to tweet from a 763 at 35,000 feet. That’s because the Wi-Fi system will remain deactivated until the FAA provides a supplemental type certificate (STC).

Moving back to the narrowbody fleet…the A319/A320 final design review is scheduled for July 16; The DC9-50 survey is scheduled for July 23; and the B737-700 prototype unit is set for early September.

But wait there’s more! As a direct result of customer feedback, Aircell and Delta also launched two new pricing options on Wednesday to better serve customers’ needs on flights of varying lengths.

The Flight Pass, which sells for $5.95, is available for short-haul flights of 1½ hours or less. The new 24-Hour Pass for $12.95 connects any Wi-Fi-enabled device during a 24-hour period on any Wi-Fi-equipped Delta flight.

A 30-Day Pass that allows unlimited Internet service during a 30-day period sells for $49.95. And we’re still offering standard mid-range (for flights of about 1½ to three hours) and long-haul Gogo Flight Pass pricing plans at $9.95 and $12.95. Offers and prices subject to change. Use of the Gogo service is subject to terms of use available at gogoinflight.com.

So…that’s it for this week’s update…let us know what you think of the new pricing options!

Fleet Deets:

MD88: 117 A/C

MD90: 16 A/C

B737-800: 1 A/C (awaiting STC)

B757-200: 70 A/C

B767-300: 1 A/C (awaiting STC)

MD88 Tail Numbers: All

MD90 Tail Numbers: All

B737-800 Tail Number: 3742.

B757-200 Tail Numbers: 602, 608-610, 614-615, 617, 619, 621, 625-633, 636-641, 644-645, 647, 649-656, 667, 672, 674, 677-679, 684-685, 690-694, 696-699, 6701-6716, 6902, 6904

B767-300 Tail Number: 138

Chris B.
Sr. Product Manager
In-Flight Entertainment