Monday, April 8, 2024
In a groundbreaking move for its century-long history, Delta Airlines embarks on an unprecedented journey to chase the total solar eclipse’s path of totality not once, but twice simultaneously. This remarkable endeavor requires Delta’s pilots to undergo additional training, honing their skills in flight simulators and meticulously planning their course. The adventure involves two specific flights heading to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) on Monday, promising passengers a prime view of the celestial event: Flight DL 1218 from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Flight DL 1010 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
The announcement thrilled Captains Phillip Marshall and Phil Daniels, who are slated to pilot the DL 1218 from AUS to DTW. Their excitement is shared by a dedicated team behind the scenes, including flight superintendent Chris Clisham, who plays a pivotal role in coordinating the flights. Clisham’s responsibilities span across monitoring air traffic, fuel logistics, operational strategies, and emergency protocols, overseeing 30-40 flights daily. For this special event on April 8, he and his team are focusing exclusively on ensuring DL 1218 and DL 1010’s success.
“It was definitely exciting to be selected to do something we don’t ever get to do,” Daniels said. “I’m looking forward to giving customers memories to hold on to and to fly with my boss.”
“I was very excited about the opportunity to do something like this and for our A220 fleet to be highlighted,” Marshall said. “I’m always willing to do what it takes to get the job done, and I always love flying with Phil.”
In addition to the camaraderie in the flight deck, safety remains the number one priority across Delta’s workgroups in preparation for each and every flight. “Whenever we do anything even the slightest bit different from our normal flight routine, we run it through our channels and have as many people look at it as possible to get different perspectives involved,” Marshall said.
The solar eclipse, speeding across the United States at 1,600 miles per hour, intersects with the flights traveling at around 480 miles per hour, creating a unique viewing opportunity. To seize this moment, Delta’s ground crew and pilots have been aligning their strategies meticulously, including practicing precise “S-turn” maneuvers for an unobstructed view from both sides of the plane during the eclipse’s peak.
“We always aim for punctuality with departures and arrivals, but this flight adds an element of hitting an airspace at a specific time,” Clisham said. “Most people don’t realize how intricate and how precise lining up with the sun’s shadow really is.”
Such precision demands synchronized efforts between the pilots, Delta’s ground team, and Memphis Air Traffic Control, with everyone aiming for flawless execution.
Although the flights will not fly over Memphis, Tennessee, their airspace sector (Memphis Air Traffic Control) will be where many customers will view the eclipse. Clisham noted the potential delays because of the normal heavy congestion within this path. “That’s where the predominance of our attention has been,” he said.
The pilots, leveraging a combined 90 years of flying experience from their time in the Air Force and with Delta, also contribute to the airline’s Flight Standards program. This initiative supports newly certified pilots in adhering to Delta’s rigorous safety protocols, with Marshall at the helm.
“We’ve been in constant communication with Memphis Center, and we’d like to complete the turns before we leave their sector,” Clisham said.
This extraordinary flight not only highlights the intricacies of aviation planning and execution but also aims to inspire future generations of aviation enthusiasts and professionals. As the day approaches, anticipation builds for this spectacular encounter with the eclipse, symbolizing a momentous milestone in aviation history.
“None of us can predict every scenario that we may be faced with,” Marshall said. “I can’t tell you how important that coordination and teamwork is to see as a pilot, because I’m on the end of that long chain. It’s amazing to see it come together.”
“We have been researching and taking the eclipse speed into consideration,” Daniels said. “We’ve tried different altitudes and wind settings to work out the timing of the turns we want to do.”
“I really hope there are lots of children on this flight so they can see the science happening right outside their windows,” Daniels said. “This is a great opportunity to inspire a whole new generation of aviators.”
“I feel like every time we defy gravity and go airborne it’s pretty spectacular,” Marshall said. “Now, it’s going to be even more exciting to share the experience of this solar eclipse flight with everyone on board our two Delta flights.”
Monday, April 29, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
