As a person who didn't think we should represent two pilot groups, I certainly think we should represent one: the Delta pilots. I suspect, but don't know, that soon the supply of qualified pilots will be a problem, and the small-gauge scope and RJ economics being what they are, it's not hard to imagine a day where the regionals will allow Delta to dump 50-seaters, in exchange for larger aircraft crewed by Delta pilots. It doesn't really matter to me what structure they use to make it work, but I see a convergence of factors forcing an agreement on Scope that would be mutually advantageous to all parties.

I don't claim any special knowledge. I did speak to a friend that had a fourth-floor guy on the jumpseat, and he had just returned from an airline conference that gave him the impression there are only enough qualified pilots in the pieline for the majors to hire for the first two years of Age 65 mandatory retirements.