Sailing,

Many of us have seen very few positive events while at Delta. As a new hire in 2001 we were told that hiring would be 30 a month indefinitely. At that time captain seats in MCO were 3-4 years. Months later we didn't have jobs anymore. Many had furloughs than were in excess of 5 years! For those of us who came back, we've found stagnation due to the age 65 change, a merger and the worst economy since the depression. As a result, many of us are on the 12 year pay scale and still 11% from the bottom of the seniority list. Our latest contract raises the ALV, I already work 15-16 days a month as a line holder, I really don't care to be away from home more than that. Being stuck on the bottom half of a category with PBS for years is not exactly fun. It also doesn't lend itself to controlling the type of trips we get. Maybe I should bid down from the 88 to the DC-9 for some quality of life?

I really hope the 88 717's are all growth, I really do. After what we've been through we would be naive to count our chickens before they hatch. My best guess is that some of us "glass 1/2 empty" types are looking at 17-18 years before we see our first Left seat. Again, I hope I'm wrong on that. The promise of "Someday" being told to me by senior pilots and management has yet to come. I know, I know, someday...............