Originally Posted by
2StgTurbine
Here is some information from a former regional pilot and current DPJ pilot.
The company is owed by Delta Global Services, not Delta Airlines. There is no connection between the two pilot groups. DPJ was originally created by Comair and has gone through several rebrandings and a painful merger with another charter company. Many of the negative stories come from the time of the merger and the previous management team which tried to run a medium size charter company as a small "mom & pop" place. The new management team is focused on investing in the company and growing in size.
The pay is typical for entry-level 135 jobs (low) and there is a 2-year training contract, but the positives are Delta flight benefits, quick upgrades due to growth, home basing, and a 8 on/6 off schedule. There is no flow program with Delta, it is an interview program. After 2 years you get to interview with Delta, but nothing else. They just started the program a few months ago, but I know of at least one pilot who is going to DAL. It will be difficult to judge the success of the program because most of eligible pilot group is older, do not want to go to the airlines, or have already retired from other jobs and are doing this for “fun.”
Many have heard some horror stories from this place, but most are secondhand or from the previous management team. I have heard much worse and recent stories from the regionals than I have from DPJ. That does not mean everything is perfect, but from my experience, it is a step up from the regional world and I enjoy the way I am treated.
That's great to finally hear from someone who isn't so negative about DPJ. I retired from mainline DAL in April and have successfully interviewed with DPJ and am in the hiring pool. I'd like to know more about the training contract, as I thought the CP had told me it was a 1 year contract. Also wondering if they are true to their word about the 8-on, 6-off schedule, or do they abuse it to 22 days-on as some have claimed on this site? In a previous life, I spent 2 years in purgatory (and paid for the training!) with a real bottom feeder, Trans States Airlines, and I sure don't want to ever repeat the experience at my age! Anything you can tell us about the real scoop on flying at DPJ, quality of life, etc would sure be helpful. I missed a call from DPJ this afternoon, which may be an offer of a class date, so I'm scrambling to learn more about the operation before I commit.