I don't think everything is on track according to how they planned it to go down, they had been using 35 as the expected attrition number in order to slowly end the 200 flying. They are now in scramble mode as hundreds of flights are being cancelled, or threatened to be cancelled, and they are shooting for an extremely aggressive timeline moving the flying as quickly as possible. The FAA isn't know for their speediness, especially now with the holidays, as usual it is going to be a huge cluster. The original plan was also to make a decision on 9E the first quarter of 2016. There is no way what is happening now is their plan on track. The train derailed months ago, no one cared enough to pay any attention. A few hundred possible cancellations has caused someone to wake up. Their plan to keep 81 900's is also not on track, there is no way they will staff them for summer. If there is a plan, or was ever a plan, they must be on plan Z by now and it is failing miserably. In my opinion, nothing good will come to the pilots of 9E, there will be some legal maneuvering getting Delta out of their SSP and 2020 commitment and then 9E will be done, I give it 8 months tops. A little simplistic, I know, but using the current hiring/attrition numbers there will not be a single pilot on property in 2 years. How do you fly 81 900's with no pilots? You don't, you hire really expensive lawyers and move the flying to someone who is able to hire pilots.