I believe he is using some University aviation database and referencing Pilot cost per block hour. With our diverse fleet and all the training/reserves it requires we are inherently unproductive using this metric. But when you divide total revenue/Pilots we get a much different picture. I have been bringing this up with Sailing for years and he just tells me that is not the standard "metric" of Pilot efficiency.

Every time I have figured revenue generated per Pilot we produce more revenue per Pilot than Southwest - the Holy grail of Pilot efficiency. I have not done it since Covid so can not say what it currently is but Sailing says that is not a valid metric. I think it is the most valid metric and say why let management define what is and what is not a valid metric? What is more directly related to profits - block hours or revenue? Is Delta in business to produce block hours or profits?

Our management loves to claim credit for their financial acumen putting the right aircraft in the right market to maximize revenue - and they deserve credit for this. But on the flip-side the exact thing that allows them to do this (multiple fleets) affects our productivity as measured by cost per block hour. I have heard that multiple fleets are factored into the cost, but details matter and I am sure those numbers can be adjusted up or down depending on how you weight different variables.

Bottom line - Delta Pilots are far more productive if you look at revenue generated per Pilot than looking at Pilot cost per block hour.

Scoop