Originally Posted by acl65pilot

The profession needs to offer an alternative to regional wages. When a pilot is trying to get in to this industry they go where they go because that is really the only option. Give them something better and they will take it.

There are not enough freight or night cargo jobs flying checks. Little Bills in congress have largely gotten rid of that route as technology has taken over. The military option is no longer a direct path as many go fly UAV's on the first or second tour. Regionals are really the most direct path that many have.

Now that upgrade is not a year or two, pilots at the regionals are fighting to make better wages off the bat. The way ALPA is set up, that is up to their MEC's, but the pressure is there. The two year upgrade is gone. There is about a four to five year window of opportunity to change these wages as, in half a decade they will be hiring Captains off the street once again.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

I've still been lurking here... just havent been as talkative!


I had a chat with super about that whole deal last night. DL reserve is very easy. I've been here for 3 years now, and only 3 of my months here have been as a regular lineholder.

Just like any reserve system, it just takes a couple months to get the hang of and learn the nuances. Never underestimate the power of the sexy voice.

I like the default to long call over having to bid for it. I've sat both top of the pile reserve and bottom of the pile reserve. Senior reserve you get weekends off and by virtue of that sit on your butt most of the month. Junior reserve you work weekends, and by virtue of that you fly more.

My only gripes with our reserve system are as follows:

1-4 trips should be credited to what a lineholder gets.
5. Short call should add to credit.
6. 75 hours would be nice.
7. The elusive short calls and that being totally at the whim of scheduling.


If any of you junior NERDs have any questions at all about reserve. PLEASE PM me. I can clear up a lot of stuff and give you some good technique so it's not so mysterious and will make a lot more sense when and why something happens. It will be a lot less frustrating.

And whenever you do get frustrated: fullfill your obligations and no more. Don't try to fix a situation that they have gotten themseves into. "Let Delta be Delta" is a great thing to say to yourself whenever you see something special ed going on.

They really do have the best intentions 99% of the time... just sometimes things get jacked up. It's an airline!