Our E&FA team is good. It is a shame we do not employ it properly. Politics drive our evaluations. We avoid asking the right questions at the opportune time.

We have failed to evaluate the benefit of insourcing. When the Compass question was raised, I was disappointed to learn our MEC's evaluation was based on bankruptcy economic modeling that was irrelevant after the restructuring and merger. We needed new numbers. Resolutions were passed asking for the MEC to perform its job and obtain economic analysis, the Delta reps voted for "no action" while the NWA Reps disagreed along a straight party line vote. Obviously ... politics drove our "no action" on an economic evaluation of insourcing, or recovering our flying.

Questions we need to look at include:
(1) What is the long term effect on our bargaining power as jobs are outsourced?
(2) How much money is lost by Delta pilots, as jobs are outsourced and they wait until later in their career to become "mainline" pilots? (lost longevity)
(3) How much money is lost by Delta pilots due stagnation?
(4) From the union perspective, what are the threats to the relevance and continued viability of ALPA if outsourcing continues, or grows?
(5) What are the risks and threats during future economic downturns?
(6) What can we do to ensure Delta pilots are treated at least equally to other employee groups in corporate transactions?
(7) How has outsourcing harmed ALPA's relevance?

The DPA might just answer a couple of those questions for us. (Note: I am not a DPA supporter and believe our best shot is properly employing ALPA to achieve restoration)