...and for the record, I'm not out to "hang" any one guy or committee. I'm just asking questions that apparently are a little uncomfortable.

Since I'm all about "birthright" and "looking to the past" here's my look ahead on what threats we might encounter going forward:

VA JV is coming, the denial on the US side is unfounded, even ticket prices bear that out... I hope it will look like the AF JV but we have one flight and VA is growing. The longer we wait the later the reference snapshot is taken

Alitalia will be part of the AF JV pretty soon.
If we keep the current levels DL pilots benefit from the established ratio.
Let's hope that's the case.

Ual and Air Lingus are attempting to set up an outsourced StarAlliance carrier.
We better watch and lean and have a plan ready should we be faced with a similar situation.

Delta will most likely replace domestic 757 service with New A321 with sharklets. The threat: the ER category will be untangled from domestic 75 ops, let's hope the A321 gets rates that reflect the range/payload capability. But it will be a net loss of $$ to the pilot group if the flyig shifts from the ER to the A320 rate...

As you can see I'm all about assigning blame worrying about the past and have a strong sense of entitlement.

I just wish that same sense of entitlement was prevalent in getting delta flying performed by delta pilots (allowing for some JV and DCI flying with the right level of checks and balances in place as seen in the AF JV language.)

Unfortunately I had one guy admit to me that potential for future Delta pilots is not something that is a concern as long as current delta pilots are taken care of... That is precisly the attitude that troubles me...

But what do I know Im just a regional punk junior pilot who should be thankful he has a job (which I am ;-)

cheers
George