Does Delta prohibit flying for hire on off days?. Contract work etc? What about non-flying forms of compensation?

Thanks

Delta doesn’t prohibit outside flying for hire, but you must tell them and get it approved first. Think non-compete. I don’t know where they draw the line but the process is described well in the FOM (?).

They make a point they will not help or be responsible for FAR 117 limits and you’d be wise not to have to cancel a delta trip for those.

They were very liberal during the height of COVID, but I’m sure they’ve tightened up lately.

I have seen outside flying requests go both ways. An ill informed chief pilot told me I needed to seek approval to instruct in a simulator while I was out on medical disability (he was wrong both in terms of the definition of "outside flying" and conflict of interest concerns. One need only read FOM 3.1.7 to see the language). So I applied to make the CP happy and not appear to be insubordinate. My friend flew a private 747 and gave me his letter of request to Delta that had been approved. I used it word for word, substituting the aircraft nomenclature and operator names. "Cannot be approved at this time" was the response. At the furthest stretch of the imagination, my instruction of BBJ crews could vaguely be construed to assist companies that might otherwise use Delta Private Jets, but they were going to buy that sim time regardless and would not trade their Boeing for some flight time in a Challenger or lessor aircraft. I was dumbfounded by the denial. Especially because my intent for simulator instructing was to remain aviation-current for the benefit of Delta when I got my medical back. ALPA told me to ignore the denial and they raised the b.s. flag with Delta. The individual that denied my request no longer serves in the same high-ranking position, so the atmosphere may be different now. But I'd say you're probably better off to make the request and see what happens, rather than proceed with unapproved outside flying. I know of three pilots with approved Part 91 gigs and one in a Part 135 operation.

All that said, I don't think outside flying makes a lot of sense unless you own the aircraft/business or are trying to get your "foot in the door" for retirement. I haven't found a gig where I can make more $$ per day than picking up a white slip at Delta (not to mention a greenslip). I suppose there may be a unicorn gig out there that could benefit you. Also consider the risks. Mishaps anywhere outside of Delta are much more likely due to operational nature and maintenance, etc. You have zero protections - you ain't in ALPA anymore if you twist some GA metal or are under scrutiny for any possible violation.

The company should be forced to compensate us to the absolute FAR limits for outside flying denials.

Who is the company to “own” our flying without compensating for it?

Thanks for all the replies, great info!

They’re your employer and they don’t want you doing any flying that competes with their bottom line, no matter how remotely. The rules were in place before you got hired, like the uniform and the hat.

while I agree with most of your statement, just because “that’s the way we have always done it” does not mean it should not be changed. (In this case, with the uniform jacket/hat 😆😆 )

Better be careful or we’re going to end up with another row of buttons.

Lol, what do you have against so many shiny buttons, isn’t 8-10 what you want in a jacket? 😜

I want a bunch of buttons on an extra flap that covers more buttons, as long as it’s held down by buttons and includes a strap to keep my hat from falling off during windy walkarounds. I also want the strap attached by buttons. Shiny gold ones.

now we are talking. We should have as many shiny buttons as we can possibly cram on to one jacket, and then a few more on the hat and pants for good measure.

Buttondundancy

I completely agree! We’ll see what the Uniform Survey results showed. Or we won’t. And the company will make changes. Or they won’t. I’m betting on the latter.

We’re pilots, we *****. It’s what we do, I get that.

I was mostly responding to Marcal’s ridiculous assertion the company should compensate pilots for pay lost due to being forbidden from doing outside flying.

I get what you are saying WRT outside flying, but as someone who only wears the hat because they absolutely have to, and would love to see that policy changed, I could not resist poking fun at you using that as an example of “this is what you signed up for”

given the fact I was a no hat/leather jacket type (Karbon jacket would have been even better) before DL, I’m surprised they even called 😂

LOLwut?

If anything they're too permissive. The company has no obligation to allow outside flying when it faces FAR limits for what you can do. Any outside civilian flying it allows is at its discrection as it should be unless you're facing imminent furlough, a UNA or some other special case.

I think both you and Herkflyer are missing my point. If the company says no to outside flying, I FIRMLY believe they should have to compensate you. They are inherently restricting your one trade. Flying airplanes. If they want to monopolize that, they should be forced to compensate you. I'm not advocating for whether they should allow it or not. I for one would not fly outside because the inherent risk(accident/violation) is much too great. But for those that want to and have fulfilled their obligation to Delta(flying a line within the LCW, or being available on reserve, Delta should not be allowed to simply say no with no recourse.

I'm saying that ONLY IN THE EVENT THEY SAY NO, they should have to compensate.

For instance, I know a guy who wanted to do some CFI work outside. He was straight up told no with no explanation. If he is entirely responsible for FAR117, etc. Why should Delta be able to park him and not compensate him for his potential loss of income from acting as a CFI? I told him he should send Delta a bill for his lost income.(Tongue in cheek)

Please see my post to Gloopy below. There is nothing ridiculous about allowing a company to monopolize your trade without compensating for it when they restrict it. If you fly your line/reserve and can fall within FAR117 with your outside flying, I personally believe the company should have no right to restrict you and if they do, they should have to compensate you.

I'm only talking about when they say you can't. Flying airplanes is our only trade. If they restrict it, how is that fair at all?

By the way, I have personally been approved in the past but that was a long time ago. At this point, I would never fly outside bc they risk of incident/accident/violation is to great to jeopardize this job.

They…umm…do compensate us

Yeah I'm trying to see the logical foundation for this absolute interpretation and its just not taking shape.

If you want to prohibit me from working for another *insert firm here,* you should compensate me for my every waking moment! And I only sleep 6 hours a night!

Why roll over on those 6 hours? What if you ca get paid to sleep in the bunk at another flying gig? 24/7/365 including any missed green slips (or equivalent) at another airline.

How dare they!?

Wouldn’t they just come back and say “well fly more hours for more pay for us…?”

They’re not restricting you from using your skills, just restricting you from using those skills to make someone else a profit. Can’t imagine working a side hustle CFI gig would pay more that picking up a turn..

Subway. Sandwich artistes get $15/hr.

Yes I thought about this scenario, but not everyone lives in a place that you can easily do so.

My standpoint is purely philosophical. I don’t believe a corporation should be able to restrict your one trade with zero reason and not be prepared to compensate you for the outside loss of additional income.

Don’t want me flying outside? Sure, no problem. Here’s a bill for the $500 I lost because you restricted me from flying.

At the end of the day I do believe it’s pretty rare for Delta to say no anyway but it does happen time to time.

Ya I'm surprised they denied him because I've received approval to do instruction in my flying club. I don't really consider it a side hussle, more of an excuse to get out to the airport and fly my own plane more. Picking up a turn is far more lucrative, but not nearly as fun lol. I really wouldn't expect the company to reimburse me for a denial though.

You are an employee, not a contractor. As an employee you agreed to work under the FAA approved operations manual which outlines the exclusive rights to your professional services. Delta and ALPA have excluded contractors from operating Delta flights per the PWA, so the only way you enjoy the benefits of working for Delta is as an employee. I see it as an opportunity to decide how much you are willing to contribute to Delta for compensation of your professional services. I routinely make average or better pay for below average utilization of my 1000 hours.

I’m surprised that no one has said being an ALPA “volunteer,” is their side hustle! LMAO!

You are now responsible for at least a dozen coffee/beer/bourbon sprayed keyboards.

Those Karbon jackets with the epaulettes are pretty lame. Please tell me you didn’t put that in the uniform survey!

Back on topic to the one who posted about outside work while on disability. Can they restrict what you do when you’re on disability? That’s surprising because it seems at that point you’re just trying to make ends meet.

Happy New Year fellow Side Hustlers!!

There was a lot of discussion this time last year on options trading strategies. I gave up by April. How did the rest of you fare in 2021?

Options
Overall options were profitable thanks to a few well timed TSLA covered calls. My S&P Iron condors were money losers due to strong gains in April. I got frustrated with position management and stopped trading except for a few more covered calls. I'm planning to venture back in with a few trades in my fun money account.

Stocks
The low margin rates at IBKR lured me into dividend stocks like XOM, T, IBM, and a few others. I've eliminated the margin to keep it available as a low interest line of credit for the first half of 2022.

Real Estate
Sold a few properties, failed at my first 1031, executed a partial 1031, Bought a NNN property and made a few passive investments in syndications.


Real estate remains the Side Hustle of choice for 2022. This year's focus will be a development project using land purchased in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. It isn't nearly as exciting as stocks, options or running an active business, so I think I'll take up mountain biking for entertainment.

I just invest in stocks, mutual funds, and bonds. Ended the year with a 27% return. I only invest in stocks in industries I'm knowledgeable about. I also got lucky and timed the market pretty well and sold everything off right before Omicron.

Stopped because I came to the realization that I really was playing with fire for lack of fully understanding it all. May reattack down the road.



Swore after the 2008 crash, I'd have a big pile o' cash for another big downturn. Up bigtime on NVDA, and up pretty good on CVX, MPC, JPM and DAL (hard to pass at $19)....that's all just funny money and it's easy to look good after this last year lol. May set aside some of my winnings and gamble on some crypto stuff, though not necessarily the crypto itself.



Maintained the status quo on real estate properties. Looking to do some hard money lending. May get more serious about properties if people stop paying stupid prices for real estate. Question, for tax purposes, do you consider yourself a real estate professional? Opens up lots of tax opportunities and probably wouldn't be hard to justify depending on how your view our hours worked per year.

Also, looking to branch out into a few entrepreneurial ventures this year and see where they go. Figure I might as well put my off time to good use lol.

Basically your disability will only be reduced if your other income exceeds your disability income.

Earned Income: If your income earned from other employment exceeds your LTD benefit amount, then your benefit will be reduced dollar for dollar based on the amount by which your income from employment exceeds your calculated disability benefit amount.

It is necessary that you report your income from other employment as specified on the attached Periodic and Annual forms. The Periodic Report of Disability Offset income form should be submitted if you are approved for LTD benefits and at any time thereafter when there is a change to your Earned Income. The Annual form must be submitted along with any applicable supporting documentation of your earnings by May 15th of the current calendar year. Both forms should be submitted, even if your earned income from other employment is zero.

Your total earned income amount generally includes all income subject to Federal employment taxes or self-employment income. It is reported on any W-2 statement issued by your employer or Schedule SE if you are self-employed.

Earned Income excludes any income, unless received in the course of your trade or business, reported on a Form 1099, such as annuities, pensions, Veterans benefits, and military retired pay, withdrawals from 401(k) plans, Social Security Disability Insurance payments, unemployment compensation, interest and dividends from savings accounts, stocks, personal loans, or home mortgages, insurance proceeds, gifts, inheritances, estates, trusts, endowments, prizes, awards, gambling or lottery winnings, alimony/child support, scholarships or fellowships, pay for jury duty, capital gains from the sale of personal property, amounts received in court actions, and rents or royalties.

Winning the options game is easy. It’s just most people that lose try to get fancy with condors, eagles, red breasted swallows, or LEAPS on Chinese companies.

Sell puts and covered calls on stocks with low volatility with about two to three months of time left. Get put… sell a covered call while collecting dividends. Get called away…buy more stock and repeat while collecting dividends. Or just roll the positions in both scenarios.

You’re not wrong! Although, I would say I look for HIGH implied volatility RANK. The higher the IVR the better the premiums. Otherwise, I am on a similar options trading plan!

For 2021, on options alone I gave back about 25% of my 2020 options gains. This was due to high greed factor in 2020 and buying calls out into 2021. Some did well, but most didn’t and I ended up giving back part of my 2020 options gains. Overall the entire “premium buying” gamble worked well and paid for a lot of stuff for me. However, I won’t be repeating it as it was nothing more than good timing and luck. I may buy some longer term calls on higher conviction stocks to supplement core positions, but nothing more. Going forward I will be almost exclusively selling premium 45 days out on high IVR tickers, evaluating the position at 21 days and closing or adjusting at that point (tastytrade method).

Options are a small fraction of my overall PF. For my investment PF I will post performance on the other investing thread where Trip and I are posting those details.

or just buy RYLD and get a 12% yield on rolling one month at-the-money covered call strategy without the hassle and commissions of selling calls yourself… 🤷🏻‍♂️

That’s interesting, I didn’t know this existed! Although it does come with a 0.6% expense ratio. Some work on cars or fly planes as a hobby. My hobby is options, so this won’t scratch that itch for me, but I may add it to the arsenal!

I believe there’s 3 covered call ETFs, but I like the Russell 2000 one (RYLD). Time premium is higher with more volatility, so might as well go with the more small-cap weighted one to max out that time premium. This thing has been just printing money since I’ve been in it.

There are no contracts available for this ticker. Is this just an ETF that does the covered call writing and rolling for you producing the 12% yield?

exactly. The AUM consists of a Russell 2000 index, and then they sell at the money covered calls on the underlying assets. If you check the monthly “dividend” distributions, they correspond to the monthly option contract expirations. Value is fairly stable (excepting the chaos of early 2020).