I thought this was the decision all along. That weekly newsletter said otherwise, but DAL has never had a typo before in their correspondence. I just hope (not a strategy) that they are mostly growth airplanes. That is the real questionmark.

Heard as of yesterday 176 on the RMA. Figure 10-20% backout for a total of ~150. I guess this kills once and for all the early retirement and all it needed was a medical plan myth.

I guess a bunch of junior pilots are going to get a displacement pay cut instead of a raise, and no new hires for a while.

The further capacity reductions sort of kills the hope of the 2013 flying plan making up for the productivity increases and RMA shortfall.

I bet 717A and 88A all go more, not less senior than before the TA

I heard this also. I have said this before. There is no excuse for not retiring. Most pilots will not retire until they are forced to. This job is their identity. They cannot imagine not being an airline captain. We have former NWA whale captains literally working for $1500/month vs what they would be making if they retired. These guys would be making more money if they retired and took a job at year one pay flying a regional jet. That memo about us hiring as early as fourth quarter this year was a TA sell job by the company. I don't see us hiring until 2015 and that's only if we reverse course and stop shrinking. On a brighter note, we are shrinking at about the same pace pilots are leaving resulting in continued employment for everyone on property.

Continual backwards movement is a real moral buster. I am starting to see the 717 as simply another possible step in the wrong direction. If they aren't growth, which I am beginning to suspect they won't be, then their value to the pilot group will be a cushion to furlough. The early retirement, as many have posted, will benefit a select few. As far as the group as a whole, it won't be a blip.

MD90s, 737s, and 717s are all smaller/lower paying replacements to aircraft already on property. I would say a majority of the pilot group is about to take a pay cut, thus negating most of our supposed TA gains.

In the end, my glass is half empty regarding these future two AEs. I also don't have much confidence in any hiring rumors. Growth at Delta is going to be through merger and acquisition. Our answer to pilot attrition won't be through hiring, it will be through mergers and the capacity reductions that follow.

This is one of many reasons I voted no. On a brighter note, DCI will be up-gauging their fleet while we are down-gauging ours. Oh yeah, our new contract in 2015 will pay what the 2000 contract paid if you count the retro pay. This is our restoration effort by ALPA. I still can't figure out why anyone voted yes on that TA.

Can you not MEL a lav on an RJ? Hour and a half delay so far on my commute this morning for lav service. ASA DCI flight to ATL. Full flight with all of them misconnecting.

Everyone was trying to help Bill Lumberg make 717A.

These facets of Delta doing its business, growth no growth, stagnation today growth tomorrow, grow today furlough tomorrow, would have happened whether or not this TA was voted in OR voted out. I dont like it anymore than no voters or yes voters. We are just the gear pullers and no matter how many times we vote no or hold our breath DAL management will manage regardless of how we think we can control the outcome.

It is fallacy to think any different. JMHO Hockey no dissin intended!

About what I heard on the RMA. Suspect we will see an updated number in the weekly Code-A-Phone.

As for displacements; It depends. DAL has a decision to make. Make the assumptions in the road shows appear correct by holding pilots in senior jets, or displacing and allow the teeth gnashing that will likely occur.

There are certain bases that may see displacements when other will not. I suspect that no matter what the number of early outs is, DTW will fare well, and ATL not so much.

DAL may also opt to displace because the anger or the downgrades will be quickly overshadowed by another event. Its all about timing.

I guess we will wait and see what the final number is on Aug 15th. I suspect many 744A's will pull paperwork when they realize how senior they will be after the ones above them leave.

Dci rj crews are just as well trained and just as professional as mainline crews. Ask Richard.. If a dci crew member second guessed your judgement what would you say?