LM in today's Chairman's Letter mentions the ratification of LOA 16. Has anyone seen this? I looked on the DALPA site and couldn't find anything. It mentioned Negotiators Notepad 09-03 but I can't find that either.

The LOA is on the DALPA website

Yeah, they just posted it. I guess I was a little impatient.:o

Well, we are working under one JCBA. The contract includes a schedule for full implementation, so it is accurate that we have one joint contract. The differences between the scheduling systems were understood when the contract was approved by each pilot group, and the planned harmonization process is underway now, as provided for in the contract.

Wow, what a nice worded way to say that....

Let me turn down the squelch

AKA, we are waiting until SOC before we move DAL-N to the new rigs so that everyone gets to enjoy the new positions on DAL-N aircraft.

Wow, how did you get that out of it. The way I see it, bid period 5 will occur before SOC for every DAL-N pilot, therefore, any increase in staffing will have to occur before SOC. Second, I don't think there is any difference in staffing between the two scheduling systems, Delta management certainly isn't planning for any increase. Have your recent APA's included a big increase in positions? They have already bid out the APA's well into the winter right? Last, DAL-N still has to cope with the loss of 280+ jobs from the freighter loss. I don't think there is going to be a lot of excess jobs for DAL-S pilots to go up north for.

Nice try to whip up a controversy where there isn't any. Nobody is going to steal your jobs that aren't coming anyway with the changes in scheduling systems.

Oh, and one last point, did you read the contract before you voted on it? There seems to be a bunch of guys that voted on this contract and then complain loudly when they have to live under what they just voted for, as if it is a conspiracy.

Isn't this how every contract is though? I still haven't found more than maybe 4 pilots that voted our pos bankruptcy contract.

As far as I am concerned, we are under TWO contracts until I can take my old NWA cntract and throw it in the trash can. At the moment I have to retain that contract for Scheduling rules, monthly bidding, position awards(one more month for that), crew augmentation, duty and trip rigs, unable to commute(policy at NWA) and a bunch of other sections.

If I needed a list of sections that have NOT transitioned, I would have to call someone on the TWG because no one else can tell me what parts of my old contract apply and what parts of my new contract apply on any given day.

Even on sections that have supposedly been changed over there is still old terminology being used. Example: Off Rotation Deadhead. If I call scheduling for an EARLY or DELAYED deadhead, then scheduling understands, if I ask for an OFF-ROTATION deadhead I may or may not get the "moments of silence" on the other end. Hell, I hear even DAL-S guys don't call it an OFF-ROTATION deadhead. But that is just terminology. There are many, many parts of the old NW contract still in effect for DAL-N pilots.

So you can say that the language is in the JPWA that makes this one contract, but I'm still carrying two different ones on my trips to make sure I know what the hell is going on...

On a side note, I am very glad to see that ASAP came with the merger and is working out for the DAL-S pilots. It's a great program for pilots, for DAL, for the FAA and for air safety in general.

Yes. Then, via a logbook entry denoting Service Bulletin compliance can be changed to exceed, or comply with, the scope flavor of the day.

Obviously our scope is a limitation which is not very limiting as we watch the airplanes fly full of our passengers. Worse, we can not monitor compliance.

Our scope needs to focus on WHO flies, not WHAT flies.

Interiors
 

DH'ed on a 9-50 the other day that had the new blue leather interior. You would never have known how old that plane was by looking at it. Even with a fatty hanging over my armrest (jet was packed full), the new seats were very comfortable. They will feel even better in the winter.