Originally Posted by Roadkill (Post 1291356)

NOT correct in some respects. A net gain in airframes ONLY means more hiring if the productivity of pilots stays the same. If productivity is increased and reserves required reduced (as it was with this contract), then the company is instantly overstaffed a bit, and does not need to hire for any new airframes... those just get us back to Mgt view of a good pilot ratio. Which is not in our interest for time off and QOL, but may be for a profitable and existing airline.

ADDITIONALLY, I would dispute your assumption of a net increase of airframes. In fact, Delta has said to investors several times that all of the airframe deals we have going on will be capacity neutral. They have repeatedly stated these are all replacement airplanes. Elsewhere they have published the "increase" of expected airframes to 793 (I think), but there is so much massaging of investors and doublespeak of mainline vs. DCI airframes and capacity and shifting airframe removal dates, that I don't believe anyone can reliably state we will be growing. Those who point to that single 793 number and ignore allllllll the other investor statements made on capacity neutral and airframe retirements are IMO being sold a bill of goods while wearing naive rosy glasses.

Originally Posted by SailorJerry (Post 1291331)

But that's the very reason the airframes come in September. We go from running around like chickens with our heads cut off for 3 months at an ALV of 84 but then the block hours drop in September. So instead of dropping to an ALV of 72 we drop to an ALV of 76 to absorb the training load. It's an economies of scale issue. In a category of 75 line holders, a one hour change in ALV covers the absence of one pilot. If we only add 6 airframes a month, we add an hour of ALV to 12 categories, or a 12 hour increase in the global sum of ALV and we have the staffing issue covered. Hiring MUST commence shortly thereafter to absorb a full schedule of ALV=84 flying for summer 2014. Thus, the reason we won't ever be able to stop hiring, but the reason we've been able to dodge it thus far. Can't say that we weren't sold down the river on the TA thing, but this is the closest I can get to a legitimate, analytical answer regarding hiring (an answer absent the typical political infighting).

Originally Posted by Delta1067 (Post 1291397)

For the AE conversion window I think it runs Dec - May. Does this mean all pilots will be done with training by May or all pilots will begin training by May?

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1291399)

All pilots will be converted by May. You are typically converted the month you are in training.

Originally Posted by Delta1067 (Post 1291397)

For the AE conversion window I think it runs Dec - May. Does this mean all pilots will be done with training by May or all pilots will begin training by May?

Originally Posted by shiznit (Post 1291295)

Follow the actions of upper management decisions, not the words of the talking head middle managers.

Originally Posted by APCLurker (Post 1291406)

Exactly.

And the consequences of the actions I am seeing are:

-A seniority list that has been shrinking since the merger.

-Hiring that keeps slipping into the future,

-The loving embrace of codesharing.

-Backwards movement since the merger

-Cry for help on the slot swap followed by an initial 90% RJ's.

So you are exactly right Shiznit. Look at what is actually happening, and don't listen to the words and projections.

Originally Posted by Check Essential (Post 1291409)

Uh oh.
I think you just got put on slowplay's list of "negateers".