You have outdone even yourself, ftb!

I don't know if you can attach a .pdf to a PM, but I would love a copy that I can print, in color.

Nice! It's sweet that you put your daughter's pictures on the guitars too! :D

Or...is that the Virgin Atlantic chick?

I've only got one guitar, an acoustic 000, koa back and sides.

If I knew how to post a picture I'd put it up.

Hmm...getting pretty vocal in press with "impending Virgin Atl and Delta JV." Is somebody priming the DOJ, nudging AMR/US creditors, or just trying to influence stakeholders on the impending deal? I do enjoy a good show. Anyone hazard a guess when it's done?

Exactly... Sounds like this week sometime.

Well stated. I've been in contact with my Reps.

It has been a concern that the renegotiation of the Air France JV, allowing a three year measurement period, was ripe for non compliance followed by renegotiation. Our percentage of flying has dropped below 45% in some months and we have a deficit in our percentage which appears unlikely to be made up. ALPA and Delta will point at Air France and state "isn't our fault, Air France hasn't played nice on capacity reduction." At which point we need to remind anyone who will listen that Delta is in fact paying for it's share of the operation of those JV Air France operations. We can not let Air France's over optimistic wide body order book drive non compliance with our contract.*

( In my view, Delta could withhold payment and blame it's labor contract. In as much as Delta writes the checks, it is consenting to the EASK deficit. )

If we renegotiate the Atlantic JV to add Virgin, do we start with our 50%, or the diminished number we are actually flying? Do we pull out UK flying, which is a stable source of block hours for us?

As we look at a pull down of Atlanta 767 flying in this next bid, the choice is very relevant. It would be preferable for there to be 7ER jobs for these pilots rather than a cascade of displacements into narrow body equipment. A lot hinges on Atlantic block hours.

I asked my Reps for the following:

• Maintain at a minimum contracted flying percentages
• Tighten the measurement period to a rolling 12 month average
• Tighten the cure to a rolling 12 month average
• Consider punitive penalties for non compliance which equal or exceed the cost to the entire seniority list for the loss of each Widebody Captain position

Notes:
* Delta is not technically in non compliance, yet. But, Delta would have to increase to around 56% to get back into compliance, which appears unlikely.

This is not posted to be critical of our MEC, or management. Rather, Air France is the primary culprit. As labor, our #1 task is to protect our jobs. It is not an easy task. International agreements are magnitudes more complex than RJ scope and the control mechanisms are all new, unproven, designs. Even my easy and strong solution of "unity" appears impossible across the divides on cabotage and ownership. We have the right people on the job to give us the best possible solution. We need to remain engaged with our Reps and support them in their efforts on our behalf.

I seriously hope that with a change in MEC Administration someone decides to use your talents.

Thanks. As I've engaged my Reps on this issue it is clear they are already completely up to speed. We got some real experts doing the technical support as well. I am confident in our team.

Remain engaged. Do the paycheck deduction to ALPA PAC, it is quick and easy. Right now, ALPA PAC is the closest thing we have to a national commercial aviation policy. I doubled my contribution for next year.

Already a President's Club level contributor. Emirates is spending lavishly to get legislative changes to enhance their ability to make a profit at our expense. ALPA PAC is all we have fighting for us.

Donuts would get stuck to peoples shoes in DC :cool:

My guesses are a hazard.

I'll second that. Bar knows contracts, both inside and outside of pilot contracts, knows how to crunch the data, and knows where the pitfalls may lie. I too would like to see his 25 or so years of experience put to use for the Delta Pilots.