Wow Ferd, you've got a big back yard.

You are welcome, as your posts are always the same...there is no good way to contribute to the conflict we have been drawn into over the last decade plus. As a tanker pilot, I am always humbled when people thank me for my service, as I realize that I am much safer than most of those whom I serve with. To give a decoration that is "above" others that can only be earned while directly under the threat of bodily harm/death...I don't know if due diligence was done before they pulled the trigger on this one...

Gary

Gary,

I hear ya! After my almost 22yrs. in the military, you're telling me now that the gubmint went with "fire, aim, ready"? :D

GJ

Ha GJ...with my 17 on top of your 22, we have seen a whole lot of fire, aim, ready! Stay safe, and let's wish the same for our service brothers and sisters!

Gary

Scambo,

I understand the DWM is worn above the Purple Heart and Bronze Star w/ V....insulting to direct combat participants.

Do you know for a fact that the Air Medal has been awarded to drone pilots ? Not devaluing their contribution and service, just questioning the appropriateness of these 2 awards.

Regards,
BG

Businesses do not have a fiduciary duty to their employees. Employees do not vote on their middle level managers. Businesses do not exist solely for the benefit of their employees.

Outsourcing is good? I guess, if you are a business and not a union.

If this is a business, I'm on the Board of Directors and I want to know what the plan is to manage the AF / KLM JV shortfall. We're losing serious money and market share because of a deficit which appears to have no remedy in sight.

Two points:

• The crisis at Pinnacle was manufactured. Delta has committed nearly 2 Billion to their future success and has contracted for at least a dozen newly refurbished 50 seat jets this year (ref Republic 10K new business announcements for Delta). The created crisis was a justification to reset the race for the bottom in outsourced flying and already other ALPA pilot groups are facing concessionary demands from management to match Pinnacle.
• The MEC has already announced its "finding" without so much as a conference call.

These Pinnacle negotiations were shameful and I understand completely why the Delta MEC isn't upset about not being involved. They have some concern about a DFR exposure, although it really does not matter. Either way ALPA would be on the hook (if there was a DFR issue, which I don't think there was). The "none of our business" strategy is ill considered. If you think you might get sued then you are a fool to blow off the Constitution and Bylaws and Admin Manual. Trial attorneys love procedural omissions because they can use these omissions to suggest to a Judge and Jury "why would they do xxx when their own guidelines state ..... must be a nepharious conspiracy ...."

As a Delta pilot it should really bother you that ALPA National is telling our MEC that other pilots negotiating with our management is none of our business. It should bother you even more that the Delta MEC is eager to accept that specious legal argument.

We can't be any more marginalized than to not even be aware that our management is negotiating with another pilot group. Inasmuch as D-ALPA accepts this position, they are irrelevant.

I agree wholeheartedly. I have buds flying drones. It's not child's play and it has real dramatic and tragic results. I think they should be decorated....but not above those who've been directly under fire with loss of life potentially. I greatly value my Air Medal. It means that my ass was shot at repeatedly. Not to denigrate what the drone drivers are doing. Skill set? Absolutely. Same degree of mortality? No.

I have only posted a few times so take it easy on me. What the drone pilots do should be rewarded. Having it over these other awards is crazy though. I have been shot at numerous times. Landed on dirt LZs were the Navy seals just had a buddy hit. The highest award I have is an Air Medal and I am fine with that. The worst part of it all has been all the time I have spent from my family. If I could fly missions and see my family every night I would be a happy man. I just don't see how seeing your family could cause PTSD, unless its the wife telling me to vacuum when I want a beer.

Was outside weasel ops a few nights ago when a rocket landed and damaged two herks

Looking forward to coming back to Delta in a few weeks

I don't understand how but the company has told the union they intend to be in compliance per the contract. Combination of summer increases on our side and pull downs of AF KLM flights.