That is correct.

I was going to ask the other day, but failed:

Is there any concern at Delta that by delaying hiring they're missing out on the "cream of the crop"? Seems like American (USAir, mainly) and United are starting hiring in earnest and there's a limited supply of military guys and regional airline check airmen. If they wait too long they might be looking at bottom of the barrel guys like me!

If Delta would rather hire, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus applications!

Can't you just hear that guy on the tracks:

"Commuting sucks! Shoulda booked the jumpseat"

Carl

Senior old fart.

Carl

Got some intel today from someone in the know about a few things. Said the 717 initially would be doing the very short haul stuff (CHA, BHM, etc...) nothing earth shattering. If you like 5 leg days the 717 will be for you :) also confirmed some of the other rumors we have been seeing here on the forum, which is a good thing.

One more for me, short call @ that. I think I'm in the clear. Made it 6 days - ALL of them being Short call. STOKED!!!

Baja.

My sense is that crew resources complied the best they could to not hire and that margins are very slim going forward, in fact the bid was delayed to verify they could do it without hiring. I will be keeping a stand green in this summer. Summer 14 is when the deliveries out pace the ability to train those on hand and still staff the airline hence the need to get guys ready prior to summer 14.

Of course things are changing but the fact that Delta has performance numbers that are creating huge amounts of revenue and doing it better than anyone else means DL can make strategic changes at will.

Surprise,

You are definitely on to something. The problem is that the bean counters have said "No" to hiring. Apparently from the guys in the know, Flight Ops wants to start hiring now, probably partly for the reasons you state above.

It makes sense - Flight Ops knows more about Pilots than the bean counter and they want to hire. Unfortunately, to the bean counters, a Pilot is a Pilot, and to them there is probably no difference. I guess we are all partly a victim of our success. Since flying is so statistically safe these days many don't really think about how much individual pilots can vary.


OBTW - Is that a Charles Dickens paraphrase that you ended your post with?

Scoop :)

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sorry guys I just want to sure no lines are crossed on this public forum.

But very impressed with DL's view on how and where they will get the pilots to support the airline in the future!