Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
04-24-2013 | 05:38 AM
Everyday is a weekend!
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Seasonal Help
I think most of us realize that the sequestration is a political tool but I thought you would all like to see this letter. It was written by a FAST leader whose name I will not include.
"I planned an FAA Safety Team seminar on the subject of non-towered operations at towers closed by sequestration. The speakers listed would be FAA Safety Team members, local ATC controllers, and FSDO inspectors.
The document was released to 8,000-plus pilots in the Tampa Bay area by FAASafety.gov around April 1. On April 3, I got a phone call from FAA Safety Team management advising me to revise the notice and remove any mention of FAA involvement. I expressed my extreme displeasure with that direction, but I revised the notice. Two days later I got a call from the same manager telling me that FAA HQ wanted me to change the title and remove any mention of the word "sequestration." In addition, I was advised to not discuss budgetary items or sequestration with pilots.
I cannot detail here what I said to the manager because a censor would redact them. I refused to change the title. I also threatened to resign as a Lead Team Rep (been one for 25 years) because I will not let the FAA trample on my First Amendment rights. The manager asked me not to resign, especially when I told him the next call I was making would be to the media.
The FAA is not paying a penny for the countless hours I have devoted to the FAA Safety Program. I refuse to be intimidated by faceless Washington HQ types who cannot stand the heat brought on by their total disregard for aviation safety.
The title of the seminar was revised without me. It was held last week with 66 pilots attending. We discussed everything that the FAA told me not to discuss.
This attempt by FAA HQ to manage the story cannot be tolerated. That's why I am writing this letter."
"I planned an FAA Safety Team seminar on the subject of non-towered operations at towers closed by sequestration. The speakers listed would be FAA Safety Team members, local ATC controllers, and FSDO inspectors.
The document was released to 8,000-plus pilots in the Tampa Bay area by FAASafety.gov around April 1. On April 3, I got a phone call from FAA Safety Team management advising me to revise the notice and remove any mention of FAA involvement. I expressed my extreme displeasure with that direction, but I revised the notice. Two days later I got a call from the same manager telling me that FAA HQ wanted me to change the title and remove any mention of the word "sequestration." In addition, I was advised to not discuss budgetary items or sequestration with pilots.
I cannot detail here what I said to the manager because a censor would redact them. I refused to change the title. I also threatened to resign as a Lead Team Rep (been one for 25 years) because I will not let the FAA trample on my First Amendment rights. The manager asked me not to resign, especially when I told him the next call I was making would be to the media.
The FAA is not paying a penny for the countless hours I have devoted to the FAA Safety Program. I refuse to be intimidated by faceless Washington HQ types who cannot stand the heat brought on by their total disregard for aviation safety.
The title of the seminar was revised without me. It was held last week with 66 pilots attending. We discussed everything that the FAA told me not to discuss.
This attempt by FAA HQ to manage the story cannot be tolerated. That's why I am writing this letter."
04-24-2013 | 06:04 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,078
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
04-24-2013 | 06:34 AM
Works Every Weekend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,506
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From: 737 ATL
Sequestered today. So its Wednesday morning guitar time.
04-24-2013 | 06:35 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2005
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I'm in the top 3%, with 12 years to go, can I respond? 
We, the top 33%, have been screaming about the loss of our wide body flying for a long time. At least 10-15 years. We can do simple math. We understand that when Delta started to code share with Air France, and we cut our flying to Paris, while A/F bought a whole bunch of new 777's to fly to the States, it was not good for Delta Pilots. At one time, 20 years ago, Delta had 55 L10-11's. We don't have that many wide bodies now, after a huge merger!
But Richard knows he cannot compete with Emirates, dollar for dollar, flight for flight, due to their cheaper financing deals through the IMEX bank deals, and all their other cost advantages. They don't ever have to make money, they can (and will) flood any market with cheap, empty seats, and drive the US Carriers out.
Why do you think DALPA and Richard have been fighting this? And who do you think is hurt more when they cut Wide Body flying? Wide Body Pilots, (the top 33%, most of whom are in their mid 50's and still have 2-3 contracts to get through) or 717 pilots?
We all want more wide body flying. Now, how do you propose to force Delta to do it? Oh, and are you, in the bottom 66%, an ALPA PAC supporter? The azzhats in DC make the rules, we need to pay them to see things "Our Way". Sad, but that's what this is about.
We, the top 33%, have been screaming about the loss of our wide body flying for a long time. At least 10-15 years. We can do simple math. We understand that when Delta started to code share with Air France, and we cut our flying to Paris, while A/F bought a whole bunch of new 777's to fly to the States, it was not good for Delta Pilots. At one time, 20 years ago, Delta had 55 L10-11's. We don't have that many wide bodies now, after a huge merger!
But Richard knows he cannot compete with Emirates, dollar for dollar, flight for flight, due to their cheaper financing deals through the IMEX bank deals, and all their other cost advantages. They don't ever have to make money, they can (and will) flood any market with cheap, empty seats, and drive the US Carriers out.
Why do you think DALPA and Richard have been fighting this? And who do you think is hurt more when they cut Wide Body flying? Wide Body Pilots, (the top 33%, most of whom are in their mid 50's and still have 2-3 contracts to get through) or 717 pilots?
We all want more wide body flying. Now, how do you propose to force Delta to do it? Oh, and are you, in the bottom 66%, an ALPA PAC supporter? The azzhats in DC make the rules, we need to pay them to see things "Our Way". Sad, but that's what this is about.
BTW Top 3% at 53... not bad.
04-24-2013 | 07:27 AM
Runs with scissors
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 7,847
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From: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
It would be nice if I still had a retirement plan, and I was making $319/hr, instead of less than I was 8 years ago on the 757.
I'm only counting the 16 747's and 18 777's as a comparison to the 55 L10-11's we once had, for "Wide Body" pay purposes.
You can throw in what, another 21 767-400's and 33(?) A330's if you like, they pay a lot less, but throw them in and what do we have today?
A grand total of 88 Wide Bodies. Yipee...
The day before 9/11/2001 Delta had about 10,400 pilots on our seniority list, I think NW had about 7,500 back then (?). Today as a combined airline, we have what, about 11,500 or so. In effect, we have shrunken by an entire airline.
I think we all understand what's been going on here, but to AWM's point, it's not just the bottom 66% that are unhappy about it, and most of the top 33% still have 2-3 contracts to go. He sounds like he's trying to make it a Senior Guys screwing the Junior Gusy thing when it's not. Many of us Senior Dudes voted NO on that last one too, there was nothing in it for us. The pay raises were tiny and there was nothing much to replace our lost DB plans.
04-24-2013 | 07:41 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,078
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Great ... I'm on reserve ... and that's probably going to take me 5 hours. ... So much for the grass getting mowed, or shaving ...
Reminded me of a cover ... the Heartbreaker's just killed it.
Reminded me of a cover ... the Heartbreaker's just killed it.
Last edited by Bucking Bar; 04-24-2013 at 07:52 AM.
04-24-2013 | 07:42 AM
Straight QOL, homie
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Record-Shattering Profit Facilitator
04-24-2013 | 08:02 AM
No longer cares
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,109
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From: 767er Captain
My Pre-New Year's New Year's resolution was to learn to play the 2 guitars I have... and I mean play... not just strum a few chords, this year. Thanks. now I feel like I am light years from achieving that goal. 
04-24-2013 | 08:11 AM
No longer cares
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,109
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From: 767er Captain
They killed it too....
04-24-2013 | 08:37 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,078
Likes: 15
From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
My tastes lead me into Dave Matthews and Mark Knoffler, both of whom conspire to leave me deeply frustrated. I thought Joe Walsh said it best, "when you start playing you just suck. Then you spend the rest of your life trying to suck less."
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