Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
08-08-2013 | 08:18 AM
Gets Weekends Off
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08-08-2013 | 08:28 AM
Gets Weekends Off
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I was actually struck more by the tone, than the data, which I glossed over. To be fair, I went back and looked at the data provided.
Initially, I don't quite know how to make sense of the last chart. I don't actually understand the title. It appears to be a chart that shows how much bigger a pilot's monthly credit would be, in order to increase average pay/calendar day. If I understand correctly, in order to make average pay/calendar day move from 5:20 to 5:49, the total amount of credit on a line would have to go up ~70%. Or maybe it's ~70% more synthetic credit pay, which I have no way of equating to a monthly cost.
I assume, but can't confirm, that the first chart shows that system-wide, in July 2013, that going up to 5:49/day would increase credit time by ~ 12,000 hours. In which case, we may be saying the Company is finding that ~1 hour/pilot/month is too expensive to make better rotations. Or is it more like 2 hours/pilot/month, since we're not including all fleets?
So, I have no objections to the union putting up data. If you're going to put up data, put up data to support our objectives. It would be 100% fine with me if the union had said the cost of making rotations that yield 29 minutes more/day, which gives us X more days at home on average, is about 1 (or 2) hour(s) per month per pilot. I think most guys wouldn't be surprised to have the Company explain that it finds this to be too expensive when they present their side of the story.
Where I balk, is when we write this in as an introduction to the last chart:
"...While overall rotation pay did increase in our testing, its increase was marginal compared to the percentage increase in both synthetic credit and deadhead hours..."
Why are we arguing that this benefit is marginal?
08-08-2013 | 08:31 AM
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,263
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From: DAL 330
9. A short call pilot:
........
44 f. will be released from on-call duty not later than 1200 base time on his last on-call day
45 prior to a hard non-fly day.
From the current Live contract
Scoop
Last edited by Scoop; 08-08-2013 at 08:43 AM.
08-08-2013 | 08:39 AM
Line Holder
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Captain
You don't think productivity sits and going from concourse A to D every time you transit Atlanta could be solved by building rotations where pilots and FAs stay with the same plane?
It really is that simple.
Not a knock on the SOT. I think the company, for some reason, likes nonproductivity.
Excuse iPhone syntax.
08-08-2013 | 08:44 AM
The Brown Dot +1
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: 777B
scambo1, I complained about that for 20+ years. Having said that, if there's one thing I've learned the past few years, it is that solutions that appear to be so obvious, really aren't. Or they would have been instituted by now.
Regarding productivity -- I think the real issue is pilots and Delta define productivity differently. We define it as flight pay per hours away from home; whereas they define it as flight pay per block hour. So sit arounds and 30 hour layovers generally cost them nothing, but cost us a lot. We need work rules that balance those two different goals. And that's why things like the Average Daily Guarantee were implemented last contract. It's less than we wanted to get, but more than Delta wanted to give.
Regarding productivity -- I think the real issue is pilots and Delta define productivity differently. We define it as flight pay per hours away from home; whereas they define it as flight pay per block hour. So sit arounds and 30 hour layovers generally cost them nothing, but cost us a lot. We need work rules that balance those two different goals. And that's why things like the Average Daily Guarantee were implemented last contract. It's less than we wanted to get, but more than Delta wanted to give.
Also, if crews were paired together with their planes, there wouldn't be a need for synthetic credit. A domestic guy would be flying a hard 6 plus hours, with the only thrash being if the plane was hard broken. As it is now, we are talking about synthetic credit and deadheading, but the nonproductivity issues really only show themselves when transiting a "base."
08-08-2013 | 09:10 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: CA
08-08-2013 | 09:14 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
FWIW, the FA's are great and all, but as an FO it is nice to have them stay somewhere else and not have the "sonny, my bags ...", "the pilots used to buy us (drinks/dinner/entertainment)", the once in a while getting hit on by someone 25+ years older than my wife and pure drama of whatever domestic disaster has befallen their (partner/spouse/cat/kid). Delta's FA's are mostly responsible, professional and friendly. If you've flown for an airline where you (the pilots) have to babysit ... you really appreciate the fact that Delta's cabin crew are self reliant, responsible, professional and friendly adults.
08-08-2013 | 09:15 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: 7er
Doesn't that only apply if you are going into a golden day off? I though SC could go beyond noon if you are just going into a normal x day.
08-08-2013 | 09:24 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Yep ... with the new FTDT Delta will "optimize" reroute opportunities. In some ways lineholders will be like reserves... bid the days off you want and SC periods because with the hard limits all airlines are going to have to do some quit and dirty juggling during IROPS.
08-08-2013 | 09:48 AM
Straight QOL, homie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,202
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From: Record-Shattering Profit Facilitator
After all, nothing's changed in the last 15 years.
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