Amen, another person that sees it my way.

That isn't the way negotiations work...Only DAL knows for sure the answer to this question...They will make you buy it whether or not that is the answer.

I know I can't guarantee anything, that is why I qualified it. I have been around long enough to make an educated guess. If you get 40 calls, you have spoken with 1% of your council. A rep will almost always get contacted by people that have a very high investment in a certain issue. That is why the scientific polling is a much better view of your pilot's opinions. A rep should also get out there and seek out opinions rather than waiting for people to contact him. That way you can also hear from the "silent majority".

If a rep only responds to the emails and calls he gets he will not really be doing his job, especially in a monster council like ATL. The vocal minority really doesn't represent the group.

First, I do not see DAL parking DCI's 76 or 70 seat fleet. The issue is that they need more seats to pay for you. You have gotten to expensive Joe. That will put pressure of DALPA to up the seat limit, and or the 76 seat RJ count. They state that they do not want any more, that could be for a few reasons. One of them is good and the other one is not.
I say make them put their money where their mouth is. Lower the 76 seat limit to current jets. Agree not to renew DCI lift contracts etc.

We are cutting the 50 seat jet. I say go for what you can. There will be a next gen 50 seater some time in the future that has economics that make sense. That is the reality. We need to plan for that this far out

Another great point, and I agree that we need to do scientific polling. We also need to make it more accessible to the pilots. I think that a web based polling option should be looked at.

If we are "too expensive", then how does putting them at mainline lower that cost? You will be raising the mainline cost in the next contract...

For starters, you are wrong and you have made one heck of an erroneous assumption. If you want to debate Air Safety Data, lets do it via PM. Allegations involving the tragic loss of friends and disputed "facts" has no place here. What is your point? Did anyone insult ASA pilots?

One "standard" is being able to work with others. I do not know you, but such an inflammatory post suggests a lack of diplomacy, situational awareness and common courtesy expected amongst professionals who work in small cockpits flying on 15+ hour flights to remote spots around the World.

You are a senior Captain at ASA, right?

Joe:

Many of our previous crashes have been industry changing events. Although very tragic and sad, we learned from them and have moved on. To polarize a group because of previous mistakes, is a party foul in my book. Yes, DAL and NWA has crashes ... and they try to hire to a very high standard. Human factors. Although tragic, there are other things to our jobs than flying airplanes.

Many of us want DAL paying passengers to fly on DAL jets that are flown by DAL crews. That way, we can control the product.

During the first day of my new hire class we were told "you were hired not only because of your safe record, but also because you have very high leadership experience and qualities and you are focuses on customer service. This is what we need at Delta."

It's about the customer service stupid.

Implying that we are not as "professional", or that we are not of the same "standard", is a party foul in my book....If you pick a fight, be prepared to someone throw a punch back...You can't attack us, and expect us to just take it....

Joe, you're absolutely right I question the "standard" of some of the DCI carriers because there is a REAL difference in hiring standards. I'm not being arrogant, I'm stating a fact.

There is a reason why most civilian pilots start their careers are DCI. It is what it is. Stop talking up the DCI world like it is the end all be all of aviation flying and that it is a last stop career job. There is a marked difference between the two and you know it. You are hired help, and we're slowly getting to the point where a lot less of you are required. That sucks because people are going to lose jobs and no compassionate individual would want that. However, its either you or us .. and I'm voting for us. Sorry.