The shortest tenure for pre merger DAL pilots on furlough for FM 1 would have been just shy of the 2 year point. The longest tenure without an opportunity to return (TK) was just over 5 years and 3 months. Everyone out longer than that would have been because of the individual choice to bypass recall. Pilots now returning from furlough bypass have been out for 11-12 years with the exception of some pre merger NWA pilots who have been out for 7-8 years since their last furlough.

I believe the pilots who have chosen not to return were likely never going to return. They bypassed when recall came and sent in a letter prior to the 10 year point to preserve one last option to return because they had nothing to lose by doing so. While it is noteworthy to see how many chose not to return, it's also interesting to note the 30+ JBLU 320 Captains who have been there for 10+ years that are returning to Delta. I don't think either of these things will have any effect on negotiations for our next contract.

 

There were some guys who were destroyed by the furlough. I heard some very sad stories. There were also some guys who went on to do some astounding things, and very lucrative things. You can say what you want about the rocking chair, but Delta hired some highly intelligent people to fly airplanes. Most of the guys I've worked with throughout the years could have done anything they dreamed of. It's too bad that we can't just boil down our needs to "mo money, mo time off". Get everyone rowing in the same direction for the first time in a generation.

 

Really?

 

I hear ya. My last day is burned in as well. Not because I got escorted out, but the flight itself. I was down in MCO on the 737-200. On the last leg, the CA makes a PA about this being my last flight, furloughed, 9-11 etc, etc. Well, either something got lost in translation or those old 737's PA systems were so bad that the folks only heard a word here or there. At any rate, as I stood in the door saying goodbye, almost every pax was congratulating me and or wishing me luck. My best guess is that they either thought I was moving on to better things, or that I was military and was going to go fight. At the time, all I could think was, "What the heck is going on?" I basically just got fired, and am being congradulated for it!?? Weird to say the least.

 

Did you live in DFW? What did they do for commuting pilots? How did they get home?

 

Well, I seem to remember using the snow blower multiple times for a number of years to clear the driveway for a furloghee's family while he was on deployment.

And, I never flew a green slip while anyone was on furlough because I never could have looked him in the eye again. ALPA didn't have to tell me the difference between right and wrong. I just did it all by myself.

It was a happy day when he returned to the line. There but for the grace of God go any one of us at one time or another.

 

I got my furlough notice early in Jan 03 from NWA, to go into effect on 1 Feb. I had been bumped back to reserve on the 9 and had just moved in to what turned out to be a really bad crash pad. There was about a foot of snow on the ground (and increasing). I was in a pretty bad place mentally. I called up my AF reserve commander and explained my situation and asked him what he could do. He called me back about three hours later and jokingly told me I was AWOL, because he had activated me an hour earlier. I really enjoyed relaying that message to crew scheduling.

Thank god for the AF Reserve. The whole point of this post was to tell new hires to make sure you have a plan B. Sorry, I posted the first time before I meant to.

 

First off, I am pretty sure Buzz meant to the say the "longest" furlough was 5 years, not the shortest. You know how these writers can be without their editors and proofreaders.

Secondly I will attest to what Hillbilly says above and further refine it. The shortest furlough (not counting the FM II guys who got recalled with backpay) was furloughed in February 2003 and recalled in July 2004. I know because I was in this group. I calculate that to be 17 months. If you subtract the two months furlough pay the shortest furloughs were without a DAL paycheck for 15 months.

Lastly I will relate a somewhat funny story about how it is better to be lucky than good. I was offered a July 2004 recall but deferred until August thinking I would not get another July off for 10 years, besides I was drilling almost full time in the reserves.

Well the July guys all got 737-200s and I would have been in the bottom half of this group. Also in July, there was an AE for 737-800s but most of the recent recalls stayed put on the 737-200s wanting to obtain a little seniority as quick as they could thinking all the recalls will come in behind them on the 737-200.

Well guess what? Pretty much the whole August group gets 737-800s and I come in on the top of this group with over 40 FOs behind me. You can bet some of the 737-200 guys ere complaining, but they had the opportunity to bid the 800 and did not.

Scoop

 

Buzz, this post speaks to me. As a 4yr 11month furloughee I came back looking for that unity as well. It has been a sad trip watching all the petty fighting and lack of unity. Everyone suffered but that doesn't mean it's time to be selfish to get back what we lost. Unity is the only answer but I'm discouraged at our chances unless a guy like you steps up seriously, published author, proven leader and all around good guy. By the way I'm lax based you got my vote

 

I'll second that. I don't always agree with everything that Carl says, but I really appreciate a senior 747 guy that is passionate about Scope and knowledgeable about a lot of issues that affect junior guys. Plenty of senior captains are totally oblivious of similar issues. Not to mention the whole Bill Murray thing.

Scoop