This is what is needed. Now I hope that the announcement of a deal and a TA are not sitting in the e-mail que waiting for the press release. If that happens then there will be no time for input!

They have given you the background, not go give some input!

ACL... reviewing V1 cuts, single engine ILS, walk around slides, that gouge that one guy made and so forth can't keep you away from us can it? :D

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Just got the email, now we know what one of us has been absent lately. ;)

Eh?

Yeppers. Actually, no. I do not study, it is a waste of time. Just looking at the power point presentation.....

As for why I have been gone, well, lets just say I was doing a little property shopping this last weekend......

I am sure Slow was typing away. He deserves props for listening and giving our input to his boss!

Just thought I'd pull what seems to be the money shot out of the MEC email that is worth everyones time to read in full:

Negotiations between the U.S. and Japan have fallen far short of the free and open market principles that have defined past open skies agreements, and indications are that the two governments may reach an agreement that is not substantially different than what Japan is demanding. FTB- elections have consequences

This would, at a minimum, be damaging to U.S. carriers in general, but it could be devastating to a U.S. carrier that finds itself without an immunized codeshare partner in Japan. Unless a genuine open skies agreement is reached between the U.S. and Japan, including open entry at all gateway airports in Japan and an opportunity to compete fairly and equitably, any U.S. carrier without an immunized codeshare partner will be at a severe economic disadvantage to those with codeshare partners. As previously discussed, ANA and United are members of the Star Alliance, and JAL and American are currently members of Oneworld; there is no Japanese partner in SkyTeam.

It is not possible to predict with precision what the future holds for Delta and its Narita hub under every set of possible circumstances, but it is reasonable to predict a scenario where:

• The U.S. and Japan reach an air transport agreement (labeled as “open skies”) that favors Japan
• Oneworld and Star Alliance members are granted antitrust immunity
• Delta is left without a Japanese alliance partner and without meaningful access to Haneda

With this scenario in mind, it is not difficult to understand why Delta and SkyTeam might strongly desire to bring JAL into SkyTeam.
...
From a contractual standpoint, the Pilot Working Agreement does not prohibit Delta from entering into a codeshare agreement with JAL, nor does it require Delta to maintain a Narita hub. However, if Delta elects to codeshare on a foreign carrier out of Japan to points in Asia, the PWA requires Delta to maintain a minimum number of slots at Narita using Delta aircraft.

Given the history and continuing evolution of the global aviation markets, the potential re-internationalization of Haneda, and the potential and likely outcome of bilateral aviation negotiations between the U.S. and Japan, the proposed SkyTeam investment in JAL is a rational way for Delta to maintain and increase its presence in Japan and the Far East. The alternative would be to ignore history, ignore the events taking place in today’s environment and simply hope for a successful outcome.

The pilots of SkyTeam’s member airlines share a productive, professional working relationship through the SkyTeam Pilots Association and recently passed a resolution supporting discussions that could result in JAL becoming a full member of the SkyTeam Alliance.

Your MEC will continue its policy of proactive engagement on all levels and with all parties who have an impact on the careers of the Delta pilots. We will continue to closely monitor any developments as they relate to Haneda access, open skies between the U.S. and Japan and the Skyteam’s proposed investment in JAL.

USAir Pilots try to block slot swap
 

US Airways pilots union wants probe of slot swap

US Airways pilots union says slot swap deal with Delta Air Lines could lead to higher fares

• By Harry R. Weber, AP Airlines Writer
• On 5:19 pm EST, Monday November 30, 2009

The US Airline Pilots Association said Monday it sent a letter to the Justice Department seeking a full investigation on the impact of the proposed transaction between US Airways and Delta at New York's LaGuardia and Washington's Reagan National airports.
In August, US Airways said it had agreed to transfer 125 operating slot pairs to Delta at LaGuardia. In exchange, Delta agreed to transfer 42 operating slot pairs to US Airways at Reagan National.
Slots, especially at peak times of day and in busy corridors like the Northeast, are valuable to airlines.

Hearing rumblings of an agreement with the MEC re SLC/MSP swap that would reduce training by only allowing ppl presently qualified on the aircraft to bid the new slots. Just a rumor...

That would make sense, but not good for a lot of ppl. (Me going to 320 in MSP for one)

LCC has a sim and the Airbus Training Center in MIA has a 330 sim.

The Airbus sim in MIA, as previously mentioned, was not maintained well enough to meet DAL-N training purposes. It also gets used as a 340 sim by other carriers requiring more down time between sim periods to swap out throttle quadrants, engine fire bottle panel etc. Airbus also used to charge us an exorbitant amount of money for classroom space. We all thought this was very odd since DAL-n was the largest operator of Airbii in the world.

IIRC the LCC sim probably has the wrong cockpit layout and I don't know if they have the software to convert it to PW engines rather than RR that they use (this has to be easy but you never know if they planned on selling sim time to other carriers)

Getting a new sim as part of an aircraft deal still requires a long lead time to build and certify.

Thales made the existing A330 sim in MSP but the entire project was overseen by one of our captains. The sim turned out beautifully. A new Thales sim has been estimated to take 12 months thru certification.

I was thinking it would really **** off the SLC guys that don't want to commute.

I hope its not another agreement they sign off and then tell the line pilots after the fact.

DAL-N did this during one of our concession negotiations, but we got monetary credit towards the concessions for granting the no-training base change (747-400 from JFK to DTW with no system bid)