"that has it up to almost 116,000 views"

Yeah, it's kinda freaky. Must be some sort of record.

Good News is fun to tell!

I don't know when but the test will be changing. I ran into a Captain friend of mine in the crew room who said they had brought him in to write some new questions. This was a couple weeks ago. I think if you know the subject matter and how to answer the current questions you would be fine. Although, he does have a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering.:D

Definitely the biggest thread ever on the APC forums in our short 2.5 year history...

FD

Just a hunch, but a lot of those new hires will be able to bid off the 88 NYC in February when the next AE is published. :)

That is the exact reason that a lot of new hires are going to be headed to the 88 in NYC. Yes, they can bid off at the AE. Nevertheless, those positions need to be filled and will just result in more people being sent to the 88 in NYC. My class had 19 88 NYC positions and many bid off during our second week of indoc. While one may bid off the 88 at the first AE, that person will still likely spend 3 - 4 months in NYC before going to training or getting sent to a different 88 base.

My guess is that that there will either be several classes with 18 or 19 NYC 88 spots between now and FEB, or one class soon will all or mostly all get 88 NYC.

The last clas got 100% NYC ER, and it was my understanding that the Dec class will get the same. Anybody think it has changed?

Don't worry about it.

You won't know until the 3rd, no matter what anyone has to say here. Not trying to bring you down...but if you get incorrect information here you will be more disappointed than anything else.

Enjoy indoc, welcome to Delta. Don't sweat the small stuff...as long as we continue to hire behind your class...you'll end up where you want to within the year.

Thanks, you are absolutely correct.

I got a call from Brian for a Jan 7th class. He said it would be "a variety of airplanes and a variety of bases" but he didn't have specifics. He implied as it got closer it might get more concrete, but he didn't know at the time that we spoke.

Sound wisdom.

New Hires converting to a new AE assignment
 

I saw the discussion on a person getting a NYC88 at indoc and bidding off to another base/aircraft. I did not see it mentioned but the reason that person still has to fly out of NYC on the MD88 for a few months is because your replacement has to be trained. At least that is what I remember the Crew Resources folks telling my indoc class. So if you get an NYC88 at indoc and bid off, you are hoping for a lot of NYC88 assignments in the next class. If the next class has all 76ERs, then you may have to wait a bit. Granted there is a conversion window. So new hire assignments are based on where the need is and AE assignments play into this. There is still plenty of room to bid what you want.

My cheap two cents: I think Delta is gearing up for the additional international routes next summer and do not want to be short on the 76ERs, especially out of NYC. So they are filling those vacancies first. At the same time they are balancing it with keeping the NYC88 filled. I think it is reasonable to see an assignment change in 6 to 8 months out of indoc if you bid something else. For example, a buddy of mine from my indoc class bid off the NYC88 on an AE bid that closed the 4th day of our indoc class. He was awarded the new assignment on a NYC737 before we finished indoc. He should be done with OE on the 73 by the end of December. That timeline is this: Indoc in June, MD88 training in July/Aug, finished OE in Sept, started 737 training in Nov, will finish OE in Dec. This is actually a pretty fast timeline. There were 88 folks in the late summer classes who had 4 to 5 weeks off before starting 88 training.

Of course this gets away from the real point of indoc, it is a blast. When we had the welcome dinner on that second Monday of indoc, I flew my wife to ATL. However, I did not fly her in on Monday. I flew her in on Saturday morning. We went to a Braves game on Sat with a group from indoc and then checked out the ATL nightlife. Sunday we had dinner with a buddy from indoc and his family who lives in ATL. Monday we had an awesome time at the New hire dinner. Regardless your assignment, have a good time in indoc. (disclaimer: just remember, you are still there for Delta training so don't get to wild) And yes, you can fit 14 of your indoc classmates in your Comfort Inn room, standing room only. The little frig will hold about 2 cases of beer.:D

Final thought: Just keep in mind, it wasn't too long ago that everybody started out as a "plumber" on 727 before they every saw a right seat. My old man just retired from one of the other Legacy carriers. It took him 8 years to get to the Maddog and I got it on my first assignment.

Okay I'll get off the soap box. Welcome aboard to the Hew Hires!!! I think you will enjoy it. I am!

G.Dude

I'm curious how the next couple of months play out for the new hire classes. Sounds like there will be a lot of opportunities. What category will they fill first with the new hires? LAX73N called for 40 F/O's, only 19 moved to it. I know mr. Doyle's letter called for the new categories to be filled by March. Does that mean we are going to see LAX as an option in classes next month?

What kind of flying is the LAX73N going to be doing? Is it going to be just domestic or will it also do Mexico / Central America?

That's a good question but I would assume a little bit of everything. They obviously are building LAX up a little as they gained more in the bid than they lost with the 765 moving away. Can someone in one of the new hire classes ask the question to someone in the know what they are planning to do in LA and post the answer.

Thanks

I just bid over to the 73N out of LAX after getting the MD-88 NYC out of training. I called about it to see what they were planning and I was told that it would be going all over the U.S. and Mexico/Central America. Trips would including flying other versions of the 737 and not just the 737-700 (a good thing because the -800 pays more).

Also, I asked how they would fill the positions if they were not filled on the Nov AE. They said that they would put the rest on a Feb 08 AE and/or use new hires to fill the rest. This bodes well for any new hires looking to get to LA in the near future. Best of luck! As a west coast guy, I'm sure happy about the expansion in LA! :D

That sounds good. I wonder if the Dec 3rd class is going to be all 7ER as talked about or if it will be a mix now that the latest AE is finished? When Mr B called me with the Dec class offer I asked (after very graciously excepting the offer :D ) if he knew the aircraft breakdown for the class. He said it hadn't been decided and it may be all 7ER or they may throw a few other aircraft into the mix. We'll find out in a week!

Medical required for training
 

Folks,
What class med does DAL require for you to possess when you start indoc trng? How about sim trng and out on the line for new FO's? Thanks.

You'll need a current First Class to get the interview and again to complete training if it's not still current. After that, F/O's in categories requiring a type rated relief pilot (777, 767-400, 767-300ER) will have to keep the First Class current (every 6 months). F/O's in other categories need a First Class every 12 months.

BTW, Delta reimburses you for all your required FAA medical exams once you're hired, so it's really only a time and trouble thing.

It was my impression that they were moving some -800's over to LAX from ATL ASAP and not waiting for the -700's to trickle in. Then when the -700's come on line they would go to back fill the lost hours in ATL. Did you hear something different? I hope I don't have to wait that long to move. Bring on the new hires out west!

I didn't get that information but maybe it was because I didn't ask any questions about timing for the move. I looked at the projected staffing for 73N LAX and it showed 20 F/O's for April 2008 and 40 F/O's for June 2008 (same for Capt's I think). I guess the question is, when do the -700's come on line? I guess we will be flying whatever 737's are available by June 2008! See you out there! :D

Can you show up with an expired medical? If I read correctly, it just has to be current to "complete training," right? Thanks.

They start coming on line in August, in Atlanta, to destinations where the -800 is performance limited - think Central America. The -800's will be distributed before then and the ATL 737N category will be fat on pilots until the -700 deliveries begin.

The plan is to hire a lot (70 a month) in early 2008 and try to get training done before the July, August, block hour increases. Total 2008 around 650 (no changes thus far).

Domestic margins are getting tight. Fuel costs could effect 737-700 options since they are growth aircraft. Right now there are 10 firm, 10 options being looked at hard and SouthWest is deferring a lot of options.

Hard to believe this is a serious question. You are kidding, right?

I was asking for a 'friend'?

I tell my friends that Delta is the best 121 gig on the planet right now and it is easily worth the effort and expense to show up prepared to succeed.

A pilot without a Medical isn't really a Pilot at all (being legalistic) and could expose the Company to a disability claim, as well as the other Pilots to a draw down of their Mutual Assistance Fund. Not to mention everyone from the Secretary who inputs the documentation into Pilot Records to the Program Manager would be asking questions about "the guy with no Medical." The goal is not to stand out, but rather to be outstanding.

I can't say for sure this is an instant deal breaker, but the risk sure exists that Delta would have to take immediate action to protect their interests. Some new hires have been sent away and asked to return when they were able to complete training (with the commensurate loss of over a hundred seniority numbers).

Your friends and mine will love it here. I can't get this goofy grin off my face - even flying the Mad Dog.

Yeah, what he said. You could show up with Elvis sideburns and dreadlocks too, but why push it? Now is not the time to stand out in a negative way--not with hundreds of people who would kill for your spot in Indoc.

Go get it renewed--it'll be the last one you'll ever pay for. FWIW, they are going to collect all your documents to input into DBMS during Indoc, so yeah, they will probably notice the expired medical. That, and the FAA can ask for your stuff at any time when you're in a training program. And you'll need it to ride the jump seat.

That begs a question. When flying 121, do you have to carry your tickets and medical with you like a drivers liscense? Please forgive my ignorance as I have only flown mil.

Yes! In fact, I got a copy of all my certificates from the FAA and carry them in my flight bag.

Carrying your licence and medical are manditory while on duty and you will be asked to show them to the FAA, company check airman, and captains if you are jumpseating. I've had three FAA inspectors this year ask for my credentials. If you loose them fess up as soon as possible airlines have ways to get temporary authorization quickly.

About showing up without a current medical: VERY BAD IDEA

If you're trying to save a few bucks (a noble pilot manuever by the way) it probably will not work. Delta automatically pays a set fee into your paycheck in the month your medical expires. Since you're not in the system until you show up for work my guess is you would not get the payment until your next expiration month.

Remember you are on probation. One negative may not get you fired but they add up and right now there are plenty of people out there that would love to have your job.

Totally agree. Why would one risk a job a Big D to save 80 bucks on a medical? How much did your interview suit cost? How about the money spent going to the interview? Between uniforms, interview, room and board in training, etc it probably cost 5 grand to get started at a legacy. Your medical is just as important as the uniforms you wear, luggage, headset and the rest of the package.

Just my opinion

slinky

In a pervious post someone mentioned that DAL might be having a Job Fair in lieu of going to AirInc. Anyone have any info or an answer from the "school house"?

Marty!

Actually, don't the regs still say 'on your person' (which means a pocket, and not luggage)?

I always assumed that it was to save them from running dental records when sifting through the wreckage. Of course, I carry enough gas to make the point moot...

D e l e t e d - off topic

Why would there be 500 numbers between two individuals in the same class at DAL?

I';ve been at Delta for 18 years and I can't anwser that question. My class had their numbers spread out as well, the pioit with the lowest seniority number had the lowest employee number.

Pilots one year senior to me have employee numbers 3 times higher.

Well, now it makes sense....NOT:D. Oh, well, I got a very cool number that I am very happy with and very easy to remember. I just wonder if the list we received by e-mail today means anything as far as where we are seniority wise in the class, do you have any idea?

[ I just wonder if the list we received by e-mail today means anything as far as where we are seniority wise in the class, do you have any idea?[/QUOTE]

I would think that the pilot with the lowest number is the most senior. That's how its gone in the past.

I would think that the pilot with the lowest number is the most senior. That's how its gone in the past.[/quote]

Are you serious? That makes no sense with respect to SSN... Oh, well we will find out..

The email list is in Seniority order. It goes from a 9999 guy at most senior to 0000 least senior. In regards to the employee number issue, some people in your class with oddball numbers might me former employees or interns. Good luck!