Jimmy-
I think hiring in '09 will depend mostly on the economy. This is a "conservative" AE. They put it out mostly to man a couple more 777s and the CVG thing is kind of an experiment to see who bids it and what happens with training costs. I'd say its even money that they cancel the whole CVG changeover. They hinted at that in their memo.

767ER goes junior in New York because its New York. Expensive city and a royal pain in the a-- to commute to reserve.

One thing I am having a hard time grasping is in the projected manning requirements/staffing. In ATL B we are forecast to only have 381 vs. the 433 required. NYC is also short. I understand that the staffing requirements are a moving target based on schedule but at what point do they say we have to adjust our manning levels in order to meet the requirements. If it is not going to come from displacements, then it would have to come from hiring. How accurate are these numbers? I realize there are probably some economy contingency plans which reduce the requirements but it seems like at some point the shortfall has to be addressed.

Sorry to interject during your AE discussion....but I would be very grateful to hear your insights about the DCI plan...

Thank you in advance, acl65 :)

You got a brief on bidding? Lucky you. Our guy didn't show up for that one.

Any chance you guys might want to switch to the NWA APA system for bids? It's every month and you just get what you get if they are giving it and you are senior enough to get it.

I mean I have no clue what the heck you guys have been talking about for the past eight pages.

I know none of us really control the award system they use, but I am sure I am going to miss the easy, simple and straightforward NWA APA system.

Don't worry. I work at DAL, and I have no idea what we've been talking about! :)

I'm a AE newbi. Can someone please explain the AE bid preference blocks?

Sel -- Nbr -- Base -- Eqp -- Pos -- Low Nbr -- Low% -- Reg Only -- Tr Bv

I get Sel, Nbr, Base, Eqp, Pos; but I do not understand Low Number, Low %, Reg Only, and Tr Bv.

Can someone please give a good run down on these and how you would use them and the syntax required?

Thanks ...

-Fatty

It has nothing to do with the pilots. It has to do with the cost structures that DCI has. This economy is the perfect time for DAL to go after the DCI carrier. These carriers cannot just simply find someone else to fly for, they will actually have to list to DAL's demands. You will see these DCI carriers now become risk sharing partners in the operation. It simply will not be a guaranteed profit for running the flight.

Low Number, Low %, Reg Only


Low Number is the lowest number you want to be awarded on that bid preference.

Low % is the lowest percentage that you want to be awarded in that category.

Reg Only. Is a preference that will allow you to only be awarded the position as a regular line holder. This is dangerous, because it only is base on crew resources predictions. I always use a Low %, but that is just me.

If there is one thing Delta likes more than profits, its acronyms and abbreviations.