Delta has just issued the following statement to news media about International Association of Machinists representation being rejected by above wing Airport Customer Service, Reservation Sales and customer-facing Delta Cargo employees. Please continue to monitor DNN for updates.

“These results are stunning – 70 percent of voters rejected the IAM. It is clear employees do not want to be represented. There is no better testament to how well the direct relationship works at Delta than the fact that the results of these post-merger elections – even with the voting rules changed in the middle of the process – have been the same. The will of the majority has spoken loud and clear: Delta employees want to preserve the special Delta relationship. It’s time for everyone to respect our people’s decision. They are more than ready to move forward.”

No it doesn't mean that. It is a multiplier used in a formula to come up with a number that will determine if the swap will be approved.

Take Reserves available and subtract reserves required to come up with a number. That number will most likely be negative during months with a 1.5 multiplier, but it can be positive. Multiply that number by the PCS multiplier. Round that number down to the next lowest whole number. Do that for both the day you want to drop and the day you want to add. If the day you want to drop will be equal or better AFTER the move then the days will be moved.

EX. Move an X day from the 6th to the 26th.

6th has 5 required 3 available and the 26th has 8 required with 6 available. 5-3 = -2. -2*1.5 = -3. 6-8 = -2. -2*1.5 = -3. Both days are -3 before the swap but after the swap the 26th would not be equal to the 6th so the trade won't go through. In order for the trade to go through the 6th would have to get worse or the 26th would need to get better, but they don't have to be 1.5 times the number required to be approved nor do the days have to be above the minimum required.

So, you can move days even if they are below the mins and the days are subject to the 1.5 multiplier the trade just has to make the company no worse off or better AFTER the trade is approved. My complaint about this is that the contract says NOTHING about the days being equal AFTER the trade it just says if they are equal the trade will be granted. I think a grievance would win if a trade is denied due to the days not being equal AFTER but they are equal BEFORE it you follow my logic.

suffice to say two different people

Really good explanation and it makes a scheduling supervisor's comment make more sense to me. Apparently the system is supposed to allow swaps if both days are black if it helps one day be less black.

Considering most MEM DC9 patterns start with a DH to ATL, I'd say MEM is in the running.

Thanks for explaining the PCS Multiplier RockyBoy. Still, It seems like we could have a better system. Kinda reminds me of this:

YouTube - Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. :D

Riddle Eagle beat me ... .

ACL

If you're up...ident. I just sent you a PM.

Buzz

He might be on a APC 1 in 7 break - I think he's been flying a bunch.

For all you xmas shoppers.

Report: iPad 2 coming in April

Apple will begin production of the next-generation iPad a little later than originally planned, but production is set to ramp up beginning in late February for an early April 2011 launch, according to sources for DigiTimes. A delay in the firmware is said to have pushed back plans to begin building new iPads in January, but initial shipments from OEM Foxconn should be as high as 600,000 units as Apple stockpiles inventory for its introduction.

Component suppliers have been notified that production for the "iPad 2" should begin within 100 days, with initial shipments going to Apple as soon as the end of February. But don't expect the new iPad to be available before April 2011—just one year after the launch of the original models.

When the iPad first launched, constrained supply made the device hard to find for those who didn't pre-order. The unexpected popularity also caused Apple to delay the international launch by at least a month. Now that the iPad is available globally—and Apple keeps adding availability in new countries on a continuing basis—Apple will need to build significantly more inventory for the launch of the second generation device during the month of March.

A secondary Foxconn factory in Chengdu is still in pilot production and not yet ready to supplement Foxconn's Shenzen plant, which is expected to build most of the initial second-gen iPad supply.

The next generation iPad is widely rumored to come equipped with a FaceTime camera for video calling and a gyroscope for advanced motion control sensing, much like the iPhone 4. It is also expected to be thinner than the previous model and have an improved display, and may even include a built-in USB connector (though you can color us skeptical on that last point).