For PMNW pilots, EVERY day on reserve was "short-call". Current reserve is MUCH better, but, let's face it, a bunch of guys still try to commute to a reserve schedule. Would a 79 hr guarantee on reserve be worth all days being short-call? Good question, but clearly, improvements are needed. 70 hr guarantee is too low. Anybody disagree?

 

Delta will decide on plane order by year-end - Yahoo! Finance


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc will make a decision on buying planes by the end of the year, its chief executive said on Thursday.

"We'll make a fleet decision by the end of the year on mid-body replacement," CEO Richard Anderson said, adding that the decision would likely come before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday in late November.

He cited some weakness in the U.S. economy but said Delta's forward bookings look strong.

"We're seeing some softening in the economy ... the indicators aren't what you would like them to be," Anderson told reporters after the company's annual shareholder meeting. He said Europe's economy was where he sees the most weakness.

Delta, the No. 2 air carrier behind United Continental Holdings (NYSE:UAL - News), said earlier this week it expects a "solidly profitable" second quarter as higher revenues have for the most part offset rising fuel costs.

The airline sent a request to several plane makers late last year for proposals to deliver up to 200 planes to replace aging models. Possible orders could include large, medium and small single-aisle planes to be used on U.S. routes, Delta said earlier this year.

The head of Brazilian plane maker Embraer's (Sao Paolo:EMBR3.SA - News) commercial aviation unit told Reuters last week at the Paris Air Show that he saw "good chances" of firm orders from Delta this year.

 

There are factors that have had much more influence on the stagnation at SWA than pilot pay.

 

Agree.

The ATL reps have been hearing what their pilots have been telling them. The contract survey is the most important piece to the whole thing. Pilots must convey they expectations in the survey for it to equate to a position at the table.

Most of the guys I fly with are looking for all sections to be fixed, and a sizable percentage above SWA as an absolute minimum. Even the pilots that are 57+ are saying this. I just flew with one who does not care if he sees the fruits of the contract, but he will not budge. Needless to say I applauded his point of view. (Yes, he knows scope and pay go hand in hand)

 

I would point out that you are a RES pilot and while you have flown a lot for a RES I would but the avg ER pilot has a lower credit ratio than you. (I have no data to back that up though) My block to credit ratio is around 1.7 for the last 12 months right now so I should not complain.

I also think that the avg NB Delta pilot flies very close to the number of actual hours that a SWA pilot does. I would guess within 5-6 hours a month or 60-72 hours per year. There is little to no credit in the domestic trips so what you fly is what you get.

I have a feeling that most would fly an extra 5-6 hours per month with an avg extra day or two "OFF" in order to make much more money.

International is a different story and skews the numbers when trying to make a good comparison.

In any event. I wholeheartedly agree that we need more soft money in the next contract. Leg-by-leg cnx pay, and 6+ hrs minimum calendar day pay for all pilots, and 75 hr min guarantee are a must for the next contract.

In fact with a 6:15 min day I could let the leg-by-leg cnx pay thing go.

 

PG, welcome back from vacation and time to go revive that thread you wanted to play with before you left, but what Hoser mentioned below is what I'm getting at, the W2 will be greater at $210 x 78 then $217 x 70 and of course I'm not counting 401K just hourly pay for the most junior pilot of equal longevity.

Sure $217 and $210 is close, but this doesn't sound close to me:

 

Correct, but I used last years numbers because I flew over guarantee almost every month. If you really want to look at the numbers of a line pilot who is filling up every month, then look at the fact that most flying 88 hrs average a month with little to no credit. That proves the point further that soft time is more important. It will also be the hardest thing to get back besides scope. Less credit means more efficiency, and that is where they are aiming. If DAL had their way all of the trip and duty rigs would go bye bye, and we would get only hard time.

I agree, a better min day, not a duty period average or duty period min is needed. Many scoff at that, but these 10.30 hr three days that guys are flying 18 hrs in a month to get to the LCW are insane.

 

I bet not a single pilot at this airline want's to make less than SWA but we're talking about an initial 25%-30+% raise to come up to parity if you believe a MD88 = SWA735/717.

So are reps pushing for a 25% to 30% plus raise at the outset?

 

Modification from the floor:

• 70 hour guarantee is fine
• Every period of short call generates same 5:15 credit as pilots flying a trip
• Allow pilots to bid for as much short call as they can stand
• Status Quo w/ regard to max days on (no morons working 26 days a month)
• Allow reserves to white slip

The concept of having short call pay credit over long call is important IMHO. Short call requires a pilot to commute and prevents them from doing something else. It is like being at work, but not being paid. Further, some short call assignments seem to be manipulated to keep reserves above 50 and below 70 hours a month. When tying to pick up over 70 they always assign a short call that takes you out contention.

I'm all for working and getting paid for it. Those who don't want to commute for reserve could use the long call to their advantage too.

 

I recently flew with a MSP Captain who told me that he would go for a 12% pay increase, an additional 10% company contribution to 401k, and a significant reduction in health insurance premiums, all to add up to what he called a roughly 30% pay raise.

discuss...

p.s. this idea is being floated by some of the reps...