Right on Scoop!

I find it just as offensive when issues are discussed in an either/or kind of way, like the thinly veiled threat re more evenly distributing the LAX redeye flying...You know what I'm talking about...

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure the Council 54 guys are on board with tightening scope across the board, at least thats the impression I got from the Council 54 update. The key sentence is What’s good for Delta the corporation might not be good for Delta pilots.

The sad thing is there are some, but not too many involved on the LEC and MEC level really are able to speak in a way about scope, pay or work rules that makes me have full and unequivocal confidence in the course being charted.

I fully understand compromise. but compromise requires both parties of the deal to converge somewhere in the middle to find common ground. At times I get the impression we have already reduced our starting point from what is nearly reasonable to what is reasonable then we settle on something a little less than that...

Id like that impression to change, I really do!

Cheers
George

 

With all the talk about the upcoming contract negotiations I am curious if much is going to be talked about in regards to 1st year pay. I realize that everyone now is off 1st year pay so it might not be that important to most. I never understood why major airlines have such low first year pay. I get it with the regionals. I realize this is a probationary year but still.... It is pretty low. Maybe it has always been this way and will always be this way.... I don't know. I would love to get on at DAL in the future but taking a 50% paycut the first year would be hard to swallow. I do think that if that first year pay were to be increased 25%+ like all the other payscales will hopefully be after the section 6 is over then I think that would make it alot more attractive.

I'm wondering if all longevity payscales be adjusted with this new contract? Not trying to tick anyone off......

Trust me, DAL is where I want to be for 35 years so not trying to start a knife throwing contest.

 

The new eQual thing is complete bullcrap.... look at all the extra time you're having to put in it for free. Apparently all fleets are going to be going to that. I've still been meaning to call HH on the training committee.


As far as going from the Boeing to the Airbus, it's not a big deal. I spent 3 years on the 76/75 and then the past year and a half on the 737... You've just got to get into the mindset.

Lights are rumors, what is on the screens is the truth! Be very intentional when you press a button.. happy fingers as you said are where you can get into trouble. If you press a button on the MCDU 28 times trying to make it do something, it will do it 28 times! Make sure you confirm on the screens what you are wanting to do!

The ECAM is like a super duper EICAS and is your best friend. You are certified to land without ever opening the QRH if you have done the ECAM (known as clearing it to lights out), but the QRH has good additional info in it.

The MCDU is a TO/FROM box, as in you have to ensure that there is both a to and a from waypoint for any intercept. The CLEAR key is your friend! It's like a more useful delete key, and you use it all the time for setting up TO/FROM and cleaning up the flight plan. There is no line selecting. When you "line select" on the FPLN page, you are going to a "lateral revision" which is how you put in jet routes, change destination, get to the fix page, and some other things. Oh, and down is up and up is down for scrolling around the MCDU. After much cussing for about 5 minutes, I figured that one out.

 

Don't get your hopes up about 1st year pay. There are alot of other fish in the barrel. I don't think Delta will have any trouble getting guys to sign on with the current 1st year pay. If and when a contract is agreed to, all years thru 12 will see improvement based on the percentage gained back in section 6. I wouldn't be surprised if we went to some kind of pay banding like Continental.

Denny

 

I'm not. I am actually hoping to get some stuff paid off between now and the time I can hopefully convince DAL to hire me. The wife can go get a job too, so I will manage should that happen. I am hoping you boys get a really good contract. It's time to start seeing this industry going back in the right direction.

 

You think she looks like an eskimo?

 

Its worthy of a slam though. They basically are saying:
1. 50 seat scope outsourcing is fine and dandy because it is guaranteed to resolve itself, therefore no "negotiating capital" will be spent on it.

2. 51-76 seat outsourcing is acceptable anyway, so see above.

3. just consider yourself lucky if we don't allow any 76-120 outsourcing, because that is potentially on the table, at least in bargaining.

4. and if you want anything done regarding JV's or the AK code share abuse, well you better completely forget about improvements in 1-3 above...1 and 2 you're not getting anyway though, and you'll be lucky not to eat a steaming pile of 3 so shut up and color while we educate you.

So yes, at least they mentioned it. In an epic fail kind of way.

 

First year pay is low at US mainline carriers because it is a backdoor way of making you pay for your initial training. The exception is LUV. They make you bring your type with you. No such requirement at the majors. It makes sense in a roundabout way.

 

Not that I don't think there's room for improvement, but DAL first year pay is pretty darn good compared to most other legacies.

And the healthcare plans start the day you start.

Look it up here for comparison of first year rates:
Airline Pilot Central

Cheers
George

 

Good Luck to you!! We are all hoping for a good contract on time. Not holding my breath on that one though. All I can say is, should the need arise, I'm ready to walk the picket line.

Denny