XtremeF150

Must be a DC-9 pilot trying to do one of those flap 0 takeoffs

flyguy81

Hah. There's hope yet!

80ktsClamp

I think ftb had something to do with the latest Crew Resources update. It says "THE DC9's."

What gives with the delayed hiring, bro? Why you gotta hate?

capncrunch

My guess is that management likes the stagnation and no glimmer of hope so when they try and pass off a scope sale for the 717s(or some other carrot) and a hiring spree we are so starved for movement we vote yes.

sinca3

This article definitely makes you think about the whole global picture and what might be going on in our managements mind:
British Airways

AeroCrewSolut

I was at ASA for eight years. I had 6K total time, 4K PIC. You will not be deemed untrainable. Having a great attitude is what counts at Delta Air Lines.

gloopy

I realize things can change in this industry on a dime. I totally get that. Heck the 717 rumor alone, if it comes true, could potentially end up rocking their world from a planning perspective even if its "growth neutral". 737 delivery schedules, more DC-9 decisions and many other variables make what they do very fluid and hard to nail down in a monthly update.

But it is simply not reasonable or credible for them to even suggest that, here and now, based on our current trajectory, that retirements aren't really a concern for 5 more years and we won't need to hire until 2015. That is just laughable, unless their current trajectory is continued significant "capacity dicipline". That may end up happening,especially with another scope sale, but the point is they do not know that now therefore to put something like that out when they did is clearly propaganda to manage expectations.

What I would guess will be next if there is a TA in the fairly near future containing scope sales will be another update or actual AE with positive movement and hiring predicated on the TA passing of course, with the direct threat that if we vote no, all this prosperity will go away and we'll go back into the dungeon until 2015.

Just not buying it and this update looks suspisciously engineered on the eve of a "they want a deal ASAP" TA with strong rumors of "creative" scope sales.

KC10 FATboy

I saw a DELTA Ford F350 with a long fifth wheel flatbed trailer delivering a bunch of scrap metal to a metal recycling plant this morning near my home.

My first thought was "DELTA bought F350s? Why?" My second thought was, "Ummm, what is the scrap metal from?"

Wasatch Phantom

That was an interesting piece and illustrates just how much may be in play world-wide, let alone in the US.

Clearly consolidation is on many CEOs minds and I'm glad RA is at Delta. I think there is a window that's open now of unusual opportunity to acquire another carrier(s) and position Delta for the future.

It also lends credence to the notion that RA wants to get a pilot deal done fast so that wouldn't be an impediment to securing financing from Wall Street.

I don't mean to be too negative, but what does concern me is if DALPA buys in to the necessity for a fast deal, will they leave something on the table, and perhaps more importantly, as contractual language is nailed down they will agree to less than ironclad language. That's happened before and we as pilots pay the price for the mistakes of ALPA's "best and brightest" legal team.

gloopy

Production balances, whatever they are, will be ironclad I'm sure.