John Carr

Probably the SAME way they competed for the 200ish spots in 2010, the 2007-2008 era, etc.

Like just about any other place, DAL hires good people from the massive stack of pilots.

You can train ANY a-hole to fly a plane. It's very hard to un-train an a-hole. In fact, so much, that most airlines usually avoid it. Although, in typical fashion, (insert whatever percentage you wish here) makes it through.

Probably some truth to that. If you were to add up all the pilots on the DAL list, a massive chunk of them didn't go through the DAL process.

Thunderpig

+69 Enough with the entitlement nonsense...

Mesabah

I don't think it is entitlement, that word is thrown around way too much. If you work for a Delta regional, you are investing in the Delta product, I don't think it is wrong to expect a return on your investment. That said, the union should not be hijacking the hiring process.

Bucking Bar

As a matter of word use, "entitlement" is appropriate.

The business you invested in went bankrupt and your investment was wiped out, FWIW.

The school of experience has taught me that "sweat equity" may be the most valuable input to a business, but it is the least recognized and least compensated.

If there were any truth to your statement; the ASA pilots brought the most sweat equity to the table, since they brought their own route network, code and leases on 1/3 of the World's busiest airport when acquired by Delta. ALPA's Board of Directors voted to exclude them from ALPA's merger policy and management had no interest in compensating them for the loss of their airline with a stake in Delta, where their code went.

You are familiar with the way the Comair pilots were treated. As a matter of "equity" ASA & Comair, pre merger, were the most profitable Companies in DCI. Those profits meant exactly nothing to the careers of their pilots once their airlines disappeared into another Corporate structure.

... and don't think ALPA or management rewarded your effort either. You're in because you voted to be cheapest. It says so in your contract. When, or if, you try to increase your compensation the "commitment" language is nullified.

Sorry. I am not trying to be a jerk. Just realize that Delta is a rough player when it comes to their outsourcing. They are a corporation with the number one goal of making a profit. Corporations, by definition, have no body to incarcerate and no soul to convict. If you expect them to take some action to repay you, or anyone else, for their efforts ... you need only look at the contracts.

When I interviewed at Delta, coming from a regional airline who's code had been stripped, who's manager from Delta was demanding 25% pay cuts, who's owner was transferring our newest airplanes to his non-union subsidiary, I came with the knowledge that my Company had been beaten in a competitive business and it was either get on the massive warship that had sunk us, or drown. There's probably no more humble man than a middle age guy who's employer died out from under him.

There's nothing wrong with taking pride in the Delta brand. Delta service and profits feed you and your family. But, know that no employee, ever, has had a positive balance in their "sweat equity account." Employees around the World for some reason seem to forget that we do not own the Companies we built.

WARich

Don't you know "entitlement" is the new cool thing everyone is doing it.

Xray678

Interesting. What if Delta decided to hire every other month? Say 100 in Jan, then 100 in Mar, etc. The numbers of off the street folks could go way up.

80ktsClamp

From the big honcho's mouth, be patient until later next year.. off the street will jump way up. Read between the lines as need be.

Speedbird2263

I concur, first thing the recruiter I spoke with recently did was let out a sigh of relief that it was spelt right on the resume and applauded the attention to 'detail'.

-2263

UnusualAttitude

Everyone outside of the FTA's is getting overly hung up on the agreements. In the end there are less than 400 pilots who have a guaranteed path to DAL. That being said DAL will need to hire thousands of pilots in the years ahead. This is the beginning not the end.

UA

fisherpilot

So assuming you have zero tickets, training failures, letters of discipline, have an internal letter of rec, meet the mins, and have updated bi-weekly over last three years would you be in the same "point value" as the other guy off the street with 10 internal recs? I'm talking about the airline apps sorting procedure.