Contrary to much of what is posted on this forum you're going to find Delta a great place to work. You will find that in general your co workers both pilot and non pilots are great also. You are getting on at a perfect time.

 

Yep. Despite all the APC rif-raf it is a great place to work and has gotten better every year since I was hired in 07. You newbies that are getting hired now will be able to hold a Captain seat in NYC within 7 years. That's faster than some of you upgraded at a regional. Enjoy the good times and hopefully they continue. If we could get RA to stick around another 30 years I think we would be set.

 

No clarification on that, sorry!

 

I will second that full heartedly. This is a great time to get onboard.

 

Just a heads up to guys about how a little quirk with the pay works. (Don't know if this has already been discussed.)

As McFlyer said, you are paid a salary during indoc and *through* IOE (some places consider you/pay you as a line pilot *during* IOE. Not so with Delta - you will still be salaried until you're signed off, and will also not get per diem for your trips until that time.) That salary is paid “current” – i.e. you work (Indoc, Training, sitting, etc.) the 1st half of the month, and on the Friday that ends the first half of the month, you get the money for you just did. (Or maybe it was every 2 weeks – its been a while…)

When you get signed off, you go on flight pay status. That is paid “in arrears” - i.e. you won’t see ANY money for the month you’re working until end of that month. You are paid a “flight advance” at the end of the month, which is half of the month’s reserve guarantee (pro rated if you weren’t signed off until late in the month.) You get your “flight Pay” the middle of the *next* month. This consists of the balance of your credit hours (what you flew (+ any leftover guarantee) minus half the reserve guarantee + per diem. It would also include any premium pay and any reimbursements – i.e. medical.)

Example – let’s assume you finished IOE at the end of October, and start your tenure as a newly minted Delta pilot on November 1. All the way through the end of October you’ve been happily receiving your $3775.04 In bi-weekly/semimonthly installments. Your last “Salaried” check gets deposited on October 31, and November 1 you get converted to flight pay status. That means your next check will be half the reserve guarantee for your category, and won’t come until the end of November (November 28th to be exact – last “business day” of the month.)

As you can see, this will result in one pay period where you will get either no check or a very small one.
Something to be aware of and plan for. If it’s any consolation, you’ll get your last check the middle of the month after you retire (or resign, get furloughed, fired, or die ) As far as benefits payments go, I don’t know if they deduct it from you next check or what.

On behalf of those of us residing in the bottom 5% of the seniority list for the last 6 years, we are all extraordinarily glad you’re here! It is a great place to work and a great airline, looks like a great time to be coming aboard. Welcome!

 

Razorback,

Awesome post ... thanks for the heads up. I'm stoked to come to Delta ... it's been motivating to see how helpful/welcoming Delta pilots are with the new guys.

 

Indeed. By September 2025 (11 years from now), we will have retired over 6000 pilots, more than half our current seniority list. What does that say for the advancement potential of today's new-hire?

 

Quick question for guys that are in or have recently been through class:

We used to have to go and do a jumpseat observation (just a turnaround typically) on our assigned aircraft the Saturday between the first and second weeks of indoc. Are they still doing that, or are they just doing the observation rotations after sims and before IOE?

 

They have you do a two or three day trip in the jumpseat after your sims and before OE.

 

Small correction, sir.