I agree. The top end scope is scary.

As to the bottom, and let me get my soap box, the reality is that yes while they're having trouble staffing DCI and we're growing... the growth is not written in stone. It's not required.

DCI/ATA/DAL could fix its issues, eliminate 1500 hour rule, etc, and fix their staffing woes and back they come with a fleet of 325 jumbo RJs that could very well increase in C2015 if you yahoos are right.

Currently we're at a block hour ratio somewhere now around 1.65-1.66 with DCI, the contract has a min of 1.47 right now (1.56 only if they order their full allotment of CRJ900s). Acquiring 717s and already being above the min means the minimums were set too low to begin with. If they did want to get rid of the 88 fleet as rumored, they could park nearly 90% of those 117 jets and still be in compliance with 1.47. DAL wanted an out from required growth and we gave it to them.

If the 88 B717s were truly to be growth over 2012 numbers then the min ratio should have been 1.7 for DCI at its current size and 1.8 at 450 DCI jets. If you want to get rid of a ML fleet, you better replace it 1:1 or park RJs.

We need more things in Section 1 written in stone to match the intent of what is sold. A car dealer saying a car will last 250,000 miles but only offering a 35,000 mile warranty is very different then one who gives you 250,000 mile bumper to bumper.

A goodie but oldie post from May 2012

Wow. I wish I could spend a day inside your head.

I guess you did not look closely enough. Go read the last contract update. Your apology is accepted after you read it.

Go read the last contract update. Your apology is also accepted.


The Negotiating Committee met with the Company negotiators four days this past week. They exchanged proposals on Section 1, Scope, and passed our response to issues in Sections 25 and 26, Retirement and Insurance.

Just reading between the lines hear but the last paragraph in last nights email from ALPA tells me things are not progressing smoothly.
Anytime somebody says they "remain hopeful" whatever they are talking about ain't going so well.
Lotta PS coming. Regionals withering on the vine. Emerites just got b***h slapped by the Netherlands.
We don't need to rush.

The loss of wide body flying and more stagnation from another age change are much bigger threats to my career than more 76 seat jets that they will have trouble staffing anyway.

I thought the same thing about that line.

They aren't "on track" or "progressing well." They "remain hopeful."

If Hope is all they have, it might be time to step away, wind the clock, and let the dust settle. Why does RA get to set the timeline?

Yes, because it's Newark.

I wish I could articulate just how ridiculous the usual suspects here look to the large majority that exist out there, outside the bubble universe of Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) that permeates this board. Sadly, I just have to admit defeat. I am both embarrassed for the profession, and quite frankly dismayed that somehow these people have made it this far without blowing up or hurting others.

The dim bulbs will spark to life and will have something to say. Predictable. They just don't get that they exist in a special bubble universe separate from the rest of us. This post and the following is for all the others:

Call your reps.

The tepid spew served up here as factual fare is a farce. Don't settle for it. My recent and ongoing interaction with my reps does not reflect the reality that apparently exists here. Sorry, I don't subscribe to the idea that my reps lie and strategize in order to fool me and the rest of the pilot group in order to find a way to concede to management. I prefer a more elegant solution. I employ Occam's Razor and assume a handful of bent (HPD) individuals are doing what they must do.