simple....they are just a merger or two away from that number.

 

I disagree. It has all the relevance to the negotiations. Delta doesn't operate the large wide body fleet that other U.S. legacy carriers do but they do sell tickets on those routes and generate profits through the code shares and especially the JVs. Our customers get to those destinations on a Delta ticket but at a lesser rate on Delta metal.

Delta's choice to outsource more of their international operations comes at a price for pilot careers. We serve all of those same markets with the ability to generate larger profits because more of the cost of operation is diverted to the partner carrier. This is a profitable business plan that we have enabled.

Our company has chosen to operate in this manner. And as you said we have little ability to influence the business plan. We do have the ability to retain a portion of those profits and shall continue to do that. Giving up any part of that pay stream is a non-starter, the genie is out of the bottle. It would remove compensation based on the whole corporations success and damage our careers by giving an incentive to management to outsource more operations.

Production balance agreements should protect both pilot hours and EASKs to argue for one over the other is to encourage either down gauging or reduced operational hours. Upside and growth are more likely now and we already have EASKs written into the agreements so adding, not replacing the current agreements with, block hours would benefit us in a down turn.

 

I didn't hear him say it - I heard a rumor that that's what he's telling upgrading captains in Denver. Not sure if it was "by" or "in" 2020, but the end of 2020 is 54 months away. 125/month, and yes, I think that's possible. Don't care to debate what is believable; I won't remember this topic a year from now, much less in 2020. But I've never heard about Delta's forecast for their pilot force...which I will care about until I retire.

 

Number I remember from network presentation in Delta's Koolaid Klass late 2014 was 14,000 pilots is the target number.

 

Roger, thanks. I guess we're not too far from the target - could easily be done growing by the end of contract 2015.

 

I was offered a job there in May or June of 1985, couldn't do it, wouldn't be prudent. Got another offer in the fall of 85, but I was working here. No regrets, don't like the management treating our airline like an ATM, that's all.

 

Hank,
I'm glad you're here defending the profession. Thank you.

 

1998-99-2000 United was training 125 per month and that's the max capacity at Denver

 

That would have been as a scab if it was May/June 85. Wouldn't be prudent is somewhat of an understatement.


TP

 

DL mgt told us after the Pan Am merger we would end up with 15,000 pilots. I didn't realize they meant 30 years after.