One 737 600 or 900 would fit that seating capacity range.

BB and Cpt. Tony, while I support you efforts and always have, there are two major obstacles.

1. There is a perceived belief amongst DALPA, Delta pilots, and Delta management that Delta pilots are "the best of the best". Because of this, any single list is DOA.

2. Not withstanding point number 1, any single list would likely only happen with wholly owned carriers who only fly for that carrier. Skywest Inc. and RAH aren't in a position to do this.

Opportunities sometimes present themselves and these windows of opportunity don't always remain open. The window for this opportunity was wide open back in 2000 when the PID was filed. DALPA made it clear at that time that regional pilots aren't the same caliber as Delta pilots. IMO, this was a mistake, and the window of opportunity is now closed.

You might put the rest of the story in your statement. Why don't you discuss the positions of the regional MEC's regarding a SLI. I personally listened to Comairs position and it was never going to fly.
It was all a moot point anyway because management wAs never going to merge the airlines. DALPA had no say on merging the lists.

1. Delta's "best of the best" attitude has been suppressed to the extent that 2/5th's of the list was "acquired, not hired." Much of the bigotry which resisted unity in 1999 to 2000 had to be put on the back burner to create the hegemony necessary to make Delta + NWA a success.

2. Yes, and it should be exclusive to ALPA members by design. If others want to play, then they need to Certify.

... and at the risk of starting a flame fest, there was a difference in the way Delta's selection process worked. The Delta process resulted in a very homogenous group of people who work well together and I would summarize that as professional, putting the mission before their personal desires, and above average smarts (which is true of pilots in general, IMO).


The logo from 80 years ago, in today's terms, would be; Safety, Efficiency, Comfort. Management has been striving to build bridges back to Delta's culture. I would hasten to add that C.E. Woolman did not outsource half of the airline's work. In this employee survey it was pointed out "Outsourcing was not a Delta value."

There have been many good friendships built across merger lines. Really, Delta is a new Company since 2008. This change is for the better. The Company's employees are executing very well. As such Delta is developing a new culture and we're in a bit of a golden age. I see no reason why that culture can not be extended to our brothers flying Delta passengers at the express carriers ... and management is going to have to figure out how to staff DCI, in as much as DCI is 40% of Delta's flying, it is a Delta problem that must be addressed.

As always, I believe the best answer for a union is unity.

There were terminals WITHIN the U.S. in hubs/domiciles no less that made you do it. As fas as I know, they STILL do.

There really should be a "like" button on this board.

So what happens next now that the XJT pilot group voted down the last Agreement? Have talks resumed or is Inc. just telling the XJT pilot group that the sky is falling? What's the next step?

This is 100% correct, it is a no go because DALPA and National would be sued by regional pilots looking for a windfall. The ONLY way it could work is if the Delta pilots sued the regional pilots, and forced a legal settlement in court of a staple job for the regional pilots. This can not happen as long as both regional and mainlines are represented by ALPA. One of those groups has to leave the association for the profession to be restored.

It only takes one regional pilot, ONE, to kill the entire deal.

So a merger of an ALPA mainline and an ALPA wholly owned regional, like Delta and Endeavor, there would have to be an integration---stapling, is not allowed?

PS. For the second bolded, would there be a way to preempt that from happening? It would be a shame to see a process that would benefit many be held up by a few.

Yes, the Delta pilots would have to leave ALPA, and then sue the regional pilots. The is what APA is doing right now to USAPA. However, it is not clear how successful the APA is going to be because there isn't much of a difference between the two carriers. However, a regional/mainline, would be a home run for mainline.