sully606

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I've been lurking for awhile and I must say that it is nice to see some positive things going on at Delta and the generaly upbeat attitude of this forum.
I'm not crazy enough to think all is rosy at Delta but having lived through the last six years, new hiring and aircraft orders are a welcome sign (until the next industry downturn).
I can't anwser any questions about the hiring process but I'd thought I'd put out a few bits of info that people seem to be interested in from previous posts.

disclaimer: This info may not be totally accurate and it ALL subject to change. I have NO inside knowledge; these are my best guesses.

Some stats as of Aug 07:

most junior seniority # 6950

retirements through 2017 ~2245 at age 60

retirements through 2022 ~4436 at age 60

So in 6950 will be 4436 in ten years and 2245 in 15 years

A bid for a net 609 slots has been posted. My very uneducated guess is this is probably the first of three large bids in the short term (next year or so). As far as I can tell the current bid covers one of six new 777 coming next year and approx. five of the 10-13 757 entering the fleet. Longer term 10 737-700 and maybe 20 MD-90s plus additional 777s.

Pilot bases/most junior captain:

ATL 777/1202 , 76-4/1507, 76ER/2589, 76dom/3172, 73-8/3485, M88/4612

NYC 76ER/3294, 73-8/4183, M88/5210

CVG 76dom/2569, M88/2766

LAX 76-4/1090, 76dom/3179

SLC 76dom/2939, 73-8/3093, M88/3662

These numbers could change with future changes in the contract (better reserve etc.). The LAX base is now relatively junior but they are reducing the 767-400 time so who knows about the future. The CVG base has been shrinking and now is quite small. NYC is continuing to grow and will probably always be junior, there is talk about adding the 767-400 and 777 (no guarantees). I don't know much about SLC. Atl is king.

As far as flying different aircraft types I think you can get used to anything so you got to pick by seniority and quality of trips. The MD-80 in ATL is much like regional flying-- in and out of ATL 3-5 times a day. The 737-8 has much better trips and is close in pay to the 76/75. All AC fly some international but in my opinion the European flying is the best in the system. There is talk about new hires going to 767ER in JFK in my opinion this is great flying but it's tough being on reserve and you'll have problems getting comfortable in the aircraft with so few opportunities to fly (the 767 is the best AC I've flown though).

Delta is not out of the woods yet but baring another huge downturn or lousy CEO this may be a good time to get on with Delta. I can't tell you how it stacks up to the other carriers- there's many other good choices. Good luck and I hope this helps.

HercDriver130

Wow...good info thanks.

Bucking Bar

Great first post; welcome.

Lifeisgood

Thanks for the good info!

1. Any rumors on the 100 seaters? And what is Delta's scope, 90 passengers?
2. What is the time frame to fill those 609 slots?

Thanks

Bucking Bar

No 100 seat rumors. The facts are Delta says it can not find a "suitable" 100 seat aircraft while it contracts for 90 seat jets configured to 76 seats. Delta's ALPA unit has negotiated rates below Comair and I think below ASA's rates to fly these big RJ types, but there are much more to operational expenses than pilot wages (lease costs, good deals due to size of fleet, etc...)

It is my opinion that Delta will probably try to move the scope bar up to the limit of their CRJ900's and E jets. Of course we hope that does not happen. The 737-700 is coming to Delta with 10 on order. That is a 100 seat jet. But only expect it in limited numbers for long routes and hot high airports in South America. There are rumors of 20 or so MD90's which would priced in such a way as to make them a 100 seat alternative.

But don't expect any big 100 seat news until Boeing designs a 737 follow on using 787 technology.

The plan is for somewhere around 30 to 31 for the next DAL class, then 35 every two weeks until December when there will be a little pause for the holidays and the plan for 2008 is completed. (This is second hand rumor, but it sounds correct)

I don't know if there are 609 new hire positions. If I'm not mistaken there are something like 250 new hire openings to back fill everyone else going up the stovepipe. At 70 a month that would probably be close to the remainder of this year. The cut off for this bid was just behind my class and there are already 70 or so behind us. The numbers work out close to having this bid staffed by the end of the year (I think). There will be future bids - this is not the last one!

sully606

Delta currently has payrates for the EMB195, EMB190 and the CRJ900 as follows:

EMB195@7 years 111.54 capt
2 years 57.35 fo

EMB190/CRJ900@ 7 years 94.89 capt
2 years 49.61 fo

Under the current contract, the permitted connection carrier types are limited to 76 seats and max gross TO wt. of 86,000 lb.

The 76 seat jets can be increased by 15 jets in 2007 and 30 jets 2008 and beyond. The total number of 70 and 76 seat jets cannot exceed 200.

Once the regional jets exceed the 15/30 in 07'/08' the remaining additional RJs can be added at a 3:1 ratio to mainline.

The 737-700 is not a 100 seat jet. The configuration will be two class approx. 126 seats. It is a niche AC for long/high alt. thin routes.

The 609 slots will be fill between Sep07 and Mar08. Some of these slots are new hire positions but most are for additional flying. Since there is a large increase in senior positions ther should be a lot of movement due to the domino effect. The 609 number has nothing directly to do with newhire numbers.

DALPA has not had a good record on the RJ growth issue. Having said that I've heard the CEO, CFO, COO, the SenVP flt.ops., MEC chairman and various other high level management types say all jets over 76 will be flown by mainline (we have the payrates). Also the 70/76 seat jets will be mostly be replacements for the 50 seaters.

Xray678

small point, but there are only about 530 slots to be filled on this bid. The 75 or so ER FO slots in NYC and ATL are duplicates. Its not 150 total, its 75 total. If all 75 are filled in NYC....none will be filled in ATL. If 30 are filled in NYC, then 45 will be filled in ATL. This is their solution to the staffin problem in NYC. If they can't get people to bid NYC, they will add the slots in ATL and deadhead you up to JFK to start your trips.

There is a memo about this posted outside the CPO in ATL for any Delta pilot who wants to read it. Also says next bid in Nov.

Lifeisgood

Sorry I don't understand the ratio here. 3 RJ to say SkyWest : 1 ...(what?) to mailine?

Thanks for good info.

sully606

Good point about the 76ER FOs, since I dont' fly through ATL I haven't seen the letter. I guess this means if they don't fill the bids in NYC the ATL FOs will be flying NYC time?

To further clarify the bid has quite a few possitions that are just a shift in flying (no growth with these just moving existing time from one base to another).

sully606

Yes, a snapshot of the Delta mainline fleet was taken on I think Jan 1,07'; this was the baseline. After the 15/30 of 07'/08' are added any more RJs will require a mainline AC for every three additional RJs.