Hey, I'm just happy to be coming into the company. I'm staying out of the fray and enjoying the fact that I got a great gig. I can't wait to start! (27 Sept Indoc) I hope my enthusiasm rubs off on all around me.

 

That's basically what I said. I said I did NOT think they would have furloughed just a few hundred. I agree that the "ROI" is 2 years give or take. Therefore had they furloughed, according to both of us, it would have been a lot more than just a few hundred AND it would have been with the intent on being for 2 years or so, give or take. Had they therefore done that, they would have almost definately been caught flat footed and would have been crisis scrambling to mass recall on the verge of hiring anyway. While they (planning) knew they were fat enough to furlough for a little while, they also knew the training bubble was going to be significant. In addition to that was the unknowns of the economy as well as the ever mysterious "retirement zone" which they are still trying to get a handle on.

So its not that I don't appreciate your biting sarcasm, I do, I'm just trying to find the disagreement between us. All I said was that the flow down with Compass IMHO was not a major factor in the decision to furlough or not to furlough because they would have gotten burned almost immediately (relatively speaking...most likely far below the 2 year ROI they would like to see). Not only that, but if the flow down wasn't there, neither would be a very significant number of 76 seaters either. Jets whose very existance would have exacerbated any potential furlough numbers in direct proportion to whatever furlough numbers they would have saved even IF the training bubble/economy/ROI elements weren't there.

Did staffing take the flow back into account and cost it out? I'm sure they did. But IMHO it wasn't the driving factor. Not even close.

 

Do you already know your aircraft assignment?

 

I agree, the flowdown is simply another category at Delta. Its a cost item but not major. We had eliminated the 4 furlough seat categories in the last 10 years. 727FE,F0, 737-200 and 737-300. With those 4 gone the amount of training required in a furlough was way down. The addition back of Compass was simply another category for the company to deal with. Post merger we again have quite a few categories. The return on a furlough is about 2 years per pilot furloughed. With the number of categories now it would however take almost 2 years to complete a furlough if it were a large number of pilots so your total timeline extends to 4 years.

 

I had the same numbers told to me awhile back.

22 for a ROI on a pilot being off a the property and two years to full furlough.

 

No the September 27 class does not know the aircraft/base break down yet. Still anxiously awaiting the email to see what we will be bidding on

 

Just a guess, but a smattering of MEM, NYC, DTW, MSP and a few ATLs. A/C will be a variety of DC-9, A320, MD-88s.

 

I'm in the October 11th class... phew! I wasn't able to get a lot of questions answered in the short phone call but it sounds like you find out the equipment and base before class. Indoc is two weeks then you have two to three weeks off before going to aircraft-specific training, correct? Here are a few questions for anyone that may know:
1) At some point do you have a fairly concrete syllabus that lets you know when you're in training and when you have breaks (there's a wedding my wife is curious about being able to attend).
2) Roughly how long is systems? Is there a lengthy break between systems and sim? Sim and IOE?
3) When do benefits kick in? Health/travel?

Thanks a lot. I'm thrilled and flattered to be joining Delta's ranks!

 

TW,

Did you just get the call today (Friday)? I also PM'd you.

Thanks,
Cubdrick

 

If they can they will give you your sim schedule sometime during indoc. Depending on your assignment you may go right to the sim.
The systems is on a CD that you need to complete and input a completion code in to DBMS prior to your first day of "Sims" It will be a AQP program with a 100 level which is flows and some callout and procedures getting you used to the systems. 200's is procedures like ILS's etc. 300 is in the full motion sims and that is you maneuvers section. 400's are line oriented sims. Each phase ends with a practical test except 100's which ends with the SV or Systems Evaluation.
Depends on the LCA's schedules.
First day, but it may take a few days to get your stuff inputted in to the system. I suggest bringing all pertinent documents with you. It makes it a lot easier. Any time there is a 48 hr break in training you get positive space tickets home as well.