Bill Lumberg

Let's bring back the FE seat, or the GIB (Guy in Back at Western Airlines). Who keeps bringing this up? Maybe we should bring back the gas guzzling 727s while we're at it, and fly them to Dothan and Montgomery. Yeah, that way we can bring back PERMANENT jobs, that will NEVER leave.....

Oh wait, reality sets in: From the Freq asked questions



Q2 Is it true that, if approved, this TA will cost hundreds of Delta pilot jobs?

A2 No. This assertion is based on a simplistic and incomplete analysis of the TA. Changes to the ALV, TLV and the change in bid period length will likely result in a contractual staffing reduction of approximately 300 pilots. However, the Pilot Retirement Medical Account Program and other changes to the PWA such as the increases to the staffing formula and to vacation and CQ training pay are expected to more than compensate for this reduction. In fact, with the ratification of this TA, Flight Operations has recently stated, “If Delta can continue to execute its business plan, including the 717s, and barring an economic downturn or other unanticipated event, we could begin the hiring process as early as the last quarter of this year.” That is welcome news for all Delta pilots!



And oh yeah, there will be retirements, right? No there won't. That will never happen: According to the APC Delta profile:


Mandatory retirements:

2012 - 15
2013 - 87
2014 - 138
2015 - 197
2016 - 264
2017 - 358
2018 - 456
2019 - 540
2020 - 638
2021 - 818
2022 - 862
2023 - 819
2024 - 807
2025 - 716
2026 - 610
2027 - 509
2028 - 477
2029 - 473
2030 - 487
2031 - 423
2032 - 321
2033 - 252
2034 - 162
2035 - 108
2036 - 92
2037 - 47
2038 - 24





Run for the HILLS! And while you're up there, see if we can bring back the 727 FE seat.........

threeighteen

I'm sure if you moved the bulkhead back on a few different planes you could find a way to bolt an FE seat to the floor to fix this job-loss issue.

mynameisjim

The logic being: since we've lost jobs in the past there's no reason to fight to keep some now?

The 717s will likely be temporary (all fleets are), but the change in work rules will likely be permanent. Years from now someone will rebut "what are you going to give up to change the ALV?"

Bill Lumberg

You mean like the ratio that grows for mainline vs DCI? Oh, but you think that will be traded away too....


Here you go:




Q2 Won’t the increased max reserve (as high as 99 hours if the ALV is 84) mean that every reserve pilot will fly more, reducing the need for as many pilots?

A2 This is a common misperception, but the answer is no. The increase to max reserve resolves the situation in a category with long, high time trips in which a reserve pilot, for example, carries in 30 hours for the month. He cannot be assigned even a single rotation without taking him above the ALV, which is currently max reserve

The contractual staffing formula adjusts to reserve duty periods worked and reserve plus premium hours flown. The formula creates a reserve pilot average of 60 hours and self-corrects to that number. If reserve and premium hours flown grow, then the staffing formula adjusts up proportionally, driving a requirement for more pilots. Regardless of max reserve, the staffing formula will not allow reserve pilots to average above 60 hours over time. Put another way, the more reserve pilots fly, the more reserve pilots are required, which will in turn reduce the average flown by reserves.



Q3 The TA has a provision that in a bid period where the number of reserve lines is projected to be at least 20% of the number of pilots, reserve pilots will receive an additional day off. Are there any categories currently that have 20% reserve staffing?

A3 We do currently have a number of categories with more than 20% reserves, especially wide-body categories in the winter.



Q4 Why did we increase ALV? Aren’t we productive enough?

A4 The increase in ALV is not designed to significantly increase the amount of flying that a pilot does throughout the year. The average pilot will be assigned no more than 30-60 minutes more flying per month as a result of this change. Rather, it allows the Company to better manage its staffing levels throughout the peaks and valleys of the yearly network schedule. Also, rather than having junior regular line holders fall off onto reserve in the winter, the change will result in a more consistent cutoff between regular and reserve lines throughout the year

80ktsClamp

Bill, if we retire 300 people but sacrifice 300 jobs to work rules, what does that do to your career progression?

acl65pilot

If that was the intent they it needs to be spelled out. As a result the other categories that are not subject to these trips will be on the hook for all of that time two, plus six/seven SC's. That makes for a long month with layered SC's and being on the hook for a trip that would logically go to a WS or GS for those last few hrs to get you over guarantee. Again, its not flying it but being on the hook for it.

Again its being on the hook for it, not flying it. It also allows the flex up to be covered by winter staffing not the other way around.

Again, today not going forward with all of those retirements that you post combined with a growth trend.

What does that mean? Concession? 30-60 mins per pilot adds up and reduces staffing. If you take 45 mins on avg per pilot per month, its 105 less pilots on this change alone. (7875 block hrs per month that we will now cover with existing staffing)

DLpilot

Especially when 400 guys were already up for retirement through 2015 even without this TA.

forgot to bid

logic? the only logic is the emotional attachment to the 717s, the hope that they are growth airframes and the small pay raises.

finis72

Just a question, if 300 pilots retire off the top does DL not replace them ? I know we are overstaffed and that will take up some but my guess is this will create lots of upward training churn. The 300 come off the highest paid potions, the arguable 300 work rules are evenly distributed through out the many different categories. Your thoughts .

Timbo

In the last early out program, you know, the one last fall, where NO 777 Captains left, and only about 182 total pilots (mostly North side DB Plan guys) left, how many did they replace?

In the past year's A/E's, DL has eliiminated 30 777 Capt. seats and 30 747 Capt. seats, none of which have been replaced.

What makes you think this time will be any different?