That's good to hear. I was wondering how I made it through. That explains it. They had no choice.

 

Besides GB, who else came over from NWA?

 

Check your PM's.

 

Hopefully CLMP filled you in, but suffice to say there were many. I'm missing some but I know there were at least 2 VPs (Operations, Stations), 1 Senior VP (Maintenance and Operations), and at least one director (Maintenance Control). It all happened in a short period of time. Like a previous poster stated, we haven't been very fortunate in terms of the airlines we have received our management types from (Mesa, NWA, ValuJet). They tend to come in chunks: as one management hack gets hired, he calls his buddies, who then calls his buddies… Not to be a total downer, Midwest actually delivered a good guy (MD-80 Fleet Manager). It doesn't matter much though, because no matter what the qualifications, background or philosophy, they will follow the direction of the King, his prince, and their court jesters (ambitious, young, clueless MBAs). The good ones quit, the rest knuckle under.

Like dictators, our fearless leaders barricade themselves in palatial buildings and surround themselves with concubines instructed to routinely remind them how dashing and brilliant they are. Seriously, the 'palatial' activity is comical to watch: cubicle parties, cutest pet or cupcake contests, while our operation melts down and our engines burn. It's like 2 different airlines. Thankfully, FL pilots are spared the annual recurrent visit to Mecca, I don't know that I could stand seeing it again.

 

Reading these posts, I couldn't agree more with Dawg. This place is out of control as mentioned numerous times. What really concerns me is that, even with a contract, and let me thank our union guys, they are doing what they can to make this happen, and thanks to the IBT and local who are footing the bill for this painstaking process, but even if it was a great contract, we still have this ridiculous management team. There are so many facets to this operation and all of them are completely out of control and many are dangerously so. I can't help but think that, even if we have a great contract, we will still have to deal with new dispatchers, new mx personnel, new everyone in every department, including pilots, some of whom will be going from flying props to MD80s with 2 months on the line?!! Are you kidding me? As long as this place is a stepping stone for every employee, we as pilots will be responsible for training these people and in so doing, will be involved in arguments, finger pointing and carpet dances trying to explain our side of the story, constantly. The paperwork issues, the min fuel policies, the horrendous engine mx will continue. I mean, look at the most recent letter from AL, he says we will use "industry best practices" from now on with mx and other functions. The next day we get a letter from our fleet manager or whoever he is, and he says, paraphrasing, 'heh guys, you keep writing up our airbus for engine vibration because it reads too high but don't worry it really isn't, and our mx is going to fix it on its next big mx check…..in 2016.' What the?? 2016?!!! Nothing is going to change here until we get rid of all of this management team. They are trying, like another poster said here, to run an unsustainable model that is making more money like an engine can make more power, temporarily, by over revving the engine but we know how that works long term. I cannot believe that the FAA isn't all over shutting it down. 6 engine failures, some shut down, some catastrophic, in the last month, now this email about blowing off mx on a vibrating engine for 2 years. Unbelievable.

I want this place to be a safe, well run airline that is good to its employees and its customers, and I know others feel the same. We used to write emails to management with suggestions on how to make it better. For years we did this, nothing changed. This is how management wants it. The ONLY thing that matters is profit margin. I appreciate that profit is important, it is why businesses run, but its so disappointing to work for a place where that is the ONLY goal.

 

Oh boy where to start. Sorry to thread drift again. I'm done after this.

T, first of all I'm at JetBlue and live in base. Not everyone's goal is to be at Delta, as you assumed. Thank you for your service of our country. I have a lot of respect for the sacrifices you made for all of us. While I cannot fully understand or appreciate what it's like to be a former military guy, you also cannot be "simpatico to the plight of the regional pilot" by just talking to a regional guy. You must experience it.

I took exception to your comment to just quit. Saying "if it's so bad just quit" has got to be one of the most ignorant posts someone can respond with. Obviously these guys are trying to leave, they're here warning others not to come.

(And just a side note, I've always been treated great by Delta guys, this is only aimed at Tsquare)

 

Well said, but logic doesn't penetrate hubris.

 

Speaking as a veteran, you don’t need to thank me or square. We got more out of our service than we gave. Square got a free million-dollar flight education, which completely insulated him from the underbelly of civilian aviation. He sits high on his thrown and wonders what you’re complaining about. He should be thanking you the american taxpayer, which allowed him to enjoy only the plummest portions of aviation.

 

^+1. Fixed it for you.

 

Also speaking as a veteran, I appreciate your humilty X! And not to defend Square - I'd just remind us all there were many men who rotted in Japanese POW camps, or in the Hanoi Hilton. Many went down in a ball of fire over Germany, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. These pilots will never sit on the Delta throne. I think it is ok to receive a thank-you from a civilian now and then. Not for us, but for them; the guys who didn't get to cash in on their million-dollar flight education. We're the only ones that can speak for them now and when people thank us, they're really thanking them - don't you think?