reddog25

Spliff......now that is funny! If DAL or NWA is firing this fall...lets say on November 1st? I will buy you the best scotch in the house...hiring...in the fall...ha...haa...haaaa now that's rich!

newKnow

They might not even be Delta pilots. If they are, I think Spaceman lets his 8 year old post for him.

Superpilot92

you guys make me giggle

acl65pilot

Unless something changes that is what they are saying and as of yesterday the party line is staying the same. I asked how he heck they could even think of brining people in with others letting ones go and the response was. This SLI looks like it will take some time. In the near term we have a lot of 777LR coming and we need bodies for those airplanes. They are looking at 430+ starting as early as Late Sept. or Early Oct. I know just plain nuts.
Also, of note, the DC-9's look like they have a very important part of DAL's route plan and will not be going anywhere any time soon. So with out parking that many jets, it appears that even if we agreed to an SLI today, we would need about 400 pilots for the change in work rules at NWA and 400 pilots for the next 12 months of 777. Now I agree that I think that they are smoking crack, but they are the ones that make the decisions. Either way, it will be nice to see, but I am not holding my breath.

DAL4EVER

Second this. The mgt. guy I flew with a few weeks ago said the exact same things. He participates with the hiring committee and said they anticipate hiring again in the fall for the 777s coming. He didn't indicate anything about brining NWA staffing up to the DAL formula but the additional 400 pilots I've heard for that has been talked about in numerous circles so I suspect that is a pretty accurate number.

800 extra guys at a time when nearly every major could be furloughing seems insane. However, perhaps this is one of the long term benefits of this merger if we can see it. If we can look past the petty squabbling taking place, we may realize something nearly every other major airline pilot doesn't have right now. Increased job security through an incredible network and streamlined operations. Imagine having a network so vast that if the U.S. is in a recession it can transfer flying or realize profits because Asia or Europe is booming. If Asia is in a recession but Africa or the Mid-East is booming, it can transfer those assets to those markets. That to me is what this merger is all about.

DAL is number 1 to Europe, Africa, and the Mid-East and Number 2 to South America. NWA is number 1 in Japan and number 2 to the rest of Asia. We will be the biggest domestic carrier. If done successfully, this merger could put us 20 years ahead of our competition and that's something that we as pilots must get control over. This is the best job security I think we will get. We must have both groups on board with this and not be so myopic about the fact that "my 747 job will now be five years out instead of 2" or "I don't want anyone coming in front of me in ATL that might bump me off the ER or take my MD-88 Capt. slot away". I truly believe that if we get through the next 3-5 years that this will all seam trivial by comparison.

Spaceman Spliff

I wholeheartedly agree that we must put the squabbling aside. Unfortunately, there is nothing in history (or indicated by current public actions/posturing) that would lead one to believe that NALPA is going to play nice. I'm not trying to flame, just trying to be realistic.

acl65pilot

That is exactly what I, you and a few others have been preaching for the last six months. Even the guys that see the course that DAL has set say the same thing. Two to three years will be difficult, but after that we will be untouchable. These are the guys that have created the financial check points for the next then years. Believe me when I state that these guys know everything. The called the BK four years before it happened. They do not see us anywhere close this time. The fact that we will make a profit in this environment speaks volumes of how this ship has been turned away from the rocks. I as well as you, hope that we can steer a clear course. With the current management in place we have by far the best chance for success.
Until this team proves me wrong I will stand by their decisions. I have not outright disagreed with anything as of yet. If is fun to see RA and his tactician mind at work. Personally I like the way he is thinking.

I am willing to bet that (based on some of the conversations that I have had) that we as the rank-and-file pilots cannot imagine what this company has in store for its future. Patience and time will show our hand. We need to look past the next few years. Cutting our nose off despite our faces does noting for us.

BTW I called another 4% capacity cut to the domestic market three months ago. From what I can see we should be done with that for the time being. Cutting any more will cause issues to our joint route structure. We need to combine before we realign anymore of our lift.

Superpilot92

Relax, take a deep breath and push away from the computer!!

PropNWA

I agree with Superpilot92. In my experience, the vast majority of NWA pilots I've flown with are very reasonable and laid back about this merger. Sure, we've got our extremist view, vocal 10% but so does DAL. The majority on both sides realize that getting this thing done is in all of our best interests.

Spaceman Spliff

I have nothing bad to say about NWA pilots in general--every one I've met so far (besides Carl) has been a great dude. SP92 and others are the personification of moderation and common sense.

Unfortunately, it's not the reasonable line guys who are negotiating, it's the militant NALPA grouches.

Too bad we can't just pick a couple of ordinary guys to do the negotiating. It certainly would save a lot of posturing and unpleasantness.