Carl,

I'm confused. Why do you continue to talk about tangential things instead of pilot and aircraft numbers, present and future? I don't recall much discussion by the arbitors about what you're talking about. Its about pilots and fleets and futures. Stick to that.

Cog

 

Cog,

Read the first few days of DAL's presentation. You'll hear lots of stuff about the two company's valuations, market caps, etc. Bottom line, it's a merger of equals. Don't take my word for it, Chairman Bloch agrees that it's a merger of equals.

Carl

 

Bottom line, we have 2000+ more pilots, a larger fleet and bigger growth plans. Not equal.

Cog

 

Carl,
Trying not to beat a dead horse...equal has a certain definitetiveness (sp?) about itself and our fleets and pilots just aren't that. I really think a relative position list is the answer, and what the DAL proposal, modified slightly, will deliver. From everything I have read though, it seems as if the NWA pilots consider this extreme and will never accept it.

Cog

 

how many firm orders do you have compared to northwest?

Is your order large enough to make up for there smaller size?

 

Yes, if you would come down off of your high horse, it might be a little more equal. You, as an individual, have nothing to do with the factors you list that supposedly make you so non-equal.

You are very equal, because you got hired at Delta for the same reasons that Northwest pilots got hired at NWA; we applied there, they were hiring, & they hired us first.

Thirty years ago, you would have given your first born to get hired at Eastern, or Pan Am, or TWA.

Join the rest of us here on earth and realize that you are nothing special. You have very little reason to use the word "we" because you have very little to do with any of it.

When "they" start asking you how many pilots they should have or hire, or where they should apply for new routes, then you can be "we."

Or, maybe when you can show up to work in your cut off shorts and flip-flops, can you be a "we."

Until then, maybe you can join "us" in trying to merge two pilot groups into one. Attitude is everything.

 

Two years ago, Northwest had 18 787's on FIRM order to start delivery in 2008 and Delta had 0 757-200 ER's on firm order. Fast forward to today. Delta has 17 757-200 ER's flying today and Northwest has 0 787's. Firm orders are pieces of paper and are not airplanes. Your 18 FIRM orders are worthless until the jets actually show up and create jobs. Oh and they are especially worthless because the 787 program is in massive disarray now. Which airplanes are creating more pilot jobs today, the FIRM 787's or the "risky" 757-200 ER's?

 

The aircraft will be built so your point holds no water. Those orders can be transferred into 777s so its even more ridiculous when you imply the paper is worthless.

 

Sorry, Delta has hundreds of rolling options that can be converted to airplanes at any time. In fact, we just converted two options for 777's for 2010. The firm orders mean nothing in view of Delta's current contract with Boeing. You and I have both seen firm orders canceled, sold, delayed, and transferred in our careers. Trying to imply they produce real pilot jobs is not credible. I believe airplanes are bought when I see real pilots sitting in the cockpit. Not dreaming about it.

 

My last employer bought 3 Concordes, and they even made the cover of Aviation Leak and Space technology....painted in our company livery.

We dreamers studied the manuals, brushed up on our French for the schoolhouse, and guess what.........they disappeared, overnight, due to spare parts support agreements. All of the PR was obtained, for very little cost.

Life lesson for me: Until it is in your livery, on your ramp, and one of your seniority holders is paid to fly it.......it's just wishful thinking...for both sides.