Where is the New Delta Going?
 

Okay,
I know we have had a few divisive threads, but I'm beginning to get on board this train. I just returned from annual CQB, and a lot was said about our new airline and employers. Yes, we will see a lot of changes, and most of it will be for former NWA pilots. But, a tremendous catharsis seems to be coming out of all this merger. We can be a hell of a lot better, smarter, safer, more efficient, and even better looking when we put the two together. Good to Great from Delta, fewer shoe clerks and lawyers running Flight Operations, an FOM 1/3 the size, and a lot of responsiveness to up the chain concerns. From NWA, a number of huge philosophical changes to operations, no boldface, yellow/red emergency, NASAP, FOQA, and the whole meteorological empire. I think this is an outstanding start. I know SOC dictates streamlining ops and changing as little as possible for changes sake. But the really cool thing I picked up on was this. Both sides in this integration are realizing that the other is pretty frickin' sophisticated, and together this is going to be SH.
I've also been browsing the Delta Net and have come to some conclusions. First, I didn't almost hurl reading all the company press releases and believe me that is a first. Second, I am feeling an intense pride in what our (NWA) people are bringing to this. The video of the whale in flight with the Delta livery, Richard in Shanghai, the unbelievable employees at Narita, Glen Hauenstein's unbridled audacity in marketing, and after browsing the performance stats, the dramatic leading performance measurements by the new employees. It is not without a little excitement I write this. I have worked for the worst, most selfish and inconsiderate management for years. But we are an incredible bunch, that Midwest stoicism and work ethic is unique. RA knows this, and together with Delta's tradition of reasonableness in labor relations, the real synergy is at hand. I was told that 155 gates are going back to airports, a savings of 200 million a year, a billion form AMEX, hell, once the economy turns, this thing might dwarf all our expectations. From this new Delta pilot, I'm glad to be aboard, take it easy sizing up the changes, help a brother out struggling with all these buttons, be glad we work together, and not as competitors, and thank you for the efforts you have all made to put together a first class airline and Flight Operations Dept. for me to spend the rest of my career.

Excellent post. Well said.:)

If we are able to capture "Best Practices" from both companies I too believe this will be an amazing airline. DAL brings a much more positive corporate culture, newer interiors, excellent TOC (MX) and Europe, South America, Africa and the Mid-East. NWA brings Asia, the mid-west, a highly sophisticated WX and Dispatch culture. Combining DAL's network gurus with the gurus from NWA and I hope we are able to capture everything this merger could mean. Five to ten years from now there could be some amazing opportunities for pilots and the displacement talk will be ancient news (I hope).

Thanks for the positive post.

Hey!! Was that you talking on the phone while we were trying to take the test on Day 1?? :D I should have known. :rolleyes:

New K Now

True. But, I hear they are going to keep the Delta flt plan system instead of the more advanced Jepp system the NWA guys use....Not sure why they would do that....seems if you want to be the biggest, best airline out there, you would want the best equipment...:confused:

You have to remember, sometimes is easier and cheaper to retrain 5000 guys than 7000 guys. Not saying it's the right thing to do, just that management will be looking for the cheapest way to do it.

Cheaper, yes. Easier, no. I bet the DL pilots wouldnt mind being retrained on ACARS so that it logs takeoffs and landings on each leg, rtaher than the FO having to manually enter them after each trip... The only coplaint I have heard about DL flight plans is that you cant read it straight across and make a position report, the items are out of order. For those of us on CPDLC/ADS, that is not a factor :D

All that requires is a flight Ops bulletin, and over half the guys won't even read it. After all, not everyone enters the data the right way into the ACARS now.:cool:

The flight plans at DL are set up to read the position report straight across. I have heard the ACARS systems are completely different and likely to be a pretty big expense for the company.

Great Post Kingbird!