what ALPA says is correct don’t read to much into MIN numbers unless you are in a known shrinking base (DEN 756).

they use the min to meter training. For all we know they awarded 150 extra NB CAs in anticipation of this bid. OR the training pipeline is full so they need to meter awards to prevent delays in training.

the min max means only 1 thing what number triggers a backfill…..that’s it

hopefully they give you a CJO so that you can the Delta forums…

Yes, there could be fewer captains after the award depending on the bidding patterns of pilots in the vacancy. But it is not restricted to a lower number than present. A loss of 150 positions would be indicated by the reduction in the MAX by 150 and again, that would not really a loss of positions, but a target to achieve on this vacancy in isolation.

To clarify the min max discussion… It always seems like people are saying different things. Here’s the bottom line as far as I can tell, using an example:

In the previous vacancy (26-07), the DEN737CA min max were both 537 and the category summary shows 536 after the award. The way I understand it, that means that if they were to train out 26-07, there would have been 536 Denver 737 captains.

For vacancy 26-09, the min is 518 and the max is 530. So let’s say the category summary for 26-09 ends up with 530 pilots. Doesn’t that mean that the company has effectively shrunk that category by 6 pilots? That a bunch of people bid out, and they didn’t backfill everyone? Seems straightforward.

You don't work here, bud. You won't be working at delta, either.

No. The NBCA MAX in this case is equivalent to all pilots currently in that seat or with a vacancy award to that seat. So there is no shrinking from what is to what will be assuming that all pilots leaving those categories are replaced by someone who wants it (which recent history says will be the case).

No. MIN/MAX is not "desired staffing levels". Its a tool to control which categories should and should not be backfilled because of training capacity. Between recent vacancy bids with a bunch of 737 CA and most of the new hires classes being 737 FO they probably have a sizeable training pipeline and not interested in unplanned training. So they lower the MAX to prevent from awarding people in categories on the 737 that would negatively affect training pipeline.

You have that wrong or maybe I am interpreting what you are saying wrong.

When the number goes below MIN is when backfills happen.

Lowering the MAX below current staffing levels would force a displacement.

thank god I try and be normal would you please! You really need to be at Delta

It WOULD be great if that were now the case.

Also a first.