Delta Hiring?

[MJ42]

Three things.

1. What is PERP?
Pilot early retirement program.

B. Anyone know the retirement projections for the rest of year at NWA? Not off hand, but we had 50 in August(some perp, but a lot were in addition to the perp that were awarded). Also, 50 perp awarded, although, many more applied.


Last, Any insight on the upcoming AE in October at Delta? What's it gonna be?

Some DAL guys will answer your last question.

 

[Bluto]

Well for us LAX73NB, it looks like Oct. will be the busiest month this year. Going from 30 lines in Sept. to 40 in Oct. with 52 pilots total in category. Perhaps my life of leisure on reserve will be over

Wow. That's a big jump, I'd go straight from not flying at all on rsv to holding a line if my calculations are correct...interesting. Wonder what surprises November will hold.

 

[another cfii]

I suppose crew resources finally realizes there's a 73 base out in the west, then

First glance, trips are actually not too shabby. Not as many usual red-eye transcons that we're used to see during past months.

 

[lakemead1]

I guess since we lost BOS, CMH and BDL, a lot of the redeyes ave gone. I had a line in Aug. lost it in Sept. and looks like I'll get it back in Oct. Hoping to get SLC 73N on this AE that comes out next month.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

The Code-A-Phone stipulated a AE next month. No official word on back fill.

 

[EMBpilot]

LAX 73 guys,

Are you flying mostly 800's? Is that growth in lines because of 700's coming in?

Thanks

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

The Code-A-Phone stipulated a AE next month. No official word on back fill.

Spoke with a chief pilot a few days ago.

"...The longer we've gone the more backfilling we'll see... yeas there will be backfilling... the conversion can be up to 12 months...out some time in October..."

 

[ACL65PILOT]

That is what I was told yesterday.
Looks like as they shore up what we will be doing with what a/c they are now able to project staffing requirements.
Lots of new and exciting routes await us.

 

[MXAV8R]

LAX 73 guys,

Are you flying mostly 800's? Is that growth in lines because of 700's coming in?

Thanks

Yes on the -800. Looks like the growth is due to some -700 flying (mostly out of SNA it looks like). Also more trips in general through other hubs. We have been doing mostly transcon, one leg a day type trips. But in Oct. looks like more multi-leg days..I think...didn't look to closely..

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I think the 700 took a lot of flying from the 757 out of SNA.

 

[zawillif]

Hiring at the New Delta

After the merge--and with the new flow through agreements with Mesaba and Compass--how will the New Delta add more pilots? Do they call up a certain % (or number) of flowthroughs followed by off the street new hires?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Yes. I do not have the JPWA in front of me but there is a decent percentage that needs to be offered to Compass every month.
Frankly there will be plenty of external hiring going on so it will not be much of an issue.
My only question that I asked was since compass is in essence internal, will they be at the front of every class. (IE ahead of everyone else like FA's, interns and ramp agents have been or will they be treated like the CMR pilot were.)
Little different since we have a flow thought with them. I guess in time we will find out.

 

[~~~^~~~]

ACL,

That is an interesting question.

As you know, the Delta employees who were on leave were hired into pilot ranks on a "transfer" so they kept their Delta DOH for passes and benefits. Then the next category is the thousands of ASA rampers and gate agents who came over to Delta and got to keep their DOH for benefits. Then the ASA pilots hired at the exact same time went straight to the bottom with their Delta DOH like anyone else.

It does not seem at all fair that the rampers and gate agents got so much better treatment than the pilots who interviewed & were hired.

Of course, IMHO, the Compass pilots should be brought to Delta standard now. They should get their Delta number and longevity the first day on the property for this very reason. It is rediculous that pilots lose their longevity (for pay and benefits) when they step across an imaginary line constructed only to create an alter ego for DC9 replacement flying.

It is even more reduculous that Delta pilots can't bid Captain on those jets unless they are furloughed first. I hate this "half pregnant" approach we use to justify a "C" scale.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Well Fin, I know that they union is looking for a few volunteers. The standard can only be changed it you are willing to get involved.

BTW check your personal e-mail.

 

[~~~^~~~]

ALPA is grass roots and the Delta Reps do an excellent job representing the majority. They are doing such a god job that I'd rather appreciate their service and suggest minor course corrections, when appropriate.

Eventually I will probably do committee work again. Flightinfo is just a diversion while at the office on job #2.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

FIN I will tell you that you are wrong. They would. I am sure that there will be some heated discussions when you arrive, but after they hear you arguments and true scope of belief they just may let you clean the trash cans.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Hey, over the years there has been some good stuff that has been found in trash cans, like the SLOA allowing concurrent seniority at Delta and ASA, and the agreement on Bid Restricted Second Officers.

Me thinks they would not even let me near the trash can.

 

[lookin4better]

I also thought that a pilot had to be at Compass for 36 months before being allowed to flow up.

 

[FDJ2]

Frankly there will be plenty of external hiring going on so it will not be much of an issue.

The Company and DALPA have just concluded a SLOA to adjust the MD88 F/O ALV in order to give the company short term relief due to an anticipate shortage of MD88 F/Os in the 1st quarter of 2009.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

It allows them the ability to put off the hiring that was anticipated this fall until the NWA issues and SLI are worked out.
In essence it will keep the bottom of DAL's seniority list in the correct order until the completion of SOC.
I am sure you know what I am saying FDJ.

 

[michael707767]

It allows them the ability to put off the hiring that was anticipated this fall until the NWA issues and SLI are worked out.
In essence it will keep the bottom of DAL's seniority list in the correct order until the completion of SOC.
I am sure you know what I am saying FDJ.

either that or it puts off the need to displace pilots from higher categories to cover that flying.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

It actually does both.

 

[~~~^~~~]

FDJ2,

Good information. Any news on NWA pilots being able to come over before SOC?

 

[MJ42]

FDJ2,

Good information. Any news on NWA pilots being able to come over before SOC?

Interesting thought. I've heard unsubstantiated rumors about this. It would be an easy transition for DC-9 to MD-88. I think a number of NWA commuters would be interested in coming over. My only question is: when the DAL staffing model of pilots per aircraft becomes effective, wouldn't that leave NWA short on pilots?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

It is temporary. I would assume that the initial training for ANYONE coming over to DAL would be a standard course.
Because of this it would be at the end of the first quarter before they would see anyone sitting in the seat. It takes about three months to get people checked out. Two is aggressive.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Interesting thought. I've heard unsubstantiated rumors about this. It would be an easy transition for DC-9 to MD-88. I think a number of NWA commuters would be interested in coming over. My only question is: when the DAL staffing model of pilots per aircraft becomes effective, wouldn't that leave NWA short on pilots?

This is why I'm curious about ALPA's take on this. The junior guys who get "furloughed" would at least temporailly get a better position than those senior to them.

The Indoc could, and probably will be, a CD. Last aircraft change for me was four weeks and three days from class to last leg of IOE. It can go very quickly if everything falls into place.

>> Conjecture and half baked analysis warning <<​

If you take the fleet and the block hours and divide through by the number of pilots, NWA is over staffed. I also hear the "Delta staffing requirements" rumors, but with the changes to the NWA fleet the result remains the same because the real operational numbers seem to run higher than the minimum required numbers. At the minimum numbers the wheels fall off the operation ... and I'd bet the MD88 is going to be green slip city for the reserves in the beginning of 2009.

The NWA displacement bid which was cancelled, as well as the rumors of numbers which might be sorta-not-really-furloughed all correlate around 160 to 170 'ish.

The other variable is how many NWA pilots take, or are allowed to take, an early out. Will that be 100, or 400? It makes a big difference at the end of the stovepipe. My guess is that this eventual number will correlate to the fate of the Captain slots going forward on the 747's.

For the First Officers, this will shake out fine. For NWA's DC9 and 747 Captains it will be more interesting all the way around. Do they get displaced?

 

[Fly4hire]

The Company and DALPA have just concluded a SLOA to adjust the MD88 F/O ALV in order to give the company short term relief due to an anticipate shortage of MD88 F/Os in the 1st quarter of 2009.

I sincerely hope DALPA is looking at the best of both worlds in the NWA and DAL contracts for eventual SLOA improvements. The NWA APA system of monthly entitlement awards for 4 months out has been a win/win for their ability to tweak schedules and staffing and our ability to plan our lives. We stopped the quarterly awards back in 98'. Ditto 10 day JS rules, call in honest, and some other choice bits.

 

[MJ42]

This is why I'm curious about ALPA's take on this. The junior guys who get "furloughed" would at least temporailly get a better position than those senior to them.I may be thinking about this the wrong way, but if the DAL side needs pilots from the NWA side, wouldn't you think NWA pilots could bid on who gets to go? I'm thinking of it as a bid, you seem to think of it as a "furlough". A lot of NWA commuters would desire a DAL base. Am I looking at this wrong?

The Indoc could, and probably will be, a CD. Last aircraft change for me was four weeks and three days from class to last leg of IOE. It can go very quickly if everything falls into place.I agree.

>> Conjecture and half baked analysis warning <<​

If you take the fleet and the block hours and divide through by the number of pilots, NWA is over staffed. I also hear the "Delta staffing requirements" rumors, but with the changes to the NWA fleet the result remains the same because the real operational numbers seem to run higher than the minimum required numbers. At the minimum numbers the wheels fall off the operation ... and I'd bet the MD88 is going to be green slip city for the reserves in the beginning of 2009.

The NWA displacement bid which was cancelled, as well as the rumors of numbers which might be sorta-not-really-furloughed all correlate around 160 to 170 'ish.

The other variable is how many NWA pilots take, or are allowed to take, an early out. Will that be 100, or 400? It makes a big difference at the end of the stovepipe. My guess is that this eventual number will correlate to the fate of the Captain slots going forward on the 747's.Only 50 perp were granted, but many more applied. No 747 or 330 pilots were granted a perp because we are short on both aircraft.

For the First Officers, this will shake out fine. For NWA's DC9 and 747 Captains it will be more interesting all the way around. Do they get displaced?

It will all work out fine, but it will be interesting to see our movement options.

P.S. our uniform memo today...what's better quality: Abbotts, M+H or the stop over store?

 

[DAL737FO]

I sincerely hope DALPA is looking at the best of both worlds in the NWA and DAL contracts for eventual SLOA improvements. The NWA APA system of monthly entitlement awards for 4 months out has been a win/win for their ability to tweak schedules and staffing and our ability to plan our lives. We stopped the quarterly awards back in 98'. Ditto 10 day JS rules, call in honest, and some other choice bits.

Fly4hire,

You get what you get and that is whatever is in the contract. This was a reason I voted no on the joint contract. We didn't get enough low/no cost items. Our union said we couldn't get any more. I'm a commuter and I desperately wanted your call in honest policy. The answer I got from our union was that if we got it the company would have to give it to the flight attendants. I asked when we became the negotiating agent for the flight attendants. Additionally, if I understand correctly, you and the flight attendants at NWA have different call in honest policies. If you can do it there we should have been able to do it here.

Long story short we are stuck with what we got.

 

[MDPilot]

P.S. our uniform memo today...what's better quality: Abbotts, M+H or the stop over store?

Hands down great quality..Abbotts