PA-44Typed
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2002
- Posts
- 370
This is Joe Kolshak with a special Flight Operations update on Thursday
August 28th.
I'm pleased to announce that 45 of the 250 pilots furloughed as a
result of the drop in demand and subsequent schedule reduction caused by the
war in Iraq have been offered recall effective October 1, 2003. The
Chief Pilots began calling those pilots earlier today, and letters will
be FedExed to their homes today as well.
Based on the fall schedule forecast, we should restore capacity to
pre-Iraq war levels by the end of this year. Accordingly, I expect that
all 250 of the pilots furloughed after the war in Iraq will be recalled
by the end of this year.
I know many of you have been watching the wave of early retirements
that will be effective September 1st and will conclude that these recalls
are a result of those retirements. That, however, is not the case.
The 250 pilots furloughed this spring were furloughed as a result of the
drop in demand and, as I mentioned, the subsequent schedule reduction
caused by the war.
The great news for all of us at Delta is that we'll be returning
furloughed pilots to the property and moving forward together in the process
of building a stronger Delta. However, there are two very important
factors to keep in mind. First, the eventual recall of the 250 pilots
furloughed in April, May and June of this year will not have an effect on
the pilots furloughed as a result of the events of 9/11. 1,060 pilots
will remain on furlough and will remain subject to the recall trigger
set forth in the arbitration ruling that was issued earlier this year.
The second important factor is that we continue to carry more pilots
than necessary to operate our schedule. Some may find this difficult to
understand given the fact that, at times, some of our individual
categories suffer from low reserve availability. That's a result of a
constantly changing schedule. However, this will be corrected by adjusting
staffing imbalances - as we are currently - among individual categories,
not by adding extra pilots systemwide. Due to the fact that we're
carrying excess pilots, some of those recalled this fall will return to
Delta in an unassigned category. As the schedule grows and as capacity is
restored above pre-war levels, those pilots will be assigned to
training, but for the near term, some will be paid as unassigned pilots in
accordance with the Pilot Working Agreement.
I know that this begs the question of why we are returning pilots when
they are not needed to operate the schedule, and the answer is simple.
The reason for the furlough of pilots after the war in Iraq was the
drop in demand and the subsequent schedule reduction. As the schedule is
reinstated, the reason for the furlough ceases to exist, and it then
becomes our obligation to bring those pilots back. It's simply the right
thing to do.
I'm pleased that we'll be recalling some of our furloughed pilots this
fall, but for those of you still on furlough, I assure you that I
continue to search for every means available to return Delta to
profitability so that you too can be brought back to the cockpit as soon as
possible.
Well, that's it for now. Once again, welcome back to our recalled
pilots, and as always, fly safe and thanks.
August 28th.
I'm pleased to announce that 45 of the 250 pilots furloughed as a
result of the drop in demand and subsequent schedule reduction caused by the
war in Iraq have been offered recall effective October 1, 2003. The
Chief Pilots began calling those pilots earlier today, and letters will
be FedExed to their homes today as well.
Based on the fall schedule forecast, we should restore capacity to
pre-Iraq war levels by the end of this year. Accordingly, I expect that
all 250 of the pilots furloughed after the war in Iraq will be recalled
by the end of this year.
I know many of you have been watching the wave of early retirements
that will be effective September 1st and will conclude that these recalls
are a result of those retirements. That, however, is not the case.
The 250 pilots furloughed this spring were furloughed as a result of the
drop in demand and, as I mentioned, the subsequent schedule reduction
caused by the war.
The great news for all of us at Delta is that we'll be returning
furloughed pilots to the property and moving forward together in the process
of building a stronger Delta. However, there are two very important
factors to keep in mind. First, the eventual recall of the 250 pilots
furloughed in April, May and June of this year will not have an effect on
the pilots furloughed as a result of the events of 9/11. 1,060 pilots
will remain on furlough and will remain subject to the recall trigger
set forth in the arbitration ruling that was issued earlier this year.
The second important factor is that we continue to carry more pilots
than necessary to operate our schedule. Some may find this difficult to
understand given the fact that, at times, some of our individual
categories suffer from low reserve availability. That's a result of a
constantly changing schedule. However, this will be corrected by adjusting
staffing imbalances - as we are currently - among individual categories,
not by adding extra pilots systemwide. Due to the fact that we're
carrying excess pilots, some of those recalled this fall will return to
Delta in an unassigned category. As the schedule grows and as capacity is
restored above pre-war levels, those pilots will be assigned to
training, but for the near term, some will be paid as unassigned pilots in
accordance with the Pilot Working Agreement.
I know that this begs the question of why we are returning pilots when
they are not needed to operate the schedule, and the answer is simple.
The reason for the furlough of pilots after the war in Iraq was the
drop in demand and the subsequent schedule reduction. As the schedule is
reinstated, the reason for the furlough ceases to exist, and it then
becomes our obligation to bring those pilots back. It's simply the right
thing to do.
I'm pleased that we'll be recalling some of our furloughed pilots this
fall, but for those of you still on furlough, I assure you that I
continue to search for every means available to return Delta to
profitability so that you too can be brought back to the cockpit as soon as
possible.
Well, that's it for now. Once again, welcome back to our recalled
pilots, and as always, fly safe and thanks.
