acl65pilot

Not going to argue the message allowing jets to be operated that we filed a grievance over, but those jets are not owned by DAL. They are managed by DPJ and the pilots are from the owners flight department. Like most DPJ pilots they are employed by the owner of the jet and the utilized though the aircraft management part of DPJ. DPJ has pilots and aircraft, make no mistake about that, but it is not the majority of what they manage.

Kind of a quagmire.

Some say its a win because we limit them to five jets, many say its a loss because the company agreed to cease and desist, and now they are codified in the PWA.

Water over the dam either way.

Elvis90

Anyone else prefer Goodreader to Airwatch? Putting in a password all the time is a nuisance, and only being able to open one document at a time isn't helpful. Plus it takes several seconds to "decipher" a document once you try to open it. Other than that, I'm glad the company has moved in this direction.

acl65pilot

Does it say anywhere in the PWA that the pilot has to pay for their lodging in training? Is it a corporate policy? What type of employee is a new hire pilot considered by the company until they get off training pay? What dept number are the associated with, and is that a Flight Operations Operational Pilot dept?

Look beyond the PWA for these answers.

Elvis90

It's in the definition of "Entry Level Pilot" who has not completed any OE. Under the Lodging section, pilots' lodging expenses are covered, but not Entry Level Pilots. It's the same language in the new PWA.

nwaf16dude

Here's a question that's probably never been asked before... Given the changes to reserve in this TA, I'd guess that some guys are going to bid reserve that never would have considered it. So, if you bid reserve, and only reserve in PBS, is it possible to be forced into a regular line? I'm guessing the answer is yes if enough senior guys bid reserve.

sailingfun

Having lived through many different reserves concepts from 19 days on call with 2 hours to report 24 hours a day to the 2001 reserve system I can tell you that most guys will bid a line first regardless of the reserve system. The exception is if a category is really overstaffed and pilots can be assured of taking the month off. Reserve is the most improved section of the contract since I was hired however it will still go mostly to the bottom of the list.
The biggest single change in reserve is pilots commuting to reserve. Its the double edged sword of improving reserve. As reserve has become better pilots actually started commuting to reserve. It was simply unheard of when I was hired. Every pilot moved to their initial assignment base. If you commuted you waited until you could be at least in the top half of the list on the equipment you wanted. Now guys commute on reserve and then scream about how reserves are neglected when it fact its the most improved part of the contract over the last 30 years.

Rhino Driver

NWA, I think Sailing meant to say yes! As far as the new hire lodging goes, It's much less expensive to them than requiring a type rating prior to training! See, we are better than Southwest.

acl65pilot

That's the first part, and notice that it defines them separately from the typical line pilot.

When was this definition et al added?

Again, What does DAL consider a "Entry Level Pilot?" Do they consider them a pilot, or a general/ground et al services employee or other; non-pilot category for pay purposes?

Remember when you were hired; What dept were you assigned to? What two departments did you transfer to once considered a "Line Pilot?" Is this distinction because of the PWA or is the PWA because of this distinction?

Sink r8

This is one of the most stupid discussions ever on APC.

Haven't we given up a lot in this TA to help create growth, ergo newhire posititions? Was that not the rationale behind this Scope purchase and Early out? Moving attrition up by months or years moves up jobs by months or years. In the course if that process, you want to make sure newhires look cheap on paper, and get them in. That's the best favor you can do them.

THEN you negotiate benefits that benefit them disproportionately based on their paychecks, by reducing costs in healthcare, perdiem, uniforms, etc. These are good for all, and on a % basis, best for them. That's how you get the most bang for their buck, work on a unified basis, and avoid a dissincentive to hire more.

You guys are basically acting like a Royal Navy captain at Dunkirk, telling an infantry platoon you're going to leave them on the beach, because you don't have suitable accomodations (no cabin for the officer, and some of the men might go without tea), and you wouldn't want them to suffer sunburns on the deck for the 18 mile trip home. So they can hang out and wait for the panzers.

Newhires want JOBS, and they need money, every day, not hotel rooms for a few weeks.

Sink r8

Sailing,

We didn't have such dramatic seasonality back in the day of MD-11's to MCO. I think senior guys may consider reserve more readily in the winter than ever before.