Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
02-18-2013, 09:05 AM
Sho me da money!
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: B25, Left
Posts: 947
I've not modelled it, but US Air (ie America West) always outperformed my expectations. When excavating through their financials, the real reason they did well was their well below labor costs. I believe with the merger, they will lose their America West style labor model. It should help Delta in comparison, just the same way that AirTran / ValuJet being absorbed by higher cost Southwest helps level the playing field.
Also, in comparison, we have a better network. We should be able to continue a revenue premium and hopefully add to it.
For the first time in a long time it appears management is far enough out in front of our immediate problems to focus on longer term strategy.
Also, in comparison, we have a better network. We should be able to continue a revenue premium and hopefully add to it.
For the first time in a long time it appears management is far enough out in front of our immediate problems to focus on longer term strategy.
My feeling has been while there are a lot of things I would love to see change here at DAL, I am comfortable with the direction this Management team is going. How it all translates for numero uno is always the key. My sense is that given what UAL and AMR still need to do, (it could be really ugly just labor wise on their sides) their costs will out strip revenue shortly. IOW, we have already covered our pilot costs today and are on par or exceeding year end profits in contrast to all other legacies. It is fair to say they better have a few tricks up their sleeves to cover the coming significant increases in wages.
02-18-2013, 09:42 AM
Works Every Weekend
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: 737 ATL
Posts: 3,506
I would say its a combination of personality types.
We are maybe one half pacifist/apathetic and one half ex-military junior officers who are accustomed to "chain of command" organizations. Their tendency is not to try and shape policy but to just salute and execute the plans sent from above.
The rocking chair was effective.
We are maybe one half pacifist/apathetic and one half ex-military junior officers who are accustomed to "chain of command" organizations. Their tendency is not to try and shape policy but to just salute and execute the plans sent from above.
The rocking chair was effective.
02-18-2013, 09:48 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,919
02-18-2013, 09:59 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 12,049
I would say its a combination of personality types.
We are maybe one half pacifist/apathetic and one half ex-military junior officers who are accustomed to "chain of command" organizations. Their tendency is not to try and shape policy but to just salute and execute the plans sent from above.
We are maybe one half pacifist/apathetic and one half ex-military junior officers who are accustomed to "chain of command" organizations. Their tendency is not to try and shape policy but to just salute and execute the plans sent from above.
... and they think folks on this board, like us, are terribly unreliable because of the same characteristics that make us willing to take the chance on entrepreneurship.
Come to think of it, I would wager those on this board (including the ALPA Reps that participate) are more likely than the general average to:
- Be small business owners, or manage business operations
- Have an education beyond the Bachelor's level
- Have experience outside of flight operations
- Have experience at more than two employers
- Have held the title of Vice President, President, or Director
- Either be an attorney, or have hired an attorney for other than family legal matters
- Be a source of employment for other persons
- Have other business interests that make flying at Delta a choice, or complementary income
Last edited by Bucking Bar; 02-18-2013 at 10:19 AM.
02-18-2013, 10:06 AM
Moderator
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: DAL 330
Posts: 7,017
Scoop,
Yours is a solid idea. But, you have to look at history. Have we enforced scope, or traded it?
Trading one pilot's job to benefit other pilots is an ugly business for a union to be in, so it is not something done in the light of day. But, when I have brought forward multiple violations of our scope the ONLY actionable response I've EVER received is, "what kind of bargaining leverage does that give us?"
Now when faced with a Constitutional issue on scope (who bargains with Delta management) the Delta MEC prefers to redefine the terms to avoid a conflict over what is "Delta flying."
IMHO, we Delta pilots have great jobs. In large part we are happy with our Company and to some extent by extension, our representation. We are peace loving pacifists and we are represented as such. Until the politics change to the extent that the majority of pilots are willing to recall those who don't desire a fight ... we are wasting our time even thinking about putting non compliance penalties in the contract. (IMHO, our Reps might be right, if they fought and lost they might be unpopular and popularity is the basis for election ... that's just reality)
While few politicians would say they desire non compliance, almost all are willing to trade in it.
I have suggested a requirement that the Company be forced to staff for our share of flying, regardless of whether we do it. If that model is accepted, it would give us the benefit of scope compliance without as great a potential for extended non compliance and the trading that typically resolves the so called problem of noncompliance.
P.S. I still wonder if Contract 2000 was written with expected non compliance. The RJ triggers were exceeded on management's schedule, even though the aircraft orders were negotiated BEFORE C2K negotiations were complete.
Yours is a solid idea. But, you have to look at history. Have we enforced scope, or traded it?
Trading one pilot's job to benefit other pilots is an ugly business for a union to be in, so it is not something done in the light of day. But, when I have brought forward multiple violations of our scope the ONLY actionable response I've EVER received is, "what kind of bargaining leverage does that give us?"
Now when faced with a Constitutional issue on scope (who bargains with Delta management) the Delta MEC prefers to redefine the terms to avoid a conflict over what is "Delta flying."
IMHO, we Delta pilots have great jobs. In large part we are happy with our Company and to some extent by extension, our representation. We are peace loving pacifists and we are represented as such. Until the politics change to the extent that the majority of pilots are willing to recall those who don't desire a fight ... we are wasting our time even thinking about putting non compliance penalties in the contract. (IMHO, our Reps might be right, if they fought and lost they might be unpopular and popularity is the basis for election ... that's just reality)
While few politicians would say they desire non compliance, almost all are willing to trade in it.
I have suggested a requirement that the Company be forced to staff for our share of flying, regardless of whether we do it. If that model is accepted, it would give us the benefit of scope compliance without as great a potential for extended non compliance and the trading that typically resolves the so called problem of noncompliance.
P.S. I still wonder if Contract 2000 was written with expected non compliance. The RJ triggers were exceeded on management's schedule, even though the aircraft orders were negotiated BEFORE C2K negotiations were complete.
Bar,
You may have misread my last sentence - I think we are in agreement. I said in my opinion DALPA has been "unimpressive" on most Scope related issues.
Scoop
02-18-2013, 10:15 AM
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 12,049
02-18-2013, 10:29 AM
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2010
Posts: 42
02-18-2013, 10:32 AM
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2010
Posts: 42
02-18-2013, 10:58 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: DAL FO
Posts: 2,192
Other airlines have a live system that is basically first come-first serve. PCS is always in seniority order for each given run.
I THINK it also runs two loops through the open time each run also, to award a WS (for example) that became available late in the first loop. This was a senior pilot has a chance to grab a trip that a junior guy swapped out of, all within the same PCS run. I could b wrong about this last part. I'm vaguely remembering someone explaining that to me a long time ago.
02-18-2013, 11:03 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2010
Position: Doing what you do, for less.
Posts: 1,792
Very good point.
... and they think folks on this board, like us, are terribly unreliable because of the same characteristics that make us willing to take the chance on entrepreneurship.
Come to think of it, I would wager those on this board (including the ALPA Reps that participate) are more likely than the general average to:
... and they think folks on this board, like us, are terribly unreliable because of the same characteristics that make us willing to take the chance on entrepreneurship.
Come to think of it, I would wager those on this board (including the ALPA Reps that participate) are more likely than the general average to:
- Be small business owners, or manage business operations
- Have an education beyond the Bachelor's level
- Have experience outside of flight operations
- Have experience at more than two employers
- Have held the title of Vice President, President, or Director
- Either be an attorney, or have hired an attorney for other than family legal matters
- Be a source of employment for other persons
- Have other business interests that make flying at Delta a choice, or complementary income
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