Originally Posted by Sink r8

You're looking at a company that claims to be a family, and in fact is pretty good when life throws a surprise at you, or some event like the birth of a child.

You also really don't know when the child will get there, so things will change faster than any reasonable lead-time you might give Delta. IOW, even if you want to ask for permission, you might not have anything tangible for Delta to work with, other than to push you back a class or two.

Personally, I'd ensure that Mom and baby have a good support structure, and I'd be very flexible. Once the baby is there, assuming you're in class, I'd very nicely mention this to the coordinator, be clear that you are flexible, and see what they say. Be prepared to suck it up if they ask you to finish some segment of training.

In a few years, you can remember fondly how exciting and happy a time the whole thing was, and how you great a job you did getting Mommy her mother/sister/aunt/friend to help out. Buy lots of flowers, and do well in school, so you can buy lots of flowers again.

In mean this semi-seriously, but you don't want to be in the position where you skip a class, and you get furloughed over it, the kid shows up way early or late anyway. So here you are, bidding every month for the rest of your life, and some guy in the class you should have been in is in front of you for the duration.

That's how I would approach it, hypothetically, but I never was faced with the choice. Congrats, and congrats.

Originally Posted by duece12345

Thanks for the advice. I am very excited on both fronts.

Originally Posted by MoonShot

Anyone have any recent experience with how Delta handles a pilot having a baby? I've read through the Leaves of Absence section of the contract, but I'm not sure what my best option is.

I'm trying to bid a week of vacation a little after the due date. Also, ideally, I would get a lot of credit here in the first couple months of the year and then PD some stuff around and after the due date (I budget our finances at an average of 75 hours a month). This might not come to fruition though because I am very junior and there isn't much extra flying to be had in my category anyways. It would be nice to be able to get 3 weeks or so off after the birth but you never know exactly when that is going to be...

How do they handle you flying a trip when your wife is approaching the due date? Do you let the CPO know that you are "waiting for the call" while on a trip or what? Kinda don't want to miss the birth (obviously). BTW, I commute.

Any recent advice? Thanks.

Originally Posted by scambo1

Have we received any info about transferring our profit sharing to our 401k yet? Usually, we have heard of this by now. Did I miss something?

Originally Posted by duece12345

Got another question. In the pool know, gentleman's guess is that my class date will fall very close to due date +\- 2 weeks. Obviously don't want to delay class date, I have worked my entire life for that day. Could I take a few days off during training? Wife is diesel and understands, but I would like to be there for a few days post birth.

Originally Posted by Beer Man

Just got off the phone with ALPA (good advice Timbo) and what everyone is saying on here is pretty much what they said... The question about whether or not you can use sick time is apparently state specific based on how the law is written regarding use if sick time. In my state, I will be able to use up to 160 hours of sick time because the law says sick time can be used to care for members of your family. All I need to provide is a note from my wife's doctor stating she needs bed rest or can't lift anything etc etc.

If your state doesn't allow sick time usage for care of your family then your options are FMLA either paid with vacation or unpaid (company preference).

Originally Posted by Chomeur

My take is this, and it's worth two cents, or less, but....Get into Indoc class, which is a week or so. Finish class, while having explained that Momma is due any second now. Once you've finished Indoc, you have your ID and can jumpseat home ASAP if needed. While in Indoc, bid MD88 or 717 FO, so you can be higher on reserve, or off reserve in minimum time. That wouldnt happen in the Airbus or 737 fleets as fast. I suspect you may have some wait time after Indoc before aircraft training begins, and could be home or in hospital while waiting. If you ask for time off after Indoc, they can put you in a later 88 or 717 class, which will probably occur bi-weekly for the next five years. Training would be able to be more flexible with moving someone in an aircraft class than moving someone to a later Indoc class. I also don't think this would affect your probation, if you're worried about that. Looking over my shoulder, Mrs. Chomeur says take the job first, then take wife and new baby on vacation with new job's benefits. Now you can advise wife that a woman said to do it, which is defensible in a woman court of law.