Originally Posted by Wasatch Phantom

Contract 2012 thoughts:

Many forum members are big fans of DALPA and Lee Moak. My personal opinion is he has done a very good job of getting some mid-contract gains. However I am disappointed at his performance vis-a-vis scope concessions. I am even more disappointed by his performance through the 1113 process.

Over the past few years the cooperative approach with management has been working, and that's great. However contract 2012 is a big one. I'm a "deadzoner" and thus don't have too many years left to make up for previous concessions and/or mediocre gains in 2012.

I hope DALPA (and management) realize that the pilot group in general have pretty big expectations for that contract. Expectations that include SIGNIFICANT, immediate pay raises as well as improvements in retirement, scope scheduling and other QOL issues. If an acceptable contract can be negotiated with that cooperative approach, that would be outstanding. But if it can't, then we should do what's necessary to get what we deserve.

The addition of the former NWA pilots to DALPA changes the demographics of our group considerably. Many DAL-S pilots are seemingly always willing to accept what ever concessions DAL management wants from us, or whatever small gains they are offering us. But the NWA pilots have a history of being willing to "go to the mat" for what they want. I think that works in our favor in terms of numerically being able to overcome the Milquetoasts.

I also think that many DAL-S pilots built a lifestyle around contract 2000 payrates. That is to say: They were living at or beyond their financial means when the 1113 process started. Now they've presumably adjusted their lifestyles and spending habits to lower incomes and can hopefully weather a financial storm, if necessary, come contract time.

Originally Posted by tsquare

On my first IOE as a FO on the 76, I ferried an empty 767-200 from JAX to ATL. Steel brakes.. light airplane.. It was.. well.. let's just say I saw the captain cinch up his belt right before landing. You can't buy experience. I broke the windshield with my head.. I think.

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

It would be like me saying that our Saipan tour guide (Ferd) has no luck with women - when everyone knows I couldn't get lucky in a female prison with a fist full of pardons.

Carl

Originally Posted by MoonShot

Just want to make sure I'm up to speed.

-CVG ER closing next bid or two?

-Staffed properly for summer 2010

-Hiring rumors despite being properly staffed for summer 2010 and from what I recall, SD stating no new guys in 2010?

So, how come we have hiring rumors with the above stated?

How many CVG ER guys will down bid and how many will hit I75 north for DTW or commute to ___? That's the question.

Originally Posted by Denny Crane

Carl,

I came to the conclusion years ago that anytime a good looking gal pays attention to me anymore......................there's going to be money involved!!!

Denny

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

My first 727 landing as a new copilot was before ACARS, so we had to keep track of our block times for the aircraft logbook. After the 9G landing, the Captain asked the Second Officer if he got the landing time. The Second Officer said: "yeah, it's right there where the clocks stopped."

Carl

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

Maybe, its because AirTran looks flat. There is no upswing with them. They eek out a profit but they have nothing of value for the long term, kind of like a guy who has a job and makes money.

Meanwhile Delta comes across as the guy who has taken out the student loans, who has invested his time studying and network, who has been agressive and made the right friendships and now has what it takes in terms of assets and size for a major upswing. And looking back in 2009 we made more money then we spent but of course we lost on our investments and bets but we're where we want to be and right now the thing we cannot control, the market, is improving.

And everyone is gravitating towards us.

Thats my guess.