|
December 12, 2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES
|
|
|
As is consistent with historical trends, total block hours were reduced month-over-month from the DEC24 bid period into the JAN25 bid period. With adequate staffing across all bases, the optimizer distributed flying in the most cost-effective manner. This resulted in two categories, LAX73N and SEA320, with a noticeably disproportionate reduction compared to the other categories.
LAX73N flying reductions were primarily due to a reduction in mid-day Transcon flights out of Southern California. SEA320 flying reductions were primarily due to a network shift of HI flying from the 321neo to the 7ER. According to the Company, this move was made to protect the operation from issues with winter headwinds by utilizing a surplus of 7ER aircraft and pilots. To mitigate the impact of seasonal network shifts going forward, the MEC RCC is working closely with the Company for the FEB25 bid period and beyond with the goal of realizing more balanced solutions across all bases within respective categories.
In the short-term, the RCC is concerned that a number of pilots in these two categories were not expecting these seasonal flying cutbacks and therefore may not be prepared for the higher number of RES lines created by such reduction. In light of this, we have mutually agreed to extend the JAN25 PBS bid window by 24 hours for all categories. This delay accommodates additional time for pilots, especially those in the aforementioned categories, to ensure that they have a RES bid group in place. The PBS bid window for JAN25 will now close at 1800E on December 12, 2024.
The bid results will still be released prior to the PWA requirement of 1800E on December 17, 2024.
It is highly encouraged to always have a reserve bid in as a back-up.
|
|
End-of-the-Year Reminders from R&I
|
The Retirement and Insurance (R&I) Committee reminds pilots of the following deadlines as the end of the year approaches.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA):
You must use any funds in your FSA by December 31, 2024. All 2024 claims must be filed no later than March 31, 2024. You may roll over up to $640 of unused FSA money to your 2025 FSA (assuming you elected an FSA in 2025)
- Delta Health Rewards:
Pilots must complete two of the three required actions for you and your spouse (if married) to receive full Delta Health Rewards benefits. You can complete these actions on the Share Care app.
- ALPA Accident & Critical Illness Insurance
: If you have ALPA’s Accident & Critical Illness insurance, you must complete the Wellness Benefit (i.e., doctor’s visit, optometry visit, etc.) to qualify for up to $800 in rewards.
|
|
Scheduling Ticketing System (STA) Tip of the Week
|
 |
Sorting and Filtering
By default, STS will hide all of your resolved reports and inquiries. If you want to see your old inquires and reports, click “Sort & Filter” and then select all the remaining options under Filter>Value (e.g., such as “approved,” “denied,” “closed”). After you press “Apply,” you will see all of your previous reports and inquires. Remember to use the bug report if you encounter any issues with STS.
|
MEC Chairman's Letter Recap
|
|
Read the latest update from MEC Chairman Darren Hartmann as he recaps ALPA’s efforts to continue to set the bar high for Delta pilots through contract enforcement, dues stewardship and more.
|
 |
Coming Soon: ATL Financial Wellness Seminar
|
The ALPA Retirement & Insurance Department is hosting a Financial Wellness Seminar in January. The seminar focuses specifically on your needs as a pilot. Experts from ALPA, Charles Schwab and other organizations will lead interactive presentations in an open forum with discussion opportunities. Attendees can also sign up for individual financial planning sessions with a Schwab financial consultant familiar with airline pilots’ needs.
All ALPA members are invited to participate, as well as your spouse or significant other. Space is limited!
When:
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with a lunch break at mid-day
Where:
Georgia Convention Center
2000 Convention Center Concourse
College Park, GA 30337
Who:
All ALPA members and their spouse/significant other
Cost:
Free! (Includes lunch)
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
During the holidays, Pilots for Kids, an international non-profit organization, is dedicated to helping to make the season bright for sick children and their families through the generous donations of pilots from a variety of airlines. This year, Pilots for Kids is donating toys and needed items to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, which serves 100,00 children in Idaho and the surrounding states. Pilots go room-to-room in uniform to visit children and try to make a difficult situation a little easier.
If you are in the area and would like to volunteer, details for the next visit are below.
- Monday, December 16, 2024, at 1 p.m. MST
St. Luke’s Idaho Elks Children's Pavillion
305 East Jefferson Street
Boise, ID 83712
For more information, please contact Alex Macdonald at 208-720-7784 or alexmacdonald.pilot@gmail.com. You can donate at www.pilotsforkids.org or scan the QR code above.
|
Delta Pilots Charitable Fund Holiday Ties and Scarves
|
 |
There’s still time to purchase a holiday tie or scarf. While the Delta Pilots Charitable Fund (DPCF) holiday ties and scarves are sold out online, your LEC reps have ties and scarves available, so please reach out to them!
All orders support Gillette Children’s in Saint Paul, MN. The Delta Pilots Charitable Fund promotes the health, education, and welfare of America’s most valuable resource—our children. The Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) charity, and all donations may be tax deductible. Please check with your tax advisor regarding tax deductions. Thank you for supporting the Delta Pilots Charitable Fund and Gillette Children’s!
|
|
COMMITTEE NEWS
|
Central Air Safety Committee (CASC)
|
|
Parking Safety
|
In recent months there has been an uptick in ground collision incidents during aircraft parking. It's worth a full review, but here is an emphasis item from FOM 30.3.1, Parking Safety:
“Ramp personnel and pilots share responsibility for obstacle clearance in the parking area. The area inside the gate clearance lines is called the safety zone. Do not taxi into the safety zone unless:
- The jetway wheels and all ground service equipment are parked outside the clearance lines, and
- A marshaling agent is in place to direct the aircraft or a Parking Guidance System is used.”
There are some exceptions for fixed gates and smaller items such as chocks or power cords where the captain can taxi in with discretion. Items parked in designated areas (like fuel carts) are not (usually) hazards and the aircraft may enter with caution. Parking collisions have occurred with the jet bridges parked within the safety lines but extended for cleaning or otherwise out of position. If it looks close or the jetbridge looks unusual in any way, do not be afraid to check with Operations. GSE parked right on the line have caused contact and some aircraft (such as the 737 with scimitar wingtips) can have slim margins. Oversteering the aircraft to ensure proper alignment with the lead-in line mitigates many of these threats.
It is critical that all crewmembers are empowered to speak up. Nobody on the flight deck should be heads down while parking the aircraft. If something needs to be looked up or referenced, it should wait until the parking brake is set. Additionally, all pilots should individually ensure that the safety area is clear of all hazards prior to entering the gate area. Any doubt must be vocalized, and the aircraft stopped until the area is clear. With the Captain’s primary focus being steering and stopping the aircraft once the safety area is entered, the onus is on the First Officer and any pilot in the jumpseat to monitor and speak up if there is a potential obstruction.
An all clear from the marshaling agent or the Parking Guidance System does not guarantee obstruction clearance. Since direct communication with the marshaling agent is not usually established during parking, a call to operations may be required to request the equipment be moved.
Ensuring the aircraft is parked safely is a joint responsibility, and as pilots we have a fantastic vantage point while turning into the gate in clear, daytime conditions. Inclement weather, faded markings and reduced visibility increase our reliability on ACS, and the depth perception can affect their ability to ensure adequate clearance. If any crewmember has the slightest doubt about parking the aircraft safely, set the parking brake and expand the team.
|
|
|
|
Flight Standards Engagement Initiative
As communicated by Flight Operations, the Standards Department is conducting an engagement initiative December 1-15. The top reasons for the event are to “promote awareness about safety and operational trends” and “foster two-way communication between the pilot group and the Standards Department.”
During the first two weeks of December, you may see an increase in LCP visibility in lounges, an increase in the number of line checks, and a new type of event where an LCP is assigned to a flight but not conducting a line check (coded as SEI). The Training Committee welcomes the opportunity for pilots to be made more aware of real-world threats and engage with Training and Standards in a way that fosters a safer operation.
Here are a few things to remember:
- Any time an LCP occupies a seat on the flight deck, they have a duty to enforce all Delta policies and procedures even if they are not conducting an "official" line check.
- Jumpseat availability may be impacted. Please be aware when planning your commute.
- The continuous Line Operation Safety Audit (LOSA) is completely separate from the Line Check Engagement event. LOSA observers do just that – observe. They do not engage with crews and do not report to the Standards Department. ALPA Safety encourages crew participation in LOSA. If you have any questions about the role of a jumpseater, please ask them for clarification.
- Pilots are reminded to communicate safety concerns via the ASAP program.
- During any period of increased line checks (formerly referred to as a “Line Check Blitz”), pilots are encouraged to be familiar with their fleet’s Line Check Emphasis Items, which is available in Aerodocs under your fleet’s Training and Standards folder. Additional information can be found in the Flight Standards Engagement Initiative Guide document, found in the same folder.
|
|
Military Affairs Committee (MAC)
|
Profit Sharing
The Company has already started to validate this year’s military duty for profit sharing purposes. Unless you are contacted directly by the Company requesting your orders, you do not need to submit anything.
Holiday MLOA Reminders
Most military pilots are used to notifying the Company of their military duty via iCrew which will normally drop an entire rotation. This is not the case when your duty includes days within a holiday APD period. Even if the military duty you are entering is outside of the APD period, but the remainder of the rotation is, you may get an error from iCrew. The easiest method to notify the Company of your duty is via the military leave log. Keep in mind that rotations in the APD holiday period may be split, leaving portions for you to operate. Ensure that any required travel to/from the location of your military duty is protected by using a travel day on either or both ends of your military duty time as permitted under FOM 27.5.7.2.
VA Disability Reminder
Ensure you accurately report any VA disability benefits on your FAA medical application. Failure to do so may result in your FAA Medical being revoked, disciplinary action, or both! Please submit a DART to the MAC if you have any additional questions.
|
|
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
|
|
LEC Meetings/Events
|
 |
|
|
|
|
C66 Meeting
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: TWA Hotel – Villains and Legends Room
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
|
Do you want to be featured on our social media channels? Check out the social media theme(s) below and send your photos and videos to DALComm@alpa.org for consideration!
|
|
Flight Experiences
|
|
Share your experiences as a pilot, including interesting flights, challenges, and memorable moments. This can include both professional and personal experiences!
|
|
|
#WingViewWednesday
|
|
Please submit photos of your favorite Delta jets from your professional or leisure travels!
|
|
|
Feedback
|
Do you have any feedback or ideas for MEC News? Let us know at DALComm@alpa.org! You can also view all MEC News editions and other publications at this link.
|
|
|
DPN Events Photos and Videos
|
|
Please submit any photos or videos you took at DPN events to be considered for posts on social media or highlights in Delta MEC News.
|
|
|
This message is brought to you by the Delta MEC Communications Committee.
If you no longer wish to recieve these communications, unsubscribe
|
|