Not all premium trips are created equal.  In this episode of Engage, Scheduling Committee Chairman Captain Ian Turner and Vice Chairman Captain Josh Cantrell join host, First Officer Ryan Argenta, to break down some of the most misunderstood scheduling tools in the contract. From Green Slips with Conflict  and Inverse Assignment with Conflict to Reserve with Conflict, reroute pay, and Quick Slips, the discussion focuses on how pilots can avoid common pay misconceptions and make informed decisions before accepting additional flying.

The committee explains why conflict flying is often misunderstood as "triple pay," walks through real-world examples of when these tools can be highly advantageous – and when they may not be so lucrative – and highlights the importance of understanding the actual pay treatment behind the terminology. The episode also covers updates on Quick Slips, common reroute pay misunderstandings, and the growing importance of lesser-used scheduling provisions as trip coverage challenges continue across the operation. Whether you're looking to maximize pay, improve quality of life, or simply avoid a costly scheduling mistake, this episode provides practical guidance every pilot should know before clicking “Accept.”

Referenced during the episode: "Optimize Your Schedule" MEC Brief available on the Delta MEC website.

Join us for an evening on Boston Harbor at the Boston MEC PUB / Family Awareness Event! This event is open to Delta pilots and their families and is a great opportunity to connect with fellow pilots while enjoying waterfront views, great food, and a relaxed atmosphere.
RSVP is now open: https://forms.gle/faMEGBQ4d1tfo9wbA

• Pilot Assist
• Pilot Leaves
• Training Planning
• Crew Resources
• Duty Pilot 
• Chief Pilot’s Office
• Crew Scheduling / Crew Tracking
• Crew Assist
• AskHR

Share your experience via our Pilot-Flight Operations Survey. Please be as detailed as possible, including dates, times, nature of the issue as well as the names of any individuals you may have had interaction. The information collected from this survey is for internal ALPA purposes only and will not be shared.

Note: This survey is for information purposes only. Pilots requiring ALPA assistance should still submit claims to the appropriate committee via DART or Scheduling Ticket System (STS). If your experience was strictly a Contract or Scheduling issue, please use DART or STS.  If you had a “customer service” interaction issue, a delay in response, or had an interaction in which incorrect or untimely information was provided, please fill out the survey.

We appreciate your participation! 

ALPA’s Executive Council has authorized a dues return offer for the third consecutive year. This year’s offer totals $53 million, and all pilots who were dues obligated in 2025 are eligible.

Eligible pilots will receive an email from DuesReturn@alpa.org with instructions on receiving your dues return offer. You will need to provide direct deposit information for an electronic funds transfer or confirm your mailing address for a paper check.

DuesReturn@alpa.org is an official ALPA email address. It is extremely important for all pilots to take the steps outlined in the email to ensure you can receive and accept your offer.

You can also visit the dues return page on the ALPA website by clicking the button below.

Dues Return Offer Details

Don’t miss the biggest aviation event in North America! Join fellow Delta pilots at the 2026 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and be among the more than 700,000 aviation enthusiasts from more than 95 countries who participate each year. Connect with fellow Delta pilots at the ALPA booth, attend daily presentations, and participate in a variety of fun aviation activities including flying a simulator and getting up close to some amazing aircraft.

If you are interested in volunteering or making a reservation to join ALPA for dinner, signups will open in the coming weeks.

Come to Oshkosh!

LOSA Observation Application Window Now Open!

What is LOSA? 
Think of LOSA as the health check-up of the airline. Are we flying our aircraft in accordance with our published policies and procedures?  What threats are present and coming at the crew day in and day out? Are other areas of the operation also operating in accordance with their respective procedures?  We all know how many operational challenges are present out on the line. This is an opportunity for us to capture that data – to see how well our pilot group manages external threats and traps errors. The information collected is completely confidential and handled by the LOSA Collaborative who compiles and analyzes the data.

LOSA at Delta
Continuous LOSA is a joint program between ALPA and Delta Flight Operations that was implemented in October 2024, where observers conduct observations throughout domestic and international operations and across all fleets. Observers now complete approximately 80-90 observations each month systemwide. 

Previously, LOSA was conducted once every 4 – 5 years.  Moving to the Continuous LOSA model allows observations to occur all year long throughout varying seasons and markets which means a more comprehensive picture of our Delta operation.
 
What LOSA is NOT:
LOSA observations are NOT check rides. LOSA is a completely voluntary program. The crew being observed is NOT subject to instruction, evaluation, de-briefs, or discipline. It is simply for data collection.  The de-identified data being collected are threats, errors, or the application of policies and procedures by the crew. 

A LOSA observation is completely confidential and de-identified. The only thing that identifies an observation is the fleet type and the city pair, not even a flight number. These are meant to be peer-to-peer observations and are strictly voluntary by the crew.

How is the Data Used?
Once the data is collected and analyzed, it is used to identify areas of the operation where procedures may need enhanced, or it could even identify areas of the operation where pilots are excelling at trapping threats and errors. LOSA data can drive change for our manuals, callouts, checklists, or other procedures. Without LOSA, we may not be aware of some of these shortcomings, possibly even in other areas of the operation. Equally as important, it also shines a light on how well our crews are handling the complexities of line flying day-to-day. This also may not be possible without LOSA.

Qualifications
LOSA Observers are current, line-qualified pilots who have completed consolidation and are off new hire probation.

LOSA observers will NOT include:

• Line Check Airmen
• Management Pilots
• Instructors

Once selected, observers will be trained and calibrated by a member of The LOSA Collaborative team prior to conducting observations.  More detailed information about the LOSA program can be found on Deltanet under the Safety & Wellness tab. The application form can also be found there, if you are interested in applying.

The Expression of Interest (EOI) application to become a LOSA Observer is now open! Submit your application by July 12, 2026.