|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
This week, the Delta MEC launched the new, permanent Scheduling Ticketing System (STS). The program includes many new features, which will be highlighted over the coming weeks. Access the new tool at https://dal.alpa.org/tickets/.
Should I submit an Inquiry or Report?
- Inquiry: Submit an inquiry if you have a general question or concern (ex: how to input a slip, a quick question about short call tomorrow, why is my Personal Drop not going through, etc.)
- Report: Submit a report if you believe a potential contract violation has occurred (ex: I was not called for a green slip that was awarded to a junior pilot, RRPY hasn’t shown up on a rotation that closed out last week, etc.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some Member-Facing Systems Unavailable
To maintain ALPA's systems with the most updated standards, the Information Technology Department will be upgrading the Association's membership system, Aptify. The system will be offline starting Friday, November 22, at 5 p.m. EST until Monday morning, November 25.
During this upgrade, several member-facing systems will be unavailable, including AIRO, FPL/PCS, DTS, My Account, ALPA PAC, Membership Application, Insurance Portal, and My Payments. Systems remaining online include email, DART, SPACS, SharePoint, Teams and all websites.
|
|
|
|
Delta will open an A330 BOS pilot base in 2025. The following are FAQs that address the opening of a new domicile and Local Council. PWA Section 22 – Filling of Vacancies and the Scheduling Reference Handbook are also good resources of information.
Q: I want to put in a bid for BOS. Can I be awarded BOS given my current category freeze?
A: Pilots are exempt from existing category freezes when a category is considered new or reestablished. A category is considered new or reestablished if it has not been in existence for 60 days since the date of the first opportunity for the first conversion.
The October 2024 AE first conversion date was on Nov. 1, 2024. Pilots will be exempt from the category freeze for BOS 330 awards on any AE posted between Oct. 4, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024.
Q: Will the Delta MEC establish a BOS local council?
A: As outlined in the ALPA Constitution & By-Laws (C&BL), the Delta MEC will determine how pilots in a new domicile will be represented. Pilots in a new domicile will either be represented by a new local council or become part of an existing local council. The MEC will consider this issue at the November MEC meeting in ATL.
Q: I am not based in BOS; however, BOS is the closest in proximity to my residence. If the MEC decides to establish a BOS Local Council, will there be an opportunity to council bypass?
A: Yes. The Delta MEC Policy Manual outlines procedures for applying for a council bypass. You can find the Policy Manual on the Delta MEC website secretary page.
Q: If I have been awarded a bid to BOS, am I eligible for relocation benefits under PWA Section 6?
A: “Eligible pilot" for the purposes of Section 6 – Relocation, means a pilot who intends to complete or completes an eligible move and:
- converts into a position at another base via an MD or VD, or
- converts into a position at a new or re-established base within 12 months of the first pilot conversion at such base, or
- transfers from a closed base within the 12 months preceding the base closing, or
- is recalled from furlough to a base other than their furlough base, or
- otherwise transfers to a base at Company request
Q: What do relocation benefits include?
A: Benefits include reimbursement for moving expenses, pass travel, insurance coverage, COMAT, and release from duty for travel time.
Q: How do I begin the process of filing for relocation benefits?
A: To begin the process with Delta, contact Pilot Assist or email the relocation team at relocation@delta.com. Questions may be submitted via DART or by calling 1-800-USA-ALPA during normal business hours.
|
|
|
|
|
Open Enrollment is active until Wednesday, November 20. Here are some notable highlights:
- Contractual Delta-paid life insurance coverage: $1,163,000 (2025 maximum)
- MetLife Group Variable Universal Life (GVUL)
- You can elect to have your Delta-paid life insurance (in excess of $50,000) provided through a Group Variable Universal Life (GVUL) insurance program instead of the traditional group term life insurance plan.
- The maximum amount of GVUL coverage for 2025 is $1,113,000 ($1,163,000 - $50,000 Company-provided term insurance).
- As per term life insurance, if you enroll in GVUL, you will be taxed on imputed income for insurance amounts in excess of $50,000. However, imputed income amounts are lower for GVUL, which will result in tax savings. As you age, your tax savings will increase as imputed income increases.
- There are individual investment options and portability with GVUL.
- There is no downside to electing GVUL.
- Approximately 40% of pilots elected GVUL coverage in 2024. The other 60% paid more tax on the term insurance imputed income than they would have otherwise paid with GVUL coverage.
- Initially, enrolling in GVUL is a two-step process. After open enrollment closes, there will be a subsequent MetLife GVUL enrollment period. New GVUL enrollees will receive an email from MetLife detailing how to complete the second step of GVUL enrollment via MetLife’s website.
- If you are currently enrolled in GVUL insurance and elect to keep the coverage, no action is required during this enrollment period.
- If you are currently enrolled in GVUL insurance and elect to terminate coverage, you will be required to complete a GVUL surrender form at MetLife before your cancellation is processed.
- There is a podcast on GVUL available on the Delta MEC website. Click “See All Episodes” to listen to the GVUL episode.
- The following hyperlink will take you to MetLife’s GVUL website page containing a plan overview and detailed plan information - Learn More
- To speak with a MetLife GVUL benefits specialist, call 866-939-7409. Specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. EST.
- DP-HDHP (Pilot HSA): Plan guidelines remain unchanged from last year. This plan mirrored the Gold HSA plan last year. While Delta implemented some changes to the Gold HSA plan for 2025 (primarily regarding prescription drug benefits), the terms of the DP-HDHP are contractually mandated and cannot be changed without negotiations with ALPA. Resultingly, there are no changes to the DP-HDHP plan for 2025 except for a modest premium increase.
- Health Care Related IRS Maximum Contribution Limits have increased for 2025:
- FSA Health Care - $3,300
- FSA Dependent Care - $5,000
- FSA Rollover Amount - $640
- HSA, Individual - $4,300
- HSA, Family - $8,550
- HSA Catch Up (age >55) - $1,000
It is highly recommended that you either print or retain an electronic copy of your Open Enrollment elections.
Engage - Episode 51: 2025 Open Enrollment
In our latest Engage episode, Communications Chair Capt. Chris Hughes chats with Retirement & Insurance Committee members Capt. Scott Bowles and Capt. John Doherty on 2025 open enrollment, benefit updates, and the GVUL plan for Delta pilots. Enroll by Nov 20!
|
|
|
 |
The Delta MEC will meet in regular session the week of November 18 at the Renaissance Midtown Hotel in Atlanta, GA. During the meeting, your elected representatives will receive updates from MEC Officers, Negotiators, and select committees on recent events and work being done on behalf of the Delta pilots.
In addition, elections will be held for the four MEC Officer positions – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Per the Delta MEC Policy Manual, nominations and election for the Chair will occur as the first item of business on Tuesday, November 19, and nominations and elections for the other three positions will occur as the first item of business on Wednesday. The two-year terms will begin January 1, 2025. Any member in good standing may run for these positions. No Flight Pay Loss will be provided, but expenses will be covered for candidates. Please direct any questions to your local elected representatives.
Any member in good standing may attend the MEC meeting during open session briefings. If you would like to attend, please email MEC Secretary Shane Corbett at shane.corbett@alpa.org for more information.
Meeting Location
866 W Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
Open Speaking Time – Tuesday, November 19
The Delta MEC will host open speaking time on Tuesday, November 19, from 12:30 - 1:00 local time. Any member in good standing may address the MEC during this time. Speaking time will be divided evenly between participants, up to a maximum of 10 minutes per speaker. Please email MEC Secretary Shane Corbett at the email above if you would like to participate.
|
|
|
|
_2954087.png) |
|
On November 12, several Delta pilot volunteers, including DAL SPC Chair Capt. Eric Cowan (middle), showed their support and unity for Frontier pilots as they picketed in Denver, CO. Over 100 pilots from carriers such as JetBlue, Alaska, United, and FedEx joined Frontier pilots on the picketing line.
|
|
|
|
_2928673.gif) |
|
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!
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Pilots for Kids, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping hospitalized children, will host room-to-room visits, donation drives, and other volunteer opportunities for the following dates!
- Monday, December 2, 2024, at 1 p.m. MST: Donate and room-to-room visit
- Monday, December 16, 2024, at 1 p.m. MST: Donate and room-to-room visit
Address: St. Luke’s Idaho Elks Children's Pavillion
305 East Jefferson Street
Boise, ID 83712
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SLC Winter Ops Safety Update
Winter weather is coming to SLC and will impact operations for the next few months. Please review the APB 24.09 Delta Hot app and 2024-2025 De-Ice Changes as you prepare for winter operations. In addition to the normal deicing procedures that occur at any winter station, SLC has unique threats that are worth highlighting to ensure a safe operation. Please be careful this winter season and, as always, file an ASAP for any safety concerns.
De-Ice Status During Taxi
When making initial calls to SLC Ground frequencies, please inform the ground controller that you require de-icing. The ramp controller does not communicate with the ground controller regarding the aircraft's de-ice status.
Engine Run-ups on the Runway
SLC Tower requests your help with aircraft spacing during winter operations. If you require extra time on the runway for an engine run-up, inform ATC before entering the runway.
Reduced Visibility
Due to fog banks, snowstorms, and inversion layers, SLC can experience rapidly changing visibilities (RVR readings). ATC is aware that each aircraft and pilot can have different RVR minimums. For better planning, SLC TRACON contacts the SLC Center to inform them of reduced RVRs. Part of this communication is for the center to ask crews what their RVR minimums are for that arrival. Crews can help themselves and ATC by having this information readily available if reduced RVRs occur in SLC.
Runway Condition & “Expect” Runway Assignments
With three runways, SLC airport has multiple options for aircraft to land during a snow event. The SLC airport authority controls when a runway is closed for plowing operations, not ATC. ATC simply passes braking action reports to the airport authority, and they determine the plan for plowing. This is why you may be on final and get sent around and re-sequenced for an approach to another runway with little or no warning.
Additionally, SLC has a program where TRACON tells SLC Center the current runway use plan. SLC Center then accordingly tells aircraft to “expect” a certain runway. During dynamic weather events, SLC ATC will suspend the “expect” runway plan with Center. When this occurs, the situation on the ground is dynamic, and runway assignments are changing rapidly with the weather. SLC ATC is not trying to complicate your planning, but they do not want to pass along knowingly inaccurate information. This should be an expected threat, and a mitigation plan should be briefed.
PIREPS
As with all non-standard weather events, please pass a PIREP to ATC. Visibility and braking action PIREPs are especially helpful. When it is safe to do so, please consider giving a braking action PIREP when you clear the runway, even if it is to report that the braking action was as reported.
Severe Turbulence
With the terrain surrounding SLC, the terminal area experiences an increase in severe turbulence events during the winter months. Common places for this to occur are crossing the Wasatch front near SPANE on the LEEHY arrival and while flying near the Oquirrh Mountains on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley. This occurs after FFU on the LEEHY arrival, after KNOLE on the WATTS Arrival, and after FRENZY or DRAPR on the QWENN and DELTA Arrivals, respectively. As a reminder, if moderate or greater turbulence is expected on the descent, SEAT procedures should be implemented per FOM 5.2.7.2.
|
|
|
|
|
Vacation Guide for Retirees
Pilots retiring during the 2025-2026 vacation year (April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026) should expect an email from Crew Resources in December 2024 requesting how they would like to receive their earned vacation.
Pilots have three options to choose from and possibly take action on or before December 31, 2024:
- Bid Vacation, or
- Vacation Payout, or
- Bid and Vacation Payout Combination.
1. Bid Vacation
Retiring pilots who choose to bid all of their earned vacation will participate in the normal vacation bidding process beginning in January 2025 and will use it as awarded/scheduled.
- Profit Sharing Eligible: Yes, considered Annual Compensation
- Pilot Action Required: Yes, bid for vacation normally.
2. Vacation Payout
As specified in Section 7 G. 4., upon retirement, all hours in your vacation bank and any unused accrued vacation payout will be directed to your 401(k) account as a company contribution. Any amount that cannot be contributed to your 401(k) due to IRC limits will be paid directly to you as 401(k) “Excess” (i.e., cash), per Sections 26 M. 1. – 4.
-Profit Sharing Eligible: No, not an Active member of seniority list at time of payout.
-Pilot Action Required: Yes, see below.
3. Bid & Vacation Payout Combination
Retiring pilots who chose this option will bid some of their earned vacation and also leave some vacation hours in their vacation bank for payout after retirement. All normal bidding rules will apply; see note below.
-Profit Sharing Eligible: Yes, if used prior to retirement; no, if paid out after (see Option 2 above).
-Pilot Action Required: Yes, see below.
Pilot Action
Option 2 or 3 must be submitted through Delta’s Retiree Vacation SmartSheet on or before December 31, 2024. If your request needs to be changed, submit a new request on or before December 31, 2024 (doing so will override any previous submission).
Notes:
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
As tensions in the world continue to stay elevated, it is important to stay informed when traveling abroad. One way to do this is through enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
STEP is a free service for U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad to receive safety and security alerts and other local updates by email from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling in STEP also makes it easier for embassies and consulates to contact U.S. citizens during an emergency. It only takes a few minutes to enroll, but it can provide a vital lifeline if a crisis hits. Enroll before you travel at STEP.STATE.GOV.
For more information on STEP, please read this flyer!
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vacation Move-up Bidding
The deadline for submitting vacation move-up requests is December 1 at 8 a.m. EST.
LEC Meetings/Events
C16 Meeting and Family Event
Date: Thursday, December 05, 2024
Time: LEC Meeting: 4:30 p.m. local time
Holiday Dinner / Family Awareness Event: 6 -10 p.m. local time
11022 Aviation Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310-670-3093
C20 Meeting and PUB Event - USA Hockey Night
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. EST
14900 Beck Road
Plymouth, MI 48170
C81 Meeting and Winter Family Event
Date: Friday, December 6, 2024
Time: 5–9 p.m. local time
75 Southfork Dr.
Draper, UT 84020
C54 Meeting and PUB Event
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. local time
1101 Outlet Collection Way
Auburn, WA 98001
Notes: The meeting will occur from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Food, drinks, and video games will be available for the entire family following the meeting.
C48 Meeting
Date: Friday, December 13, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. EST
18 Savannah Street
Newnan, GA 30265
C66 PUB Event: Newark NHL Hockey Game - Chicago Blackhawks @ New Jersey Devils
Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: 1-4 p.m. EST
25 Lafayette St.
Newark, NJ 07102
Notes: RSVP here! These PUB events allow you to meet your elected reps as well as other Council 66 pilots. We will have limited seats available and will limit one guest per pilot. Parking and Uber credits will be available as well. If you RSVP and cannot make it, we ask that you keep us updated to allow the maximum number of pilots to attend. Once we have filled up all available slots, we will notify pilots and still accept RSVPs and create a waitlist. If you have any questions about the event, send us a DART or email us at DAL66@alpa.org.
|
|
|
DELTA MEC SOCIAL MEDIA
|
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!
|
|
Retirement Content
|
|
If you are retiring soon or have just retired, please send any content, including photos of you and your last flight for Delta! We want to highlight pilots and their successful aviation careers!
|
|
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.
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.
This is a product of the Delta MEC Communications Committee
Air Line Pilots Association, International
|
|
|
|
|
This message is brought to you by the Delta MEC Communications Committee.
If you no longer wish to recieve these communications, unsubscribe here.
|
|