April 30, 2026
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Contract 2026 negotiations continued in Atlanta this past week for another round of discussions.
As previously reported, discussions primarily revolved around scheduling topics and current issues affecting the pilot group. ALPA’s subject matter experts have been present to discuss complex issues with the Company, led by Senior Vice President - Flight Operations Captain Gumm.
Discussions are ongoing, however there are no significant developments to report. The Negotiating Committee will continue to provide updates after each week of negotiations.
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This is a reminder for all commuters! The 2026 FIFA World Cup will host multiple matches between the months of June and July in the following US cities: ATL, BOS, IAH, MCI, LAX, MIA, NYC, PHL, SFO, SEA.
Hotel availability will be extremely limited, and rates will rise significantly during this period. We strongly recommend booking your hotel rooms as early as possible and planning extra time for traffic and logistics around these cities.
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Please note that SkyHop drivers in New York City are no longer unionized and have never been unionized in other cities. Skyhop Global has injunctions in place in NYC and PHL that prohibit the blocking of vans, interruption of business operations, and harassment of crewmembers.
Important Reminders:
- If you ever find your Delta-provided transportation is unsafe, you are contractually allowed to secure your own transportation.
- Any time there is a visible picket line, such as during an active strike, there is a potential for safety risk to crews. These situations may warrant alternative transportation be secured. Pilots should make an assessment of any safety issues.
When transportation is determined to be unsafe and alternate transportation is secured, those expenses are reimbursable and should be reported using Concur, with details provided so that safety concerns can be addressed. In accordance with FOM 3.6.9, expenses must be submitted within 30 days of being incurred.
Pilots must provide clear detail in their Concur expense report describing the safety concerns that led to securing other transportation. If you are denied your expenses, please submit a DART to the Contract Administration Committee, and make sure to attach any communications you received in response to your claims.
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This week, ALPA hosted a new hire class for 67 pilots that began New Hire Orientation on April 21, 2026. This year, Delta has hired 603 pilots, and there are currently 17,654 pilots on the seniority list.
Class Demographics:
17 Military Pilots: 25%*
- 8 USAF, 7 USN, 1 USMC, 1 USCG
50 Civilian Pilots: 75% - See previous carriers below.
Lowest Time: 1,600 hours (USN)
Highest Time: 16,960 hours (Frontier Airlines)
Average Time: 3,744 hours
Ages:
- Oldest is 58 years
- Youngest is 24 years
- Average age is 35 years
*Only military aviators coming to Delta directly from their branch included in this figure
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Join Us at Airbase Georgia – A Family-Friendly Aviation Event
Hosted by the Delta MEC!
The Delta MEC invites all Delta pilots, families, and friends to a Family Awareness event in Peachtree City, GA, at Airbase Georgia on Sunday, May 17, from 3 to 7 p.m. During the event, attendees can enjoy the festivities, meet the MEC Officers and Negotiating Committee, and learn more about their role in the process of securing a stronger future for us all. The strength of our unity comes from both pilots and the important people in our lives who support us every day.
Hogs, Hops and Warbirds will feature whole hogs roasted on site by The Curious Pig and a keg trailer featuring spring beer selections from Line Creek Brewing. For kids, there will be bounce houses, inflatables, and face painting along with other activities, plus the chance to explore police and fire trucks up close. Not to mention the event is located at Airbase Georgia, home to many unique and historic warbirds!
Pilots are encouraged to fly in to attend this event! Those who RSVP will receive no tie-down fees and based aircraft fuel prices from Falcon Field.
RSVP now to help show us your interest (especially pilots who are flying in!) and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win one of our giveaway prizes! While an RSVP is not required to attend, it is strongly encouraged to help with planning purposes. An Uber voucher is also available here for attendees!
Giveaway Prizes Include:
1st Prize: A warbird ride at Airbase Georgia
2nd Prize: A tabletop Airbus A350 model
3rd Prize: $50 gift card to The Curious Pig restaurant
Special recognition will be given to the pilot who has flown the furthest to attend the fly-in!
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The Delta MEC invites all Delta pilots and their families to the June MEC Meeting Pilot Unity Building (PUB) Event on June 10. The event will take place at the Summer Pavilion at Utah Olympic Park from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Right at 7 p.m., the Flying Ace All-Stars will perform a high-flying private freestyle show! See some of the world’s best skiers and snowboarders perform acrobatic feats as they soar up to 60 feet in the air before landing in the Park’s Spence Eccles Olympic Freestyle Pool. You don’t want to miss this incredible performance!
Utah Olympic Park also features two free museums, which are open until 6 p.m., and are located right next to the Summer Pavillion. More info on park activities can be found at utaholympiclegacy.org.
Members of the Delta MEC, Contract 2026 negotiators, and committee volunteers will be in attendance. Food and beverages will be provided. No RSVP is required. Families are encouraged to attend even if their pilot is out flying the line. Please bid off your schedule so you can attend this great PUB event! The Delta MEC looks forward to seeing you there!
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23 M. 7. Pay in Categories with Multiple Pay Rates
PWA Section 23 M. 7. provides pay protection to a pilot when the Company skips a step in the coverage ladder to award or assign open time. Specifically, Section 23 M. 7. c. provides the following:
When the Company uses Section 23 M. 7. to deviate from a step in the coverage ladder, the pilot who would otherwise have been awarded/assigned the rotation will receive pay and credit (or if applicable, single pay, no credit) for the scheduled value of the rotation.
For categories with multiple pay rates, each leg will be paid at the rate of the aircraft variant scheduled or, in the case of deadheading, in accordance with Section 8 A. 1. Exception One and Exception Two. Pilots who hold a category with multiple pay rates and receive “23M7” pay protection should verify that the applicable pay rates are applied. Pilots should submit any pay error(s) to Crew Assist. If the Crew Assist Case is denied, please file a DART to the Contract Administration (Enforcement) Committee that includes an attached screenshot of the denial.
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Crew Member Access Point to Replace KCM in 2027
The official notice of the termination of the Known Crewmember Program® (KCM) was released April 24, 2026, with an effective date of Dec. 31, 2026. As expected, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will replace KCM with the new Crew Member Access Point (CMAP) program. There will not be a gap in coverage between the implementation of CMAP and the sunsetting of KCM. Additional details will be provided as they become available.
Vehicle Break-Ins at ATL Training Hotels
Despite security measures and patrolling at training hotels in Atlanta, vehicle break-ins remain a serious issue. The Delta MEC is continuously in contact with Delta Corporate Security about this problem. While we are pushing for additional mitigation measures, vehicles are still at risk. Although any vehicle can be vulnerable, trucks are trending as preferred targets.
If you choose to drive your personal vehicle to training at the Atlanta campus, parking is available at the G.O. and shuttle service is provided. The security gate personnel will advise you on how to obtain a temporary parking permit if you do not have a parking decal.
If you choose to park at the hotel and your vehicle is broken into during training, report it to the hotel and submit an FCR and a DART.
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Hotel Changes
Upcoming Relocations
- GIG - April 30 - May 5, 2026
- Moving to Grand Hyatt Rio De Janeiro due to Copacabana music event
- DFW - long layover – May 3 – May 5, 2026
- Moving to Aloft Fort Worth due to blackout dates
- ATL - long layover - May 7 – May 10, 2026
- Moving to Embassy Suites Buckhead due to blackout dates
- RDU - long layover – May 7 - May 9, 2026
- Moving to Embassy Suites Crabtree due to blackout dates
- DUB - May 18, 2026 – May 21, 2026
- Moving to College Green Hotel due to blackout dates
- OPO - May 21, 2026, May 28 - May 29, 2026
- Moving to NH Porto Jardim (May 21); Hilton Porto Gaia (May 28-29) due to blackout dates
- SJC - May 22 - May 24, 2026
- Moving to Sheraton Palo Alto due to blackout dates
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GNSS Interference
GNSS/GPS interference, through spoofing or jamming, has created operational challenges for several years and reported events continue to rise.
Jamming: Intentional radio frequency interference with GNSS signals, preventing receivers from locking onto satellites causing the loss of GNSS.
Spoofing: Intentional broadcasting of counterfeit satellite signals to deceive GNSS receivers, causing them to compute incorrect position, navigation, and timing data.
Suspected interference will be noted by NOTAM, flight plan remark, or Company Pages but can occur without advanced warning. It is worth reviewing fleet-specific guidance on Comply365 regarding how to detect GNSS/GPS interference on your fleet and what associated systems might be affected.
If GNSS/GPS interference is suspected during flight, it is important to ensure the flight path is protected. Many systems may be generating spurious messages, which can distract crewmembers and lead to deviation from the desired flight path. The most common indication of interference is a temporary loss of GPS, but TAWS/TCAS issues, guidance/map shifts, weather radar, and alignment issues have been reported. It may not be immediately obvious to the crew that a system has failed due to GNSS interference.
Expand the team to include dispatch and maintenance, who can assist with troubleshooting the issue, and potentially finding routing into areas without suspected interference. Submitting a detailed ASAP report after the event occurs will help Delta and your fellow pilots navigate future GNSS/GPS interference events.
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Have A Time-Critical FAR 117 Question?
The After Hours Support Network has a team of trained volunteers that field incoming calls outside business hours about time critical FAR 117 questions. Do you have a question about your duty day or block hour limit? Maybe a 30/168 question? How about what to do if your rest was interrupted or you were never legally notified?
Our trained volunteers are experts in FAR 117 and can help you navigate the intricacies of our complex operation. If you have any doubts about the legality of your operation, expand your team and reach out—volunteers will be glad to help you figure out a solution. Please be patient, especially during IROPS, as there can be many callers at once and some questions take longer than others. Just call 1-800-USA-ALPA and follow the prompts to be connected to a volunteer.
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FAQ - Phone Call to DPAC
Q: Is my call to DPAC confidential?
A: Yes, your call to DPAC is confidential. We are here to help, as well as provide information about the Delta HIMS Program.
Where can I find more information?
If you or someone you care about is struggling with substance abuse and would like to confidentiality speak to a DPAC volunteer, please use the following contact information:
Because of the sensitive nature of your situation, you will only speak to the DPAC chairman or vice chairman. Your phone call is confidential and never recorded.
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Why Am I Receiving a Bill from ALPA for 2025 Dues?
ALPA’s Membership Committee actively tracks pilot status and dues. Each spring, the Membership Administration of ALPA completes a reconciliation process for the previous dues year per Article IX, Section 5 of ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws. For the vast majority of pilots who choose payroll deduction as their means of dues payment, Delta is responsible for the deduction and collection of dues. Despite this, certain situations can cause a pilot’s dues to be under-collected during the year. During the latest annual dues reconciliation audit, over a thousand pilots were identified that may be affected.
There are five main reasons why you may receive a bill in May:
Front-Loading Your 401(k) Contributions
If most or all your paycheck went toward your 401(k) early in the year, there may not have been enough remaining funds to cover dues. Per PWA Section 27. B. 7, Delta is not responsible for withholding dues if there is not enough money remaining after all other deductions are made. Most who front-load their 401(k) are aware by now, but many pilots either by choice or omission do not allocate enough of their net paycheck to cover ALPA dues.
Profit sharing Payment (February)
Dues may not have been deducted from your profit-sharing payment issued in February. If you allocate any or all of your Profit Sharing payout to your HSA, 401k, or Emergency Savings and do not allow enough remaining in the “Cash” payout to deduct the full amount of your ALPA dues and DPMA dues, none will be deducted from the check and you will be billed later for the dues owed to ALPA and DPMA.
Timing After Probation
If your probation period ended earlier than expected because you flew 400 or more hours months prior to your one year anniversary, dues deductions may not have started right away.
Missed or Partial Deductions
Dues may have been missed or only partially deducted from one or more paychecks.
Deferred Membership Classification
If you were in a deferred membership classification (SI, ML, PL, F1, GP, SN) and have since returned to work, your deferred dues are now active. Dues Check Off (DCO) is often not ‘turned on’ by Delta Payroll after a return from MLOA, PLOA, or SLOA.
Please keep in mind that if you are currently in a deferred class (Furloughed, Personal Leave, Military Leave, Grievance Pending, or Sick Leave), your balance is not due until you return to active line flying or other obligated membership status. It is important to note that PL and ML status does not take effect for 90 days after the beginning of your leave, so you could currently be on military leave and still considered an active pilot at this time.
If you would like to verify your dues amount owed, you can calculate your dues-eligible income from your year-end paycheck in 2025, multiplied by 1.85%. Dues eligible income includes Flight Advance, Flight Pay, Profit Sharing and Shared Rewards.
If you receive a bill in May for the 2025 dues year, the amount owed will NOT be automatically deducted from your paycheck. You must remit payment directly to ALPA by check or by electronic bill pay through your bank.
If you find that your outstanding balance represents a financial burden, you may be eligible for a Payment Arrangement Plan. Per Article IX, Section 6 of ALPA’s Constitution and By-Laws, this arrangement would allow you to remit your outstanding obligation in monthly installments.
If you have any questions regarding your 2025 dues reconciliation, please contact membership@alpa.org.
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Vacation Move-Up Bidding
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The deadline for submitting vacation move-up requests is tomorrow, May 1 at 8 a.m. EDT.
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Social Media
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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!
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Flight Experiences
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Share your experiences as a pilot, including interesting flights, challenges, and memorable moments. This can include both professional and personal experiences!
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#WingViewWednesday
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Please submit photos of your favorite Delta jets from your professional or leisure travels!
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DPN Events Photos and Videos
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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.
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Feedback?
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Do you have any feedback or ideas for MEC News? Let us know at DALComm@alpa.org!
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