June 11, 2026
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The Delta MEC is currently meeting in regular session in Park City, UT. Your elected union representatives have received briefings from MEC Officers, committees and voted on resolutions, including those brought forward by line pilots at local council meetings. Additional highlights include:
- The Negotiating Committee (NC) updated the MEC on the status of current contract negotiations.
- The MEC received National Officer candidate briefings. Elections for ALPA’s National Officers will take place at the October 2026 Board of Directors (BOD) meeting.
- The Delta Pilot Network (DPN) held a discussion on volunteer recruitment, training, and retention.
Stay tuned for a full summary of this week’s MEC meeting.
Park City MEC Meeting PUB Event
During the meeting, hundreds of Delta union pilots and their families met up in Park City Olympic Park for the MEC’s PUB event to build solidarity, enjoy good food and beverages, while being wowed by performances by the Flying Ace All-Stars!
More Delta MEC Family Awareness events are coming soon to a base near you!
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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.
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This week, ALPA hosted a new hire class for 57 pilots that began New Hire Orientation on June 2, 2026. This year, Delta has hired 817 pilots, and there are currently 17,710 pilots on the seniority list.
Class Demographics: 12 Military Pilots: 21%
45 Civilian Pilots: 79% - See previous carriers below.
Lowest Time: 1,700 hours (SkyWest Airlines)
Highest Time: 13,400 hours (Silver Airways)
Average Time: 3,874 hours
Ages:
- Oldest is 57 years
- Youngest is 25 years
- Average age is 34 years
*Only military aviators coming to Delta directly from their branch included in this figure
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What exactly is LOSA, and who is that pilot sitting in your jumpseat? In this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Casey Songster, 737 First Officer and Vice Chair of the SMS Subcommittee within the Central Air Safety Committee (CASC), to break down the Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) program. Casey explains how LOSA fits into Delta’s Safety Management System (SMS), what LOSA observers are actually looking for, and why the program is designed to identify operational risks—not evaluate individual pilots.
The conversation covers confidentiality, de-identification, observer selection, pilot participation, and how LOSA data helps both ALPA and the Company better understand threats, error chains, and opportunities for risk mitigation across the operation. If you’ve ever wondered who that person in your jumpseat is, what happens to the information collected during a LOSA observation, or how pilots contribute to safety programs behind the scenes, this episode is for you.
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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.
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Have you recently moved? Do you have a new phone number or email address? Make sure you still receive the latest updates and news from the Delta MEC and ALPA by visiting the link below to update your address and stay connected with your Union.
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Issue Sheets Update for Grievance Tracker
View the latest Issue Sheets that summarize violations and grievances listed on the CA’s Grievance Tracker.
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Delayed, Unsafe, or Unsuitable Transportation
- Secure your own transportation and expense it through Concur.
- Per FOM 25.2.1 General
- Ground transportation will be provided for all layovers in accordance with the PWA. (Section 5 E. 5.)
- Wait time for crew transportation should be no more than 20 minutes.
- If wait time exceeds 20 minutes, contact the hotel or ground transportation company directly. If the situation is not resolved to the crew's satisfaction, pay for a taxi or obtain other ground transportation and submit an expense reimbursement request through Concur.
Combined pickup from a hotel is authorized if pickup time is within 10 minutes of the original scheduled departure. Combined pickups from the airport are not authorized unless all crewmembers are present at the pickup point when the transportation has arrived AND all passengers are going to the same hotel. The only exception to this is a hotel courtesy shuttle.
We read every single Hotel/Transportation FCR, so there is no need to duplicate an FCR with a DART unless you would like a response from our leadership team.
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Hold Confirmed and Revenue Standby Customers
One of the most common questions among non-revenue travelers is why a flight that appeared to have open seats in TravelNet the day before departure suddenly looks much tighter when viewing the airport standby list. In many cases, the answer lies in understanding the different types of passengers who may appear on that list.
While it can be surprising to see a large number of names added close to departure, many of these passengers are not new bookings. Instead, they are customers whose travel status is being finalized as the flight moves closer to departure.
Passengers listed as HK (Hold Confirmed) often create the most confusion. HK customers hold confirmed reservations on the flight but have not yet been assigned a seat. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Purchase of a Basic Economy fare that does not allow advance seat selection
- Situations where only premium seats were available at the time of booking and the customer chose not to purchase them
- Other seat assignment restrictions that require airport processing
Although HK passengers appear on the airport standby list, they are not truly standing by for the flight. Their seats are already accounted for in TravelNet's available inventory. Gate agents will assign seats to these customers before considering non-revenue travelers, typically no later than 60 minutes prior to departure.
On the other hand, Revenue Standby Passengers – often identified by codes such as B1, SDSB, and SDSC – represent a different category altogether. These customers are confirmed on another flight but are attempting to travel on a different flight due to schedule changes, travel disruptions, or voluntary same-day flight changes.
Unlike HK passengers, Revenue Standby travelers are not included in the available seat count shown in TravelNet. As a result, a flight that appears to have several open seats can become much more competitive as these passengers are processed and accommodated ahead of non-revenue travelers.
Many Revenue Standby Passengers appear only hours before departure. Customers may be automatically rebooked following delays or cancellations, or they may take advantage of Same Day Travel and Same Day Confirmed options to move to a more convenient flight. Because these travelers can be added late in the departure process, non-revenue travelers should view TravelNet availability as a snapshot in time rather than a guarantee of open seats.
Understanding the distinction between HK passengers and Revenue Standby Passengers can help set more realistic expectations and explain why available seats sometimes disappear as departure time approaches.
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JFK ARFF Training Event: ARFF Familiarization Event Strengthens Emergency Response Partnerships at JFK
In May 2026, representatives from ALPA, Delta Flight Operations, Flight Safety, In-Flight Services, and TechOps partnered to host an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Familiarization Event at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). These events are designed to strengthen relationships between airline personnel and local emergency responders by providing opportunities to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and build mutual understanding in a controlled, non-emergency environment free from operational pressures and time constraints.
Firefighters participated in a comprehensive aircraft familiarization tour led by subject matter experts (SMEs) from across the operation. The event included flight deck visits, demonstrations of fire warning systems and fire handles, seat belt operation, and emergency equipment locations and functions. More than 50 participants had the opportunity to sit in the flight deck seats and experience firsthand the limited visibility available to pilots, reinforcing the importance of clear, concise, and specific communication during emergency situations. Delta air safety investigators also provided hands-on demonstrations of cockpit window construction, cockpit voice recorders, battery quick-disconnect systems, and fire handle operation.
The event also highlighted the flight attendant’s perspective during emergency operations. Participants received an overview of cabin emergency equipment and gained an appreciation for the visibility limitations associated with viewing conditions through exit door windows. Firefighters were also given access to crew rest facilities to better understand aircraft layouts. The day concluded with an exterior aircraft walk-around led by TechOps personnel, who discussed key aircraft systems including engine cores, fire detection loops, brakes, fuse plugs, hydraulic systems, and fuel lines.
Events such as these provide significant benefits to both airline personnel and emergency responders. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing in a low-stress environment, participants improve coordination, strengthen professional relationships, and enhance preparedness for real-world emergencies.
Key Takeaways for Flight Crews
- When requested by ARFF personnel, shutting down engines is recommended whenever operationally feasible. Engine shutdown enhances firefighter safety and allows responders to approach the aircraft more closely to conduct accurate assessments and inspections.
- During a hot brakes event, continued taxiing may help dissipate brake heat. Stopping the aircraft and setting the parking brake can increase brake temperatures and potentially worsen the situation. ARFF personnel can effectively monitor brake temperatures using thermal imaging equipment while the aircraft remains in motion.
Misconceptions and Lessons Learned
ARFF May Not Receive All Information Relayed to ATC
Flight crews should not assume that all information communicated to Air Traffic Control is passed directly to responding ARFF personnel. Crews may need to repeat information already provided to ATC to ensure responders have an accurate understanding of the situation and can prepare accordingly.
Availability of Emergency Medical Services at JFK
Participants learned that only one ambulance is stationed on the airport property, with additional units responding from the surrounding community. When a serious medical emergency exists, crews should consider declaring the emergency early to facilitate timely coordination and response of medical resources. Below: Images from the JFK ARFF Training Event.
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Good News...
For the professional pilot, the disease of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has a predictable beginning, middle, and conclusion. The timeline for this evolution varies depending on the individual and substance of choice. Just like other illnesses, SUD can go undetected for many years. Recovery from SUD may require medical intervention with subsequent treatment. The good news, SUD is treatable, and with this treatment, long term remission in the professional pilot population is highly probable.
The beginning starts with the casual first drink or drug (legal or illegal) and over considerable time progresses to the point (the middle) where the pilot can no longer control the amount he drinks or drugs. This loss of control is not a weakness; it’s a symptom of the disease. Over time, increased tolerance or the ability to consume large amounts of the substance of choice is also a marker for SUD.
This progression can take years and usually involves personal difficulties including marital problems, financial difficulties, health related struggles, legal problems, and work-related issues such as excessive sick leave usage, performance issues, or missed trips. Sometimes only the individual knows these struggles exist. Just before diagnosis and treatment (the conclusion), the pilot has an event that causes them to possibly seek and enter treatment. Once the pilot recognizes this progression and these typical symptoms, DPAC encourages pilots to seek assistance.
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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June 2026 Delta Pilot Retirements A big congratulations to our fellow Delta pilots who are retiring this month! Thank you for your years of service and contributions to Delta!
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June 2026 RPS Results
Reminder: Your RPS responses remain in our system until you change them based on your changing preferences OR you change categories.
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FRMT Update - July 2026
Please click below to view the rotations highlighted by FRMT for the July 2026 bid packets. As a reminder, you are legally obligated to ensure your fitness for duty before every flight. If you have any questions about the process of calling in fatigued, please reference the Fitness Review Board’s Committee page. If you have a fatigue concern about any rotation, please send it to DALFRMT@alpa.org.
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Vacation Move-Up Bidding
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The deadline for submitting vacation move-up requests is July 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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