May 14, 2026
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The Negotiating Committee continued to meet with the Company this week in Atlanta. Discussions revolved around scheduling issues, notably the ARCOS trip coverage process. We continue to offer solutions that safeguard existing pilot interests while addressing the operational dysfunction we have all experienced. Unfortunately, progress at the table has been slow. We briefed your elected Union representatives on the status of negotiations at this week's Special MEC Meeting.
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Have you ever wondered why Delta seems short on pilots? Pilot staffing is a complex topic but understanding where our contract does and does not affect staffing decisions is important.
Despite meeting the minimum contractual staffing requirements, why does the Company come up short on pilots each month in some categories? While your Union has been strongly advocating for increased staffing, the issue seems to be getting worse, not better.
Currently, Delta's use of the PWA minimum staffing formula results in an operational shortage. The real-world effects of this shortage include excess open time and reserve shortages, resulting in cascading operational disruptions.
As the PWA staffing formula is only a minimum requirement, nothing prevents Delta from staffing in excess of the formula to solve seemingly persistent operational issues. Furthermore, the Company has often conflated “aircraft block hours” and “pilot hours,” the latter being more accurate since pilot flying is based on bid package requirements (including augmentation). The growth in bid package hours, combined with the increase in various values in C2019, such as vacation and training, reveals staffing has not kept pace with actual operational demand.
Anyone interested in more details should review the “white paper” on staffing, authored by ALPA PWA experts, at this link HERE.
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This week, ALPA hosted a new hire class for 70 pilots that began New Hire Orientation on May 5, 2026. This year, Delta has hired 673 pilots, and there are currently 17,678 pilots on the seniority list.
Class Demographics:
19 Military Pilots: 27%*
51 Civilian Pilots: 73% - See previous carriers below:
Lowest Time: 1,700 hours (USAF)
Highest Time: 12,300 hours (Spirit Airlines)
Average Time: 3,812 hours
Ages:
- Oldest is 54 years
- Youngest is 25 years
- Average age is 36 years
*Only military aviators coming to Delta directly from their branch included in this figure.
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The Delta MEC continues to work with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) to conduct statistically valid telephone polling of the pilot group. The next polling cycle will take place from May 15 to May 24. If called, please take just a few minutes to share your feedback with the Delta MEC.
- All calls will come from the number 603-397-0660
- Caller ID on landlines will indicate "UNH Surv Ctr”
- Caller ID on cell phones will indicate “NH Call”
- Calling times are between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (time zone appropriate)
- UNH will interview 600 pilots (randomly selected)
- UNH will attempt to call you back if your sampling quota is not yet met.
As more carriers add “spam blocking” technology – some pilots (dependent on carrier) may receive a warning by their carrier that says “spam likely” when the call comes through. This warning gets generated based on the volume of calls UNH makes. UNH, in collaboration with industry groups, is working on solutions to this issue, but currently, has no viable alternative other than notifying the pilots in advance. They can choose to add UNH’s number to their contacts, and as a result, will not receive a warning.
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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 this 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!
No Need to RSVP! If desired, an Uber voucher is also available here for attendees! However, note that the deadline for claiming a voucher is tomorrow, Friday, May 15, at noon ET. We can’t wait to see you at Airbase Georgia!
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The Delta MEC will meet in regular session June 8-12 in Park City, UT. During the meeting, your elected Union representatives will receive updates from MEC Officers, select committees, and act on resolutions, including those brought forward from line pilots at recent local council meetings. The MEC will also receive briefings from the Negotiating Committee about current contract negotiations with the Company.
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
2417 W High Mountain Rd
Park City, UT 84098
Open Speaking Time – Tuesday, June 9
The Delta MEC will host open speaking time on Tuesday, June 9, from 12:30 - 1 p.m. 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.
Park City MEC Meeting PUB Event
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 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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How Do We Know If We’re Not Okay?
One of the hardest aspects of maintaining our mental wellness is recognizing when something is off. Unlike a physical illness, the signs can be subtle and easy to dismiss. The key is to pay attention to changes in our baseline. If something feels different—whether it’s our mood, our energy, or how we’re handling situations—it is worth acknowledging. Catching these signs early gives us the opportunity to address the root causes before things deteriorate further. Awareness is not weakness; it’s one of the strongest tools we have to protect both our well-being and our performance.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Take a moment this month to check in on your own mental wellness. If you find that it’s not where you’d like it to be, then do something about it! A great first step is to call PAN. Whether you’re going through something big or just not feeling like yourself, PAN is here to listen, provide co-pilot-style support, and provide resources to help you navigate your challenges. To be connected to a PAN volunteer, call 1-888-4DAL-PAN or request a volunteer reach out to you on your timeline.
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ALPA Financial Wellness Seminar - Memphis, TN - June 3, 2026
You are invited to ALPA’s upcoming Financial Wellness Seminar on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Great Hall & Conference Center in Germantown, TN (suburb of Memphis).
We heard you! In recent years, the ALPA National Retirement & Insurance Committee has conducted national financial wellness surveys seeking your input on a broad array of topics. Thousands of pilots responded to each survey. Your collective voice gave ALPA direction and renewed vision on how to better serve you, our members, on important retirement and insurance issues. We have already held very successful events over the past couple of years in Phoenix, Dallas, Northern Virginia, Denver, Atlanta, and Chicago. Building on the success of those financial seminars, we are excited to bring this event to Memphis next, and to other locations in the near future.
This seminar program is a direct result of the survey findings. You expressed a desire for more education and planning opportunities related to your financial life. Because pilot needs are unique, this program will be specifically focused on pilots. The event will include subject matter experts from ALPA, our partners at Charles Schwab, and other organizations leading interactive presentations in an open forum with opportunities for dialogue with experts.
There will also be an opportunity to sign up for free individual financial planning sessions with a Schwab financial consultant familiar with pilots’ needs. To learn more and register, please click here.
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Attendees at the 2026 Joint Safety Conference in Atlanta, GA.
2026 Joint Safety Conference
Last week, the Central Air Safety Committee hosted the Delta/ALPA Joint Safety Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Incorporating team members from other divisions and external safety organizations, the conference discussed safety topics to support the safest aviation environment, both in the air and on the ground.
The conference primarily involved safety representatives from ALPA and Delta who met to jointly identify, discuss, and disseminate information directly related to safety matters. Internal and external experts, including safety representatives from our partner airlines, as well as industry presenters, used this annual opportunity to collaborate on critical safety issues.
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What is Rock Bottom?
Rock bottom is when we decide to quit digging. Over time, the consequences of substance misuse start to build up, but for some reason we can’t seem to stop. It starts with small things that we write off, but as time goes on, the consequences become bigger. They become a problem we can’t simply wave off; they don’t go away. Do we want to wait until we’ve lost everything? When is enough, enough? We need to reach out, ask for help, and quit digging.
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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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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Vacation Move-Up Bidding
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The deadline for submitting vacation move-up requests is June 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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