May 7, 2026
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Last week, the Negotiating Committee met with the Company again in Atlanta. Scheduling remained the main topic of discussion. As it is a fundamental, complex part of our PWA, it takes significant time to analyze. Discussions are ongoing, and the MEC will be further briefed on negotiation progress at next week’s special MEC meeting.
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In the uncertainty following the shutdown of Spirit Airlines, the Delta MEC partnered with Spirit MEC leadership on a message to affected pilots. The letter contains key resources and information Spirit pilots can use as they navigate the next few days and weeks. One important resource includes the Delta MEC’s Pilot Assistance Network (PAN), which will be available to Spirit pilots if they need confidential, peer support from fellow pilots who have experienced professional and personal challenges.
Delta MEC leadership is also currently engaging with Delta management to initiate preferential hiring for Spirit pilots and will resume hiring assistance symposiums in the near future. The Delta MEC and its pilot group stand committed to supporting our Spirit brothers and sisters during this difficult time.
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Last fall, the MEC introduced Grievance “Issue Sheets.” These one-page documents summarize each violation and grievance succinctly, keeping pilots informed of ongoing activity. As the new MEC Grievance Tracker on the Contract Administration (Enforcement) website continues to be built out with more content for pilots to review, the “Issue Sheets” are now linked to the corresponding grievance. The screenshots below illustrate how to find “Issue Sheets,” as well as a sample display of just one of the many that are available.
You can also view the “Issue Sheets” by clicking the links below:
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This week the Company announced the selection of Unisync Group as the new supplier for the Delta Pilot Uniform Program. During the selection process, ALPA served in an advisory role, ensuring the needs of the pilots wearing the uniforms were kept at the forefront as the Company selected the next vendor.
Effective May 1 2026, Unisync took over the management of new hire uniforms and the remaining GPS Apparel inventory. A new online storefront for pilots will be available later this month.
As Delta moves forward to the design and pilot participation phases of the program, ALPA will continue to serve as an advocate for the pilot group, representing your interests and concerns to the Company. There will be opportunities for pilots to participate in focus groups and wear testing. This is an important step that will allow pilot feedback to shape the final uniform design selections and ensure overall satisfaction.
More detailed information about these opportunities and the timeline will be communicated as the information becomes available. The MEC remains committed to supporting pilots throughout this transition and ensuring their voices are heard every step of the way.
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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 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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Happy Mother’s Day to the Delta pilot moms who do it all! Thank you for being the ultimate navigators at work and at home!
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It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! While it wasn’t the case for most of commercial aviation history, in 2026 it truly is okay to not be okay. Aviation has long carried a culture of pushing through, staying tough, and handling things on your own, yet mental health doesn’t work that way. Ignoring stress and emotional distress doesn’t make these reactions go away and often can cause significant long term negative outcomes. Thankfully, today there are better systems in place to support you in your mental health journey, and you can safely address your concerns without jeopardizing your career.
Sounds good in theory, but is it really that simple? This is where PAN comes in. PAN volunteers are trained peers who understand the unique challenges of this profession. Calls are confidential, supportive, and built on the idea that sometimes the best person to talk to is someone who’s been in your seat. Whether you’re going through something big or just not feeling like yourself, PAN is here to listen, offer co-pilot style support, and provide resources to help you navigate your challenge.
To be connected to a PAN volunteer, call 1-888-4DAL-PAN or request a volunteer reach out to you at specific time of your choosing. The PAN team wishes you a healthy and supportive May!
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June Bid Package Update
The June bid package is incorrect for AMS. No pilot layovers are scheduled at the NH Noord.
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Lithium-Ion Batteries and Flight Deck Safety
Lithium-Ion batteries and thermal runaway present hazards in all areas of the aircraft. While many high-profile events involve passenger devices in the cabin or cargo area, a thermal runaway in the flight deck compromises flight safety in key additional areas. First, smoke and/or fire in the flight deck is a tremendous threat and distraction, often drawing one crewmember away from monitoring the flight path to fight the fire. The physical danger to the crew is more immediate than a battery fire in the cabin area, and if the source of the thermal runaway is the EFB, one crewmember will be forced to use alternate means for critical flight information.
Battery safety is the first step to avoiding thermal runaway in the flight deck. Always use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) chargers and Company-provided power banks. Plugs in the flight deck should be used exclusively for charging EFBs. One of the most common triggers for thermal runaway is a damaged battery, which can be identified as swollen, hot, hissing, or punctured. If any lithium powered device shows these signs, it should be unplugged (if possible) and it should be immediately turned off. Ensure that any personal devices, such as laptops, tablets, or power banks are not damaged by moving seats.
It is worth reviewing QRH procedures for Smoke/Fire from a Lithium Battery and EFB Failures, as well as FCTM 8.17.6, Lithium Battery Fire in the Flight Deck. Fire extinguishers will NOT be effective against thermal runaway (CHECK FLEET COMMONALITY). The battery must be cooled by pouring water or non-alcoholic liquid on the device. As with any abnormality, the first step is establishing appropriate task sharing and communication, with the additional consideration of transferring controls to the flight crew member on the opposite side of the flight deck. If the device is attached to a cable that cannot be easily disconnected, the device must be regularly monitored to ensure the thermal runaway is stopped. If the device is removable, it must be put into the container prepared in advance by the cabin crew. Always use fire gloves, because thermal runaway that may appear to be stopped, can reignite. Any time the Lithium-Ion Containment Bag is used, the captain must notify the dispatcher and duty pilots, as well as complete a logbook write-up.
Delta Safety and Environmental Summit 2026
This week, the CASC and the Company co-hosted this year’s Safety and Environmental Summit. The summit included a full agenda featuring ALPA and Delta subject matter experts covering various aviation safety topics. In next week’s MEC News, the CASC will break down the highlights of the summit and its impact on positive aviation safety culture.
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May 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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"Whoop, Whoop, Pull Up!”
As pilots, it’s in our nature to think we have everything under control, even when the signs may indicate otherwise. When flying, we have certain triggers that indicate it’s time to go around; at home it’s not so simple. What are the triggers at home that say it’s time to reach out and ask for help?
The following resources provide additional information about HIMS | DPAC:
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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May Delta Pilot Retirements
A big congratulations to our fellow Delta pilots who are retiring in May! Thank you for your years of service and contributions to Delta!
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 pilots 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 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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