Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots

E71: Heads in Beds: Hotel Updates, Layover Tips, and Exciting Moves in Hotels

First Officer Ryan Argenta welcomes back Hotel Committee Chair First Officer Steve Koffler for a fast, funny, and genuinely useful tour of the layover landscape. From a brand-new Park Hyatt in Marrakech to upcoming hotel previews in Hong Kong, Melbourne, Grenada, and St. Vincent, Steve shares what’s new, what’s next, and what pilots should know.  
We cover Honolulu’s temporary shift to Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tokyo’s potential hotel shuffle, LA’s beach-city ambitions, San Diego’s pending refresh, and the big headline: Amsterdam’s full exit from “you-know-where” and into a far stronger lineup. Practical intel included: why FCRs beat DARTs for hotel feedback, the curbside 20-minute rule (self-help and expense it), when combined crew shuttles are legit, and how to spy your hotel in bid packages. Plus, a cameo of Steve’s PG-13 rap origin story. This episode is rare: equal parts updates, tips, and laughs - no lobby naps required. 

E70: Ask ALPA

The Engage podcast hits the road to bring you our newest format, Ask ALPA! We visited crew rooms and terminals to find out what you, the pilots, want to know from ALPA! On this episode, Communication Chair F/O Kevin Brady rounded up experts from the Scheduling, Negotiating, Retirement and Insurance, and Pilot Family Matters committees to get the answers and bring them to our listeners. Tune in now!

Engage Special: Get Real-Time MEC Updates Via the Telegram App

In this exclusive episode of the Engage Podcast, we highlight the Delta MEC’s powerful new messaging tool for staying connected with your union: the Delta MEC Updates Telegram Channel! Join host F/O Ryan Argenta as he sits down with Communications Chair F/O Kevin Brady and Strategic Planning Vice-Chair Capt. John Wood to explore this direct source for real-time MEC news and updates. They’ll guide you through the simple steps to subscribe and access this essential resource. Tune in to discover how to stay informed with the Delta MEC like never before! Subscribe now to Telegram!

E69: ASAP: Staying Safety-Focused Amid Section 6, Contract Surveys, and Peak Workload

With work pressures at their peak, Section 6 fast approaching, and the contract survey now open, it’s easy for pilots to get distracted. Host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with First Officer Casey Songster, Vice Chair of the Safety Management System (SMS) Subcommittee of the Central Air Safety Committee (CASC), to demystify ASAP (Aviation Safety Action Program) beyond the “get out of jail free” myth and show how pilot reports actively drive risk controls and operational change. Casey explains where ASAP fits inside safety risk management and safety assurance, why culture and participation matter, and what happens to your report after you hit submit. 

Engage Update: How Pilots Shut Down the WNBA Scope Violation

Scope Chair Captain Justin Berg joins host First Officer Ryan Argenta to give Delta pilots the full story behind the WNBA charter scope violation first covered in Episode 65. With the grievance process now complete, Delta has formally acknowledged the breach, corrected the flying, and—thanks to vigilant pilot reporting—limited the impact before it could grow. The official remedy? Calculated damages totaling over $530,000 and a clear precedent that reinforces PWA Scope protections and proves that quick, detailed reporting can stop outsourcing in its tracks.

E68: A Rep’s Perspective: Unity, Section 6, and Deal Making

What keeps Atlanta’s Council 44 reps awake at night? Two things: educating a largely new pilot group before Section 6 and stopping off-book deal-making with Scheduling that erodes unity and pay protections. In this candid roundtable, Captain Tony Rohloff, Captain Shawn Kellett, and First Officer Maggie Eickhoff explain why the Contract History and Contract Comparison aren’t “homework” - they’re essential to a strong opener - and how your narrative responses in the contract survey directly shape MEC direction and Negotiating Committee priorities. We break down the coverage ladder, why making deals for yourself cuts the line for everyone else, and how mentoring in the cockpit can curb bad habits before they spread. You’ll also hear a clear playbook for engagement: where to find surveys and polling, how resolutions flow into the “Green Book” for negotiations, and why participation matters even when things feel good on the line. We close with base-level ways to plug in and a reminder that unity isn’t a slogan; it’s a series of small, contract-compliant choices we make every day.

E67: Behind the Curtain: Delta IT, Pilot Privacy, and the Fight for Accurate Pay

When pilots discovered Delta could see TikTok installed on their personal phones, alarm bells went off. Section 24 X. of the PWA is supposed to protect pilots from corporate snooping, but what was Delta really accessing through the Hub app? In this eye-opening episode, Engage host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with First Officer Justin Vandermark, Chair of ALPA’s IT Committee, to expose what the union discovered when it finally got “the grand tour” of Delta’s systems. From mobile device management profiles that can leak your location, to the truth about deleting the Hub app, pilots need to know how their privacy is protected – or not. But the fight doesn’t stop at data security. Vandermark also pulls back the veil on Delta’s decades-old DBMS scheduling system, why pay errors keep happening, and how contractual gains like Section 23 W.1.d. are setting the stage for long-overdue change. This episode isn’t just about apps and acronyms - it’s about control, transparency, and making sure Delta pilots are paid correctly the first time. If you’ve ever wondered why the Company can roll out flashy passenger tech but can’t fix pilot pay, this conversation will make you sit up and take notice. 

E66: Disability Demystified: What Every Delta Pilot Needs to Know

In this informative and candid episode of Engage, hosts Captain Laura Woods and First Officer Ryan Argenta sit down with Retirement and Insurance (R&I) experts Captains Scott Bowles and John Doherty to take a deep dive into the often-misunderstood world of disability for Delta pilots. Whether you're navigating a short-term medical issue, a planned procedure, or facing an unexpected long-term event, this conversation covers everything you need to know - from qualifying for disability, using your sick leave and understanding DPMA, to how your 401(k), healthcare, and income are affected.  You’ll also hear practical advice about returning to work, how income offsets work, and the importance of staying off ladders (seriously). With real-life examples and clear guidance, this episode is essential listening for pilots at any seniority level. 

E65: Scope is Still Dope: How Global Scope Delivers Widebodies, Career Progression, and Job Protection

Scope isn’t just a contract clause—it’s the foundation of every Delta pilot’s career security. In this in-depth and highly relevant episode, hosts First Officer Ryan Argenta and Captain Laura Woods welcome Scope Committee leaders Captain Justin Berg, First Officer Jim Burgess, and Captain John Pinkerton to break down why Scope matters in 2025 and beyond.They unpack how the Global Scope agreement—an industry-first—continues to directly translate into more widebody flying, more seniority movement, and more opportunities for Delta pilots. You’ll hear why block hours, not specific routes, are the true measure of growth and compliance, and how this smartly structured agreement ensures Delta can expand globally—without outsourcing pilot jobs.But it’s not all a smooth ride: the team also discusses current grievances, transparency issues, and why pilot-reported tips are often the key to uncovering violations. From WNBA charter violation concerns to cross-border flying limits, they’re watching every angle.If you’ve ever asked, “Why are our partners flying that route?”—this episode is your answer.  Scope protects our flying. Scope grows our fleets. Scope moves the needle on our careers. And yes—Scope is still dope.

Chairman’s Update: State Sick Wins, Contract Violations, and the Road Ahead

In this special Chairman's Update on the Engage Podcast, host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Delta MEC Chair Captain Eric Criswell to discuss major state sick law wins, frustration over how IROPs are handled, repeated contract violations, pilot and dispatcher unity, and the road ahead. Tune in and stay Engaged.