Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots

E57: Deadhead Seating

On this episode of Engage, hosts Laura Woods and Gabbie Jordan sit down with Contract Administration Chair Mark Hinczynski to discuss Deadhead (DH) Seating. Listen now to learn more about this C2019 implementation item and a recent grievance the MEC filed regarding Delta’s seat blocking practices.

E56: Recently Settled Grievances

On this latest episode of Engage, host Laura Woods and outgoing Negotiating Committee (NC) member Frank Wedding dive into MEC Grievance 23-10 (Uncovered Flight Segments) and Grievance 24-32 (Sick Leave Notification). They discuss the background of these grievances and why the date of June 02, 2025, is important to pay attention to.

E55: Jetway Trades

On this episode of the Engage Podcast, host Laura Woods sits down with Sherwin Liverpool from ALPA's Scheduling Committee to talk Jetway Trades. Jetway Trades are the latest provision negotiated as part of Contract 2019, and are scheduled for implementation in March. Listen now to find out what they are, how to use them, and how they will impact you!

E54: Q&A with MEC Master Chairman Eric Criswell

On this episode of the Engage Podcast, host Laura Woods sits down with Master Chairman Eric Criswell to talk goals for the year, the mediation process, and the importance of remaining tuned in as the Delta pilots gear up for the next contract cycle.

E53: 2025 Profit Sharing with ALPA’s R&I Committee

On this episode, Laura discusses profit sharing with Scott Bowles from the Retirement & Insurance Committee. They talk about some of the election options found on the Profit Sharing Election page on DeltaNet.
 
Resources: 
Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots E43:Profit Sharing
On this special edition episode of Engage, Captain Rich Wheeler, Chairman of the Negotiating Committee, and Captain Eric Criswell, former Chairman of the Negotiating Committee and current MEC Master Chairman, talk about profit sharing. From its origin and roots to this year’s profit sharing payout, Rich, Eric, and Ryan Argenta discuss how profit sharing was negotiated by pilots in 1996; how it has changed over the years and the need to preserve this negotiated benefit that pilots and all employees now enjoy; how profit sharing is contractually calculated using PTIX and specific formulas; and how pilots can view their earnings and ensure their 2023 profit sharing payout is accurate. Happy Profit Sharing Day! (Recorded January 23, 2024).
*Correction* - Engage Podcast #53: Profit Sharing with R&I
Please note that the federal withholding rate for special payouts, such as Profit Sharing, is 22 percent. The podcast inadvertenlty stated that the number was 25 percent (at 7:00 minute mark). We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
Disclaimer:
ALPA does not give financial advice. We recommend that pilots first discuss with your financial advisor to determine what is best for themselves. 
 
HSA deferral options are not available to those pilots who participate in the DPMP health plan.

E52: Delta MEC End of Year Message & Safety Climate

Episode 52 of the Engage Podcast is now live! On this latest episode, Communications Chair Capt. Chris Hughes offers a recap of the news and latest happenings, and Casey Songster from Central Air Safety’s SMS Committee shares a message about positive safety culture.

E51: 2025 Open Enrollment

In this episode, Communications Committee Chair Capt. Chris Hughes talks to Retirement & Insurance Committee members Capt. Scott Bowles and Capt. John Doherty about this year’s open enrollment and changes to some of the benefits offered. Scott and John also discuss the benefits of the GVUL plan, which pilots can enroll in during the open enrollment process. 

E50: Trip Design Power to the Pilots - The RCC and the Rotation Preference System

Description: On this episode, Jason discusses the dreaded Optimizer and how the Rotation Preference System gives pilots the power to fight back against bad trip design with Rotation Construction Committee volunteers Jeffrey Chang, JJ Sweetser. Stick around until the end where they discuss some industry-standard practices we could negotiate for in our next contract to improve this situation even more. (Recorded June 4, 2024)
Additional Resources
Contract Awareness Bulletin 24-04: Click here to download CA Bulletin 24-04 from the Delta ALPA MEC website (login required)
Start at 6:21 of this episode of the Alaska Pilots Podcast for a description of how those fellow ALPA pilots use their optimizer access to present their company with better trip construction solutions. If the ALPA solution meets certain parameters, the company is required to use it! Alaska Pilots Episode TA3: PBS and Trip Construction

E49: The “S” in I’M SAFE - Calling in Sick

Description: On this episode, Jason discusses the nuances of sick calls with Evan Bach and Mark Cervantes, reps for Council 66, Mike Bell, FO, rep for Council 20, and MEC Contract Admin Chair Trevor Boswell. If you’re sick, call in sick! The Chief Pilot just called. Is it a “wellness check” or a Good Faith Basis call as outlined in the PWA, and what do those mean? If you won the sick leave “contest,” did you really win? (Recorded June 17, 2024)
Council 66 Sick Leave Update (DAL MEC Login Required):
https://dal.alpa.org/Portals/1/Documents/lec/council66/other/2024/C66-Sick-Leave-Update-20240516.pdf

E47: PAN: Are You in the Green?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in the spirit of pilot mental health, First Officer Forrest Pendleton, Chair of the Pilot Assistance Network (PAN), discusses the rollout of the “Are You in the Green?” campaign to assist pilots (and all humans) in identifying their own mental wellness.  Forrest walks us through the mental health continuum and offers insight on who pilots can turn to when they’re just not feeling great.  Forrest also goes into detail about the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s recommendations on improving mental health issues and making it easier for pilots to get the help they need while keeping their medical intact or more streamlined and defined steps to regain one’s FAA medical.  For more information, please visit www.alpa.org/green  
Helping pilots and their families manage everything from day-to-day pressures and challenges to training stress to family issues to mental and physical health issues to FAA medical questions, PAN is made up of more than 40 Delta pilot volunteers who answer a 24/7 hotline. PAN is a committee within the Delta MEC and was specifically created to help Delta pilots facing physiological, psychological, and medical concerns or for those needing to talk to someone. For more information, please visit the PAN webpage on the Delta MEC website at https://dal.alpa.org/Topics/PILOT-ASSISTANCE/Pilot-Assistance-Network. 
 
PAN’s goal is to help mitigate the threats that sometimes put our medical certificates, our pay, and our very jobs at risk. To speak with a trained peer volunteer, call PAN at 888-4-DAL-PAN (888-432-5726) or submit a callback request here.  Calls to PAN are absolutely confidential.  (Recorded May 3, 2024)