Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots

On this episode of Engage, Captain Ian Turner of the Scheduling Committee and Captain Rich Wheeler, the Chairman of the Negotiating Committee, explain how Voluntary Airport Standby (VAS) works. Discussion includes details of the completely voluntary program, how it prevents unwanted reroutes, and the lucrative pay treatments for both Regular and Reserve pilots. Tune in to learn more about VAS.  (R...

On this episode of Engage, Captain Ian Turner of the Scheduling Committee and Captain Rich Wheeler, Chairman of the Negotiating Committee, are back again to discuss new contract implementation items that started in January 2024 beyond pay rate and 401(k) DC contribution increases. The group discusses new items such as improved sit pay provisions and increase to training pay for CQ and Recency type...

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, talk about profit sharing.  From its origin and roots to this year’s profit sharing payout, Rich, Eric, and Ryan discuss how profit sharing was negotiated by pilots in 1996; how it has changed over the years and the need to...

On this episode of Engage, the Chair of Contract Administration (CA), Trevor Boswell, speaks with Host First Officer Ryan Argenta about the mechanics of Advance Entitlements (AEs) and how pilots can best bid and position themselves for success. Topics include how AEs are conceived by Crew Resources and the mechanics behind the scenes before the opening of the bid window, how positions are filled o...

Happy Holidays!  Thanks to our listeners for making us the most listened-to-podcast at ALPA. With the holidays underway and in the giving spirit, we've got some swag for all our friends. If you love the Engage podcast, share it with friends by posting on your socials and tag @DeltaPilots and we'll send you a custom Engage podcast koozie. Keep all your beverages cold through the holidays and beyond...

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Captain Trevor Boswell, Chair of the Contract Administration Committee, to discuss how the Contract Administration team, Negotiating Committee, and Delta MEC labor attorneys are handling current pilot grievances with the Company. Trevor explains ongoing contract implementation disputes between ALPA and the Company and how th...

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with First Officer Forrest Pendleton, Chair of the Pilot Assistance Network (PAN), to find out how this committee and its volunteers help Delta pilots juggle family and their career while maintaining positive mental and physical health through peer-to-peer support. Pilots are in a unique career field governed by the FAA medical cert...

On this episode of Engage, back with the Retirement & Insurance Committee gurus, Chair Captain Scott Bowles and Vice-Chair First Officer John Doherty, along with very special guest Sontia Green, Senior Benefits Specialist at the Delta MEC. This time the team discusses new healthcare insurance options for Delta pilots including updates to the Delta Pilots Medical Plan (DPMP), the completely new...

Delta pilots now have a new contractual life insurance option, which can save them tax dollars now and opens a wide variety of investment options while offering benefits to pass along to families and beneficiaries. In a conversation with Jonathan Roman, MetLife’s GVUL administrator, the Engage team, along with Retirement & Insurance Committee members Scott Bowles and John Doherty, sift through...

“How it Works” is part of a continuing series from the Central Air Safety Committee (CASC). On today’s episode, First Officer Jerimy Maclellan from CASC explains how Latest Allowable Takeoff Time (LATT) works. While seemingly simple, LATT is more complex and dynamic than most think. Did you know there are two LATTs? An FDP LATT and a Block LATT. Ever get rerouted? Your LATTs are likely incorrectly...

On this episode of Engage, the Delta MEC Secretary, Captain Shane Corbett, discusses volunteering for the Delta MEC and asks pilots of all backgrounds to raise their hands in support of the pilot group. Shane explains how volunteers are compensated for their time, what positions are currently open, and how interested pilots can get in touch with particular committees. Host First Officer Ryan Argen...

New to the Engage Podcast, introducing “How it Works,” as part of a continuing series from the Central Air Safety Committee (CASC). On today’s episode, First Officer Jerimy Maclellan from CASC explains how 30 hours required rest within the preceding 168 hours works. This FAR 117 regulatory rest period affects all pilots and is often misunderstood, miscalculated, and misapplied by both pilots and C...

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta meets with Capt. Shawn Kellett and Capt. Ian Turner of the Scheduling Committee, along with Capt. Frank Wedding, newly elected member of the Negotiating Committee (NC) and former Scheduling Committee Vice Chair, to discuss new contract implementation items relating to Section 23 L, Reroute. The group discusses and explains the new simplifi...

Back again with Capt. Shawn Kellett and Capt. Ian Turner of the Scheduling Committee and Capt. Frank Wedding of the Negotiating Committee. The Engage podcast dives into the complexities of contract changes, beginning with rotations reporting on or after August 31, 2023. The crew discusses new scheduling items such as a new, hard-stop PWA Flight Duty Period (FDP) Limit of 13 hours for domestic rota...

New to the Engage Podcast, introducing “How it Works”, as part of a continuing series in collaboration the Central Air Safety Committee (CASC). On today’s episode, First Officer Jerimy Maclellan from CASC, explains how Crew Tracking may shift airport report times later than scheduled to accommodate delays while preserving pilot duty periods. While extra rest or time at the hotel seems beneficial,...

The Engage Podcast is on location from the 10th Annual Legislative Summit in Washington DC with special guests ALPA President Jason Ambrosi, ALPA Manager of Legislation and Policy, Jeff Pavlak, Delta MEC Government Affairs members Captain Jessie Elliott, and First Officer Brenden Cantwell. Covering hot topics brought to Capitol Hill directly by pilot advocates, such as proposed Age 67 legislation,...

Let’s face it – not many enjoy going to training.  Being away from home, living on Virginia Avenue for weeks at a time, feeling the stress and pressure of a fast-paced course in a new airplane or an upgrade to Captain or both at the same time is never an easy feeling.  Delta and the Delta MEC want you to succeed in training. On this episode of Engage, Host First Officer Ryan Argenta gets tips, tri...

On this episode of Engage, Shawn Kellett and Frank Wedding from the Scheduling Committee return to meet with Engage Host First Officer Ryan Argenta discussing new contract changes for Scheduling, PWA Section 23, coming in June. Items include new reserve rules, 18-hour minimum callouts, and changes to be aware of with second-day manual trip coverage. The group also discusses the hot topic of how th...

The Market-Based Cash Balance Plan (MBCBP) is happening. All you need to know about the MBCBP as Engage Host First Officer Ryan Argenta discusses the MBCBP with Negotiating Chairman Eric Criswell, Retirement & Insurance Committee Member Dan Fusco, and Captain Jason Depew, a Delta pilot, author, and prolific writer on pilot-related finances. Delta pilots will automatically be enrolled in the pl...

On this episode of Engage, we welcome back Pilot Family Matters Committee (PFMC) Chairwoman Alison Britton to discuss new contract improvements for parental leaves and adoptions including birthing parents, non-birthing parents and surrogacy. Alison discusses with Host First Officer Ryan Argenta the details, timelines, and nuances of taking time off during and after pregnancy and where to find reso...

On this episode of Engage, Captain Tony Rohloff from the Training Committee visits with Host First Officer Ryan Argenta to discuss improvements and changes to the Training section of the new contract. Tune in to learn more about increased training pay, premium pay treatments, AE awards and bidding for training, a once-in-a-career training mulligan, and much more. (Recorded April 11, 2023)

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta discusses with First Officer Matt Loveday, Fitness Review Board (FRB) Chairman, the issue of fatigue that still plagues pilots due to a grueling operations schedule despite being in the shoulder months. Matt explains while pilot fatigue calls are still at an all-time high, there are many pilots not calling in fatigued but rather pushing th...

Part 2 of the TA Scheduling series continues with Host First Officer Ryan Argenta, Rich Wheeler of the Negotiating Committee and Shawn Kellett, Chairman of the Scheduling Committee. During this session, the group talks through new improvements to reserve including a new 18-hour call out and conversion for long-call pilots, reserve with conflict, proffered carry-out trips, major short call improvem...

In this two-part series on TA Section 23: Scheduling, Host First Officer Ryan Argenta discusses this crucial section of the contract with Rich Wheeler of the Negotiating Committee and Shawn Kellett, Chairman of the Scheduling Committee. Major changes and improvements are afoot for Scheduling impacting quality of life, pilot pay and premium flying, along with limitations and improvements on reroute...

As the Engage TA Series gets into the thick of quality of life and "soft" pay improvements, Section 12: Hours of Service, comes into focus. While not sexy, this often-overlooked section adds significant value to pilots who want better quality of life and improved pay treatment for not so friendly scheduling issues such as airport sits, late night arrivals, redeyes, extended duty periods, and the l...