Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots

This TA series episode covers the nuances, details, and improvements to Section 8: Deadhead. Host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with Negotiating Committee Chairman Eric Criswell about the deadhead provisions gained in the new TA. Topics discussed include new First Class deadhead provisions, improved seat reservations for deadheading pilots, seat selection improvements, and a new feature that u...

On this Tentative Agreement (TA) Series episode of Engage, Host Ryan Argenta and Rich Wheeler of the Negotiating Committee go over the details and improvements of Sections 11 and 22, Training and Filling of Vacancies. Highlights include a shorter conversion window, the ability to bid for when to go to training and which simulator period pilots want, shortened seat locks, improvements to training p...

As the Engage Tentative Agreement (TA) Series resumes, Host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with Negotiating Chairman Eric Criswell about improvements to Section 7: Vacations. Topics of importance include an increase to vacation pay per day, accelerated accrual rates, and increased availability and allocation of vacation throughout the year, especially during times when pilots actually want to t...

On this episode of Engage, Host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Negotiating Chairman Eric Criswell to go over the Tentative Agreement (TA) improvements to Section 5: Lodging and Expenses. Topics include improvements to domestic and international per diem, major improvements to crew meal provisions for all pilots, and improvements to lodging for pilots including a new provision to "walk"...

On this episode of Engage, Host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Negotiating Committee Chairman Eric Criswell to discuss the Tentative Agreement's (TA) Compensation improvements for Delta pilots. Discussion includes important information on pay rates, pay banding, the new unrestricted "me too" clause, the one-time retroactive payment for 2020-2022 and the additonal retroactive payment aft...

In the first episode of the new Tentative Agreement (TA) series from Engage, Host First Officer Ryan Argenta, discusses with the Negotiating Committee and the Scope Committee the details and inner workings of the Global Scope agreement. Brandon Conwill (Negotiating Committee), Nick Hoeffer (Scope Committee Chairman), and George Strehlow (Scope Committee Vice Chairman) explain how Global Scope, if...

In this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Scott Bowles, John Doherty, and Dan Fusco, the experts of the Retirement & Insurance Committee to discuss a variety of topics including 401(k) contributions, ROTH conversions and recent changes to ROTH conversions for Company contributions, how you no longer have to "race" the Company to max out your 401(k), potential ta...

Host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with MEC Chairman Capt. Jason Ambrosi, Negotiating Committee Chairman Capt. Eric Criswell, and ALPA’s Assistant Director of Representation Dept. and Senior Advisor Art Luby for an in-depth discussion of how negotiations concluded with the AIP and the process to get to a Tentative Agreement.

After a short programming break, the Engage podcast is back...lots of great episodes to come including one on the Agreement in Principle (AIP) with the Negotiating Committee and the MEC Chairman. Tune in and stay engaged.

On this episode of Engage, First Officer Ryan Argenta hosts a discussion with Delta pilot family members who have gone through a strike, and those that have not. He answers questions about what resources are available to pilots and their families during a strike and discusses the "return on investment" from a strong strike authorization vote. Click here to visit the Strike Center Family Awareness...

On this episode of Engage, First Officer Ryan Argenta chats with Laura Woods, Chair of the Delta Pilot Network (DPN) on how her committee of pilot volunteers supports Delta pilots during natural disasters, personal and family emergencies, and when you just need some help getting back on your feet during a crisis. Laura explains the resources and support available for every pilot - far beyond pilot...

On this episode of Engage, we bring you a recap of indoc - highlighting important information you may have missed or forgotten along with some extra tidbits and strategies for success at Delta Air Lines. Host, First Officer Ryan Argenta, chats with Maggie Eickhoff and Ben Wallander of the Membership Committee bringing you the best of indoctrination without the fire hose effect. Topics include ALPA...

On this episode of Engage, First Officer Ryan Argenta visits the Strike Center at the Delta MEC Headquarters in Atlanta. While there are no boxing gloves, swords, or iron fists in the Strike Center, Ryan does find a team of hard-working, caring and dedicated Strike Preparedness Committee members and volunteers. Ryan discusses with Eric Nelson, Strike Preparedness Committee Chairman, and his team w...

In this Engage Short episode, First Officer Ryan Argenta gets a great lesson from the PBS experts, Mike Cowan and Scott Ryan, on "unstacking" and how it greatly affects line holders and reserve pilots alike. Unstacking also affects the number of green slips, reserve availability, reserve coverage, category staffing, quality of life, and productivity from pilots. (Recorded September 22, 2022) PBS R...

In this Engage update, First Officer Ryan Argenta clarifies the strike authorization vote as it pertains to pilots currently on probation and those pilots who were on probation as of 0800 EDT on September 29, 2022. (Recorded October 3, 2022)

The Delta MEC is preparing for a strike authorization vote from Delta pilots. This is where individual pilots have the opportunity to collectively tell Delta management to get serious at the table by voting to give authorization to the MEC to call a strike should management continue to stall at the negotiating table. On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with Capt. Jaso...

For those who missed it, would like to replay it, or for those who prefer not to watch a bunch of guys dressed in business casual on Zoom but want to hear updates on negotiations, Global Scope, strike authorization, picketing, and important announcements. Engage Podcast brings you the audio only from the Delta MEC Virtual Town Hall held on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Please enjoy and send us a DAR...

On this Labor Day special episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta gets together with legacy pilots First Officer David Adler, MEC Secretary, and Captain Brian Kolbus to discuss where we’ve been and where we need to go as a pilot group as our industry continues to change and shift in new and significant ways. Highlighting important lessons learned from previous contracts and major events...

In this special Engage Update, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with the MEC Chairman, Captain Jason Ambrosi, and the Negotiating Committee Chairman Eric Criswell for an update on Section 6 negotiations, the status of the Global Scope agreement, the recent strike authorization vote, the formalization of retroactive pay into the MEC Policy Manual and how displays of pilot unity charge up the...

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Mike Cowan and Scott Ryan of the PBS Committee for an in-depth review of the NAVBLUE PBS bidding platform, how to navigate the transition to the new WebApp along with some tips, tricks, and best practices to bid for what you want and actually get it. On July 25, the Web UI version of PBS will sunset, and pilots will be re-di...

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), about AFA’s campaign to help Delta flight attendants organize, how a flight attendant union at Delta would affect Delta pilots, and how Delta pilots can best support their flight attendant colleagues. At the DAL MEC Regular Meeting in June, Sara Nelson update...

A message from MEC Chair Capt. Jason Ambrosi and Negotiating Committee Chair Capt. Eric Criswell. Come join us on June 30th for a systemwide picket event. RSVP on the Delta MEC website.

On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with Attorney Marcus Migliore, ALPA’s General Counsel & Director, Legal Department, about the implications of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) on Section 6 negotiations and how pilot-coordinated self-help actions can adversely derail progress at the table. Ryan and Mr. Migliore dig into a number of cases where pilot actions, such as...

This is your Summer Survival Guide. How to best handle reroutes, extensions, maximum flight duty periods, minimum layovers, delays, cancellations, IROPS, the Optimizer, green slips, white slips, reserve obligations, 23K recovery, fatigue, fit for duty and quality of life for safe operations. In this episode, host First Officer Ryan Argenta gets the band back together – Shawn Kellett and Frank Wedd...

In this special Engage Update, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with the MEC Chairman, Captain Jason Ambrosi, about the AIP, what this deal means for the Delta pilots, and why it was negotiated outside Section 6. They cover many of the questions posed by pilots and Ryan asks follow-up questions pilots may find important. Ryan and Jason also discuss the process of vetting a tentative agreemen...