Pinnacle says Delta intends to terminate contract!

[kellwolf]

Okay, it's official now. We've gotten an extension on the Delta flying. Not sure for how long, but the rumor mill says 90 days to prove ourselves. I didn't see any time frame in the memo except that the operational changes being made will take effect in August. Here's some of the things we're doing to increase the performance numbers:

One hour show time for the ATL domicile. It's been signed off on by the union and an LOA is forthcoming. Still have the option of just calling crew scheduling from the gate, though. If you take that option over "checking in" in the crew room on the computer, it's still 45 minutes prior to departure.

Every flight can leave 10 minutes early without prior approval from dispatch. We were limited to 5 minutes before. This, however, is gonna depend more on gate agents and rampers than pilots and FAs, but at least it helps a little in the outstations.

Use high speed climb and descent profiels. Speed up the cruise speeds. Not sure if this will affect more than the gas burned, but I don't know -900 fuel burns that well....or at all.

Alter the t/o profile to speed up to 250 kt at 1,000 AGL rather than stopping at 210, then speeding up to 250 at 3,0000 AGL. ATL TRACON says thank you.

Cracking down on delay reports. You're late, flight ops is gonna wanna know why. Honestly, we should be doing this on the NWA side, too. I do, but I know a lot of CAs that don't.

Any MX issues need to be brought up on the in-range call. This is another thing I don't know why people don't do it already.

Some other changes are increased staffing (7 crews per plane rather than 5) and ready reserve, having check airmen more readily accesible, TDYing an assistant chief pilot to ATL (wait, why didn't we have one before?), and doing complete drawer swaps when galley servicing instead of inventorying what needs to be replaced.

We've already got the performance going back in the right direction AFAIK based on the last couple of months. I think this is just to make damn sure we don't slide back. Honestly, the best thing they can do is settle the contract and get us all on the same team. Some of these changes, I wouldn't mind seeing on the NWA side of flying, and if it goes well in ATL, maybe we will.

[Doug Taylor]

Knock 'em dead, Kell.

[kab32283]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Some other changes are increased staffing (7 crews per plane rather than 5) and ready reserve, having check airmen more readily accesible, TDYing an assistant chief pilot to ATL (wait, why didn't we have one before?), and doing complete drawer swaps when galley servicing instead of inventorying what needs to be replaced.

Hey Kellwolf, I'm in the current hiring pool. Based upon what you've heard, does this mean that I should expect a call within the next week or two with a class date from HR?

[Cptnchia]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Alter the t/o profile to speed up to 250 kt at 1,000 AGL rather than stopping at 210, then speeding up to 250 at 3,0000 AGL. ATL TRACON says thank you.

??? How come you guys weren't following the SIDs? It says on all of them to fly 250kts.

[David Tietz]

Christina called me this past Friday to reschedule my cancelled interview. I hope that's I sign of things to come!!

[SmitteyB]

Keep it coming PNCL.

This may be the time to buy PNCL stock low.

[higney85]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

Keep it coming PNCL.

This may be the time to buy PNCL stock low.

[kellwolf]

I'm following Ken's lead. We're at a 52 week low, so if you're gonna buy, do it now. I am.

As for class/interviews, don't know. I would ASSUME that with bumping the staffing up in ATL, that would be the case, but no words for sure. Pretty much everyone is on pins and needles while minding their Ps and Qs after dotting Is and crossing Ts. I think I might even be able to mix a few more metaphors, too.

[kab32283]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

I'm following Ken's lead. We're at a 52 week low, so if you're gonna buy, do it now. I am.

As for class/interviews, don't know. I would ASSUME that with bumping the staffing up in ATL, that would be the case, but no words for sure. Pretty much everyone is on pins and needles while minding their Ps and Qs after dotting Is and crossing Ts. I think I might even be able to mix a few more metaphors, too.

Haha...I like it. Thanks for the info, and if you can, keep it coming! You're the best source of info right now as to what's going on with this whole Delta -900 thing and the new TA.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by kab32283

Haha...I like it. Thanks for the info, and if you can, keep it coming! You're the best source of info right now as to what's going on with this whole Delta -900 thing and the new TA.

Eh, I just try to keep the rumor mill from overflowing. If I hear something that's not from an official source, I'll flat out say "THIS IS A FREAKING RUMOR, SO TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT." One of our major problem right now here is keeping rumors under control. It's like very day we get the "OMG! WE SIGNED A TA AND IT SUCKS!!111!1" rumor, when the fact of the matter is we haven't even agreed on all the open sections, much less got the legalize straight enough to even get a TA to vote on.

If you listen to what the company puts out in their weekly message, we've been inches from a TA for over a year now. I'd say most of the hideous rumors actually start on the management side and worm their way into the pilot group.

[higney85]

opened down another $.20 and I have another 250 shares in the portfolio... FWIW I got some flak for posting info on here from the real sources so I may just sit back and only comment on the total BS claims...

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by higney85

opened down another $.20 and I have another 250 shares in the portfolio... FWIW I got some flak for posting info on here from the real sources so I may just sit back and only comment on the total BS claims...

Really? That's odd. There are some people that DON'T read the company boards but do lurk or post here. Seems to me that they'd want the official info out on all channels to help control rumors.

[higney85]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Really? That's odd. There are some people that DON'T read the company boards but do lurk or post here. Seems to me that they'd want the official info out on all channels to help control rumors.

Yes, but it was realized that at this point in the process there needs to be an official union release to the entire group before we step in since some realize that we typically will post info that actually comes from a source that we can name and not worry about being called out. That is not to say within the company board/crew rooms we will be quiet. Just keeping the public "out of the loop" until the entire public group has been filled in. There are many Pinnacle folks that want to see something official directly from the union) before reading it in a public arena from a source that some could consider "credible". Looking forward to the call tonight even though it is just the regularly scheduled all pilot call. Kell- did you notice the schedule on the company board...

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by higney85

opened down another $.20 and I have another 250 shares in the portfolio... FWIW I got some flak for posting info on here from the real sources so I may just sit back and only comment on the total BS claims...

Good plan of attack for right now around here.

That P2P in your signature means nothing. . .

Anyway - remember what I told you over on PPW, let me know. . .

[Doug Taylor]

I agree Kell. I figure the more intel the better. But I didn't want the poster to get his pee-pee whacked.

[H46Bubba]

Hmmm, Delta says it's going to cancel PNCL's contract, then there's movement to workout a TA? Hmmm I think I was right about Delta needing you guys to have a contract.....ESPECIALLY if your flying for the new Delta! Ol' Richard is a smart one!

[777forever]

Originally Posted by H46Bubba

Hmmm, Delta says it's going to cancel PNCL's contract, then there's movement to workout a TA? Hmmm I think I was right about Delta needing you guys to have a contract.....ESPECIALLY if your flying for the new Delta! Ol' Richard is a smart one!

I heard he did the same thing to Mesaba a couple years back when he was a NW.

[Minuteman]

Aww c'mon. Your primary source of income is the airline... squirrel that money as far away from it possible. Why let a hit to the industry take out both your income and savings?

I have a only a token amount in the airlines as more of a hobby.

[/killjoy]

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by higney85

Yes, but it was realized that at this point in the process there needs to be an official union release to the entire group before we step in since some realize that we typically will post info that actually comes from a source that we can name and not worry about being called out. That is not to say within the company board/crew rooms we will be quiet. Just keeping the public "out of the loop" until the entire public group has been filled in. There are many Pinnacle folks that want to see something official directly from the union) before reading it in a public arena from a source that some could consider "credible". Looking forward to the call tonight even though it is just the regularly scheduled all pilot call. Kell- did you notice the schedule on the company board...

I can see that, but if someone on the outside asks me a question, I'm not gonna play "super secret spy" and say "I know but I can't tell you" just b/c there hasn't been a blastmail from the union.

Yeah, I saw the calendar. Can you say "endgame?" I missed the call last night since I was having dinner with my parents. Seeing as there's no rundown on the other boards, and it was already given from an official source, care to post a summary? Eh, I'd be happy with a PM, though.

[higney85]

Kell (and others) there is no "Restriction" of talking to other pilots (company) but the idea of me posting intel on a public board for all to see (including mgmt) had some upset. It is not that the intel is a "secret" or "code G14 classified" since the info is mere facts. I do keep quiet to what the association is asking for (financials seems to be the main question) because that needs to stay at the table only and not even hint around ideas due to speculation that insues. Some pilots had an issue about not hearing the info "from the direct source" when they pay their dues to the association and have to find out info by searching out in public. You and I both obviously must watch even how we speculate due to the fact that some have realized we don't post unless we really have a source (unlike some others who just claim to have a source). I have come to the conclusion that the company board is best to talk about external factors (what scheduling did or the random stuff going on) because talking about the contract or operations seems to just provoke everyone to want to be right and argue without all the facts which does no good and only gets me frustrated for trying to help.

Conference call: I only caught the first 5 minutes because t-mobile had a service outage but all I got was that negotiations are "continuing" starting tomorrow (thurs) and are on the calender every day. This schedule is dictated by the mediator and thats all I know.

Obviously things are much more intense on the negotiation side as well as the rumor mill. I have heard some very very interesting things revolving around this contract and signing bonus stuff and it makes me laugh because it is so far away from what has been said from the company to the entire group and also just within the P2P call. Time will tell. I have my hopes- that is for sure!

[kellwolf]

Another update on this one. Looks like we're taking 3 steps forward only to take 4 steps back.

Spirits high going into the negotiations this week, then the company decides to rear pref bid's ugly head. Considering the MEC e-mail said they were determined not to let PBS become a form of "indentured servitude," I would guess what the company wanted wasn't very realistic.

Bright note, minor movement towards and agreement in the economic and scope areas. But whereas scope was the major roadblock, it's now shifted to whatever the company wanted to do with PBS.

[surreal1221]

Any show of strength / unity gatherings for either the 6th or 7th?