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…

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 o…

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 wha…

On this episode of Engage, the Engage team gets together to discuss topics and issues not covered by other episodes and raps about current rumors, myths, and fun facts. Producer First Officer Adam Uhan, new host Captain Jason Depew, and First Officer Ryan Argenta go through listener mail and DARTs covering hot topics such as the FAA Reauthorization…

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 …

On this episode of Engage, we welcome Mr. Jim Starnes from Delta Flight Control Dispatch to discuss all things Dispatch-related. Did you know Delta Dispatchers are union members represented by the Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA)? Jim Starnes is the First Vice President of PAFCA and discusses the many similarities between pil…

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 Re…

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 an…

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; …

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 ope…

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 yo…

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 implementatio…

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 un…

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 …

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 membe…

“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. Ev…

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 pa…

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, …

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.…

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 Dut…

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 …

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 pil…

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…

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 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 p…

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…

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,…

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 pi…

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, pr…

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, …

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 a…

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, sea…

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…

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, espe…

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 lodgi…

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 2…

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 Comm…

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" th…

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…

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 su…

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…

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, Stri…

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 productivit…

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…

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 Wednesda…

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 lesson…

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 Man…