The Delta Master Executive Council of @ALPAPilots, representing 18,000+ Delta Air Lines pilots.
Atlanta, GA
Joined March 2010
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Congratulations to Captain Bob Oltman on his #FiniFlight! 🛫 A special moment made even better by his son, MSP A330 First Officer TJ Oltman, who was along for the ride. Smooth skies ahead, Captain. Thank you for your service to Delta! ✈️ #FiniFlightFriday
Got Fini-Flight photos? Tag or message us!
Yesterday we welcomed 72 new Delta pilots who began New Hire Orientation on October 13!
By the numbers:
• 72 pilots joined this class
• 1,680 pilots hired so far in 2026
• 18,377 pilots currently on the Delta seniority list
• 2,168 total new hires projected for 2026
This class brings experience from across the industry, including military aviation, regional and major airlines, and international carriers.
Class Snapshot:
• 92% civilian / 8% military*
• 5 USAF pilots and 1 USCG pilot
• Average flight time: 6,700 hours
• Flight time range: 1,550–19,600 hours
• Average age: 39 (youngest 25, oldest 57)
• 0% came from ALPA-represented DCI carriers
*Figure reflects each new hire's most recent employer before joining Delta.
Where They Came From:
Spirit (27), Frontier (4), Envoy (3), Piedmont (3), SkyWest (3), Southwest (3), American (2), Atlas Air (2), GoJet (2), Allegiant (1), Aloha Air Cargo (1), Avianca (1), Breeze (1), Cebu Pacific (1), Contour (1), Corporate (1), ExpressJet (1), FAA (1), Global Crossing (1), Hawaiian (1), Horizon (1), IFL Group (1), Kalitta Charter II (1), PSA (1), Republic (1), Sun Country (1)
Aircraft & Base Awards:
• A320 — 14 MSP, 10 NYC
• 737 — 10 MSP, 6 NYC, 5 LAX
• 767 — 8 NYC, 3 LAX
• 717 — 9 ATL
• A220 — 4 NYC, 3 MSP
Welcome to the Delta pilot group — fly safe, and we're proud to have you with us.
Delta Pilots retweeted
Have you explored the updated ALPA app? Check out the new MEC page and see what’s new!
Download or update the ALPA app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
@ALPAPilots
ALPA pilots! Join us for the ALPA Aloha Gathering in Chicago, hosted by the Delta MEC and @UnitedPilots! The event takes place Saturday, Oct. 24, from 4:30–6:30 PM at Three Dots and a Dash - 435 N. Clark St. Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and live entertainment. Complimentary and open to ALPA pilots and guests. Must be 21+. Space is limited, so register now! dalm.ec/T1
Yesterday we welcomed 72 new Delta pilots who began New Hire Orientation on October 6!
By the numbers:
• 72 pilots joined this class
• 1,608 pilots hired so far in 2026
• 18,305 pilots currently on the Delta seniority list
• 2,168 total new hires projected for 2026
This class brings experience from across the industry, including military aviation, regional airlines, and a major carrier.
Class Snapshot:
• 97% civilian / 3% military*
• 1 USAF, 1 USN pilot
• Average flight time: 6,700 hours
• Flight time range: 2,200–21,500 hours
• Average age: 37 (youngest 24, oldest 60)
• 28% came from ALPA-represented DCI carriers
*Figure reflects each new hire's most recent employer before joining Delta.
Where They Came From:
Spirit (29), Endeavor (20), SkyWest (20), Envoy (1)
Aircraft & Base Awards:
• A320 — 15 NYC, 7 MSP, 4 SEA
• 737 — 9 NYC, 6 DTW, 5 LAX
• 767 — 11 LAX
• 717 — 5 DTW, 4 ATL
• A220 — 6 NYC
Welcome to the Delta pilot group — fly safe, and we're proud to have you with us.
Engage Episode 82: Part 4!
Trip coverage shenanigans continue. Pilots are hearing the finger-pointing from management over trip coverage, ARCOS, auto-accept, and operational reliability, and many are asking a pretty simple question: How is this our problem?
Engage host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Delta MEC Executive Administrator Captain Rich Wheeler, Scheduling Committee Chairman Captain Ian Turner, and Vice Chairman Captain Josh Cantrell to take that question head-on. They trace how years of staffing decisions, fragile rotations, exploding open time, unrestricted ARCOS batch calls, and growing reliance on PWA Section 23 M. 7 brought trip coverage to where it is today.
The group goes back to the beginning: how trips were covered before ARCOS, why nuisance calls became a problem, how pilots adapted using contractual tools like auto-accept and auto-acknowledge, and how M7 evolved from a rarely used emergency provision into what the committee describes as a routine scheduling tool. They also dig into the latest ARCOS developments, ongoing technology and implementation problems, and what pilots should and shouldn’t change about how they use the ARCOS system. There are two sides to every story. This episode gives pilots the history, context, and facts behind the trip coverage debate and asks who really owns the problem.
Engage Episode 82: Part 3
Trip coverage shenanigans continue. Pilots are hearing the finger-pointing from management over trip coverage, ARCOS, auto-accept, and operational reliability, and many are asking a pretty simple question: How is this our problem?
Engage host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Delta MEC Executive Administrator Captain Rich Wheeler, Scheduling Committee Chairman Captain Ian Turner, and Vice Chairman Captain Josh Cantrell to take that question head-on. They trace how years of staffing decisions, fragile rotations, exploding open time, unrestricted ARCOS batch calls, and growing reliance on PWA Section 23 M. 7 brought trip coverage to where it is today.
The group goes back to the beginning: how trips were covered before ARCOS, why nuisance calls became a problem, how pilots adapted using contractual tools like auto-accept and auto-acknowledge, and how M7 evolved from a rarely used emergency provision into what the committee describes as a routine scheduling tool. They also dig into the latest ARCOS developments, ongoing technology and implementation problems, and what pilots should and shouldn’t change about how they use the ARCOS system. There are two sides to every story. This episode gives pilots the history, context, and facts behind the trip coverage debate and asks who really owns the problem.
Get a rundown of the complex trip coverage process: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
Yesterday we welcomed 50 new Delta pilots who began New Hire Orientation on September 29!
By the numbers:
• 50 pilots joined this class
• 1,536 pilots hired so far in 2026
• 18,305 pilots currently on the Delta seniority list
• 2,168 total new hires projected for 2026
This class brings experience from across the industry, including military aviation, regional and major airlines, and international carriers.
Class Snapshot:
• 96% civilian / 4% military*
• 2 USAF pilots
• Average flight time: 5,200 hours
• Flight time range: 1,550–24,200 hours
• Average age: 35 (youngest 23, oldest 57)
• 4% came from ALPA-represented DCI carriers
*Figure reflects each new hire's most recent employer before joining Delta.
Where They Came From:
Spirit (16), JetBlue (6), SkyWest (5), Frontier (4), Allegiant (3), Endeavor (2), Envoy (2), United (2), American (1), Avelo (1), Corporate (1), Horizon (1), Mesa (1), Sun Country (1), SunExpress (1), and FedEx (1)
Aircraft & Base Awards:
• 320 — 17 NYC, 10 LAX
• 757/767 — 10 LAX
• 737 — 6 NYC
• 220 — 5 MSP
• 717 — 2 DTW
Welcome to the Delta pilot group — fly safe, and we're proud to have you with us.
Engage Episode 82: Part 2
Trip coverage shenanigans continue. Pilots are hearing the finger-pointing from management over trip coverage, ARCOS, auto-accept, and operational reliability, and many are asking a pretty simple question: How is this our problem?
Engage host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Delta MEC Executive Administrator Captain Rich Wheeler, Scheduling Committee Chairman Captain Ian Turner, and Vice Chairman Captain Josh Cantrell to take that question head-on. They trace how years of staffing decisions, fragile rotations, exploding open time, unrestricted ARCOS batch calls, and growing reliance on PWA Section 23 M. 7 brought trip coverage to where it is today.
The group goes back to the beginning: how trips were covered before ARCOS, why nuisance calls became a problem, how pilots adapted using contractual tools like auto-accept and auto-acknowledge, and how M7 evolved from a rarely used emergency provision into what the committee describes as a routine scheduling tool. They also dig into the latest ARCOS developments, ongoing technology and implementation problems, and what pilots should and shouldn’t change about how they use the ARCOS system. There are two sides to every story. This episode gives pilots the history, context, and facts behind the trip coverage debate and asks who really owns the problem.
New Engage Episode: Part 1
Trip coverage shenanigans continue.
Pilots are hearing the finger-pointing from management over trip coverage, ARCOS, auto-accept, and operational reliability, and many are asking a pretty simple question: How is this our problem?
Engage host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Delta MEC Executive Administrator Captain Rich Wheeler, Scheduling Committee Chairman Captain Ian Turner, and Vice Chairman Captain Josh Cantrell to take that question head-on. They trace how years of staffing decisions, fragile rotations, exploding open time, unrestricted ARCOS batch calls, and growing reliance on PWA Section 23 M. 7 brought trip coverage to where it is today.
The group goes back to the beginning: how trips were covered before ARCOS, why nuisance calls became a problem, how pilots adapted using contractual tools like auto-accept and auto-acknowledge, and how M7 evolved from a rarely used emergency provision into what the committee describes as a routine scheduling tool. They also dig into the latest ARCOS developments, ongoing technology and implementation problems, and what pilots should and shouldn’t change about how they use the ARCOS system. There are two sides to every story. This episode gives pilots the history, context, and facts behind the trip coverage debate and asks who really owns the problem.
Listen to this important update about trip coverage: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
Yesterday we welcomed 62 new Delta pilots who began New Hire Orientation on September 22!
By the numbers:
• 62 pilots joined this class
• 1,486 pilots hired so far in 2026
• 18,237 pilots currently on the Delta seniority list
• 2,168 total new hires projected for 2026
This class brings experience from across the industry, including military aviation, regional and major airlines, and international carriers.
With 21 pilots joining from Spirit, this class marks the beginning of the bow wave of Spirit new hires. The Delta MEC negotiated preferential interview status for fellow ALPA pilots affected by the shutdown of their carrier — the benefits of unionism in action.
Class Snapshot:
• 88% civilian / 11% military*
• 6 USAF, 1 USN pilots
• Average flight time: 6,600 hours
• Flight time range: 1,550–25,000 hours
• Average age: 38 (youngest 25, oldest 61)
• 0% came from ALPA-represented DCI carriers
*Figure reflects each new hire’s most recent employer before joining Delta.
Where They Came From:
Spirit (21), Frontier (5), JetBlue (4), Republic (3), Corporate (3), Envoy Air (2), American (2), Southwest (2), Kalitta Air (2), Breeze (1), Contour (1), Horizon (1), Piedmont (1), PSA (1), FedEx (1), Allegiant (1), Ameriflight (1), Atlas Air (1), Ryanair (1), Sun Country (1)
Aircraft & Base Awards:
• A320 — 14 DTW, 13 MSP, 10 SLC
• 767 — 10 NYC
• 737 — 7 NYC
• A220 — 6 MSP
• 717 — 2 DTW
Welcome to the Delta pilot group — fly safe, and we’re proud to have you with us.
Training and local pilots! Join us for a PUB event on September 30 at Brass Tap! Food and drinks will be provided. Connect with your fellow pilots and show your unity. See you there! #DeltaPilots
During @ALPAPilots' Air Safety Forum on Wednesday, September 16, ALPA honored four volunteers who received Presidential Citations for their service in each focus area of the Air Safety Organization (ASO): jumpseat, pilot assistance, security, and safety.
Delta pilot Capt. Robbie Fernandez was honored for nearly two decades of volunteer leadership, protecting jumpseat access and supporting the pilots who depend on it. Congrats, Capt. Fernandez!
