Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots

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Engage Alert: MEC Pivots to Traditional Section 6 Negotiations Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

In this breaking Engage Alert, host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with MEC Chairman Captain Eric Criswell and Negotiating Committee Chairman Captain Bill Finlay following the MEC’s unanimous decision to pivot away from the accelerated bargaining timeline and toward a more traditional Section 6 negotiation. Criswell and Finlay explain what led to the decision, including the company’s pursuit of concessionary changes to longstanding pilot protections involving reroutes, schedule flexibility, reserve rules, payback days, and other provisions the union says pilots would not ratify. They also discuss the company’s lack of meaningful engagement on key pilot priorities and why the accelerated path ultimately became untenable. With the bargaining strategy now changing, the discussion turns to what comes next: the expected negotiating timeline, the upcoming MEC meeting in Boston, increased communication and pilot involvement and what the MEC and Negotiating Committee will need from the pilot group as negotiations enter a new and potentially longer phase.

MEC Alert 26-11: What You Need to Know

Negotiators' Notepad 26-03: Status of Negotiations and Next Steps

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - July 31, 2026 Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

The weekend is taxiing into view ✈️, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly is ready for departure.

Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC.

News rundown below 👇

• BOS Regular MEC Meeting — Week of August 24

• BOS PUB and Family Awareness Event

• Welcome New Hires — July 21 Class

• University of New Hampshire Polling: August 3–12

• R&I: Double-Check Your Beneficiaries

• Training: AE Bidding Guidance, September CQ, and A350 eLearning

• CASC: Seasonal Uptick in Low Fuel Events

• Delta Pilot Network: Hurricane and Wildfire Season

• PBS: NAVBLUE Upgrade

• DPAC: The 2,000-Pound Phone Call

• Plus, important pilot information and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter!

Have a good weekend!

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - July 24, 2026 Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

The weekend is pushing back ✈️, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly is ready to go.

Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC.

News rundown below 👇

• Negotiations Update

• Welcome to New Hires — July 14 Class

• Dues Return Offer | Delta MEC & ALPA National

• PBS: PBS Upgrade to NAVBLUE

• CASC: Threat Tool Kit — Mid-Air Collision Avoidance

• Aviation Security: Laser Illumination Threat, Guidance, and Crew Actions

• Military Affairs: Updated DAF Policy and Members’ Rights Under USERRA

• Plus, important pilot information and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter!

Have a good weekend!

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - 17 July, 2026 Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

The weekend is lining up on the runway ✈️, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly is ready to roll.

Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC.

News rundown below 👇

• Negotiations Update

• Engage: PBS Upgrades Affecting All Pilots — New Tools, Better Bids

• Welcome New Hires — July 7 Class

• Participate in the ALPA National Member Tracking Poll

• Delta MEC Swag Store Orders are Shipping!

• Dues Return Offer | Delta MEC & ALPA National

• Feedback Requested: Rate Your Pilot/Flight Operations Experience

• PBS: PBS Upgrade to NAVBLUE

• Hotel: Delayed, Unsafe, or Unsuitable Transportation and Hotel Changes

• R&I: New Retirement and Insurance Program Coming Soon

• Aeromedical: Selecting an AME and Other Aeromedical Gouge

• DPAC: Is CBD Safe for Pilots to Take?

• Plus, Oshkosh, the July 22 ATL PUB Event, the BOS PUB/Family Awareness Event, and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter!

Have a good weekend!

E81: PBS Upgrades Affecting All Pilots: New Tools, Better Bids Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

The PBS Committee is back on Engage with important updates for every Delta pilot. PBS Committee Chairman Captain Scott Ryan and Vice Chairman Captain Brett Vining join host First Officer Ryan Argenta to explain the upcoming NavBlue PBS release, including the move to single sign-on through DeltaNet, the new PBS link, and what pilots need to know before bidding for the September schedule. The episode walks through several new and optional PBS features, including total pay visibility, short call bidding, award reserve day on, auto-save, and bug fixes pilots have been asking for. Scott and Brett also explain how third-party bidding services may be affected by single sign-on and MFA requirements. Beyond the technical updates, the conversation dives into practical bidding strategy, including low-credit line techniques, why bidding smarter can improve quality of life, and how individual pilot bidding behavior can affect category staffing, reserve numbers, and premium flying. Whether you bid every month with precision or still feel like PBS is a black box, this episode offers useful updates, reminders, and strategies to help pilots better understand the system and make PBS work for them.

References: PBS Notepad

E80: Scheduling: Weird Slips & Pay Traps Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

Not all premium trips are created equal. In this episode of Engage, Scheduling Committee Chairman Captain Ian Turner and Vice Chairman Captain Josh Cantrell join host, First Officer Ryan Argenta, to break down some of the most misunderstood scheduling tools in the contract. From Green Slips with Conflict and Inverse Assignment with Conflict to Reserve with Conflict, reroute pay, and Quick Slips, the discussion focuses on how pilots can avoid common pay misconceptions and make informed decisions before accepting additional flying.

The committee explains why conflict flying is often misunderstood as "triple pay," walks through real-world examples of when these tools can be highly advantageous - and when they may not be so lucrative -and highlights the importance of understanding the actual pay treatment behind the terminology. The episode also covers updates on Quick Slips, common reroute pay misunderstandings, and the growing importance of lesser-used scheduling provisions as trip coverage challenges continue across the operation. Whether you're looking to maximize pay, improve quality of life, or simply avoid a costly scheduling mistake, this episode provides practical guidance every pilot should know before clicking “Accept”.

Resources: Scheduling Reference Handbook

MEC Alert: Optimize Your Schedule

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - July 10, 2026 Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

The weekend is on final ✈️, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly is bringing the good stuff.

Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC.

News rundown below 👇

• MEC Dues Return Offer

• CMAP Website is Live

• Engage: Scheduling Weird Slips & Pay

• BOS MEC PUB / Family Awareness Event

• Feedback Requested: Rate Your Pilot / Flight Operations Experience

• Your Upcoming National Dues Return Offer: Watch Your Email

• ATL Training PUB: July 22

• Join Delta MEC Volunteers at Oshkosh!

• CASC: MSP Taxiway Reconstruction and LOSA Observation Application Window

• Membership: July Pilot Retirements

• DPAC: Confidential Help for Delta Pilots

• Plus, committee and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter!

Have a good weekend and stay engaged!

E80: Scheduling: Weird Slips & Pay Traps Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Resources: Scheduling Reference Handbook

MEC Alert: Optimize Your Schedule

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - July 2, 2026 Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

The holiday weekend is cleared for takeoff 🇺🇸, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly brings the fireworks.

Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC.

News rundown below 👇

• Happy Fourth of July | Delta MEC Office Hours

• Engage Episode: Following the Money: Dues Down, Value Up, Money Back in Your Pocket

• Welcome New Hires! June 23 Class

• Feedback Requested: Rate Your Pilot/Flight Operations Experience

• Your Upcoming Dues Return Offer: Watch Your Email

• Join Delta MEC Volunteers at Oshkosh!

• Contract Administration: Crew Meals Settlement Agreement and Grievance Tracker

• CASC: Air Traffic Services Meeting, Palm Beach Airport Renaming, and Threat Tool Kit on Diversions

• PAN: Summer Stress and Burnout

• DPAC: Denial Is Not a River in Egypt

• Plus, committee and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter!

Have a safe Fourth of July weekend!

E79: Following the Money - Dues Down, Value Up, Money Back in Your Pocket Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

What exactly does ALPA National's Executive Council do and why should Delta pilots care? Host First Officer Ryan Argenta sits down with Delta pilot and ALPA Executive Vice President Captain Reed Donoghue for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the least visible but most impactful areas of the Association.

Reed explains how the Executive Council serves as ALPA's fiduciary, oversees spending, approves major initiatives, and shapes policy that affects pilots across the industry. The conversation dives into ALPA's strong financial position, the proposed dues reduction from 1.85% to 1.55%, recent dues returns, and efforts to push more resources directly back to MECs, LECs, and pilot services.

Reed also discusses how pilot-driven policy changes make their way through the organization, why engagement matters, and how line pilots can help shape the future of the Association. Whether you've ever wondered where your dues go, how ALPA's budget is managed, or why pilot participation matters, this episode provides an informative look at the work happening behind the scenes on behalf of Delta pilots.

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