Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots

Hosted by Delta MEC Communications

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

118

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Engage is a product of the Delta Air Lines ALPA Master Executive Council Communications Committee. Delivering important news, information and updates, the podcast touches on all areas of being a pilot at Delta Air Lines, with an emphasis on upcoming contract negotiations and quality of life for Delta pilots.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 28, 2026Episode 9010 min

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - August 28, 2026

The weekend is taxiing into position ✈️, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly has the BOS update on frequency. Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC. News rundown below 👇 • BOS MEC Meeting Update • Welcome New Hires — August 18 Class • BOS Council 09 Interim Elections • Contract Administration: Grievance Tracker and AE Training Bypass Issue Sheet • Contract Administration: Pilot Volunteers Needed • CASC: Boston Runway Construction • CASC: Radiation Exposure • IT: @Rest Wi-Fi App to Be Retired from EFBs • Plus, important pilot information and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter! Have a good weekend!

August 21, 2026Episode 897 min

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - August 21, 2026

The weekend is coming into range ✈️, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly has an important update on the frequency. Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC. News rundown below 👇 • Update on Negotiations: Chairman’s Letter and Engage Podcast • Welcome New Hires — August 11 Class • BOS Regular MEC Meeting — Week of August 24 • CASC: Threat Tool Kit | MEL Operations • Professional Standards: Command vs. Control • Communications: Swag Store - https://dal.alpa.org/Swag-Store • Plus, the BOS PUB / Family Awareness Event, important pilot information, and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter! Have a good weekend!

August 15, 2026Episode 879 min

Engage Weekly - News You Need to Know - August 7, 2026

The weekend is approaching the runway ✈️, and this latest edition of Engage Weekly is cleared for the NEWS1 arrival. Get caught up on the latest news and events from the Delta MEC. News rundown below 👇 • Delta MEC Special Meeting — August 11–12 • Welcome New Hires — July 28 Class • BOS Regular MEC Meeting — Week of August 24 • BOS PUB and Family Awareness Event • University of New Hampshire Polling: August 3–12 • CASC: ASAP Win — SLC Pavement Warping • PBS: NAVBLUE Upgrade • DPAC: Freedom! • PAN: As a Pilot, Can I Participate in Talk Therapy? • Plus, important pilot information and LEC updates are available in this week’s newsletter! Have a good weekend!

August 14, 2026Episode 8828 min

Engage Alert: MEC Pivots to Traditional Section 6 Negotiations

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

July 31, 2026Episode 8612 min

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

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!

July 24, 2026Episode 857 min

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

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!

July 17, 2026Episode 8411 min

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

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!

July 15, 2026Episode 8330 min

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

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

July 10, 2026Episode 8219 min

E80: Scheduling: Weird Slips & Pay Traps

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

July 10, 2026Episode 8111 min

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

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!