1943 – Establishment of the Sick Benefit Mutual Aid Plan

In 1943, the pilots at Chicago & Southern (C&S) Air Lines established the Sick Benefit Mutual Aid Plan (SBMAP) for all C&S pilots when company-provided sick leave benefits did not exist. 

 

1953 – Sick Benefit Mutual Aid Plan Became Pilot’s Mutual Aid

Following the merger of Chicago & Southern Air Lines and Delta Air Lines in 1953, Delta’s Master Executive Council (MEC) adopted the SBMAP and established the new “Pilot’s Mutual Aid” (PMA). Later that same year, the death benefit was increased to $1,500 regardless of the pilot’s position and was to be delivered to the beneficiary no more than three days after the member’s death.

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1963 – Pilot’s Mutual Aid Became Delta Pilots Mutual Aid

In 1963, the plan was renamed “Delta Pilots Mutual Aid” (DPMA). Benefits were paid for a maximum of 12 months. The amount was now based on the Final Average Earnings (FAE) of the pilot’s income over the three months preceding the disability. The death benefit was increased to $2,000.00.

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1988 – DAL & Western Merger Increases DPMA Membership

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1996 - DPMA Became an Independent Organization

In January, DPMA became its own entity with limited administrative support provided by Delta Air Lines. 

 

1998 – DPMA Hires Harvey Watt & Co.

In January, the first DPMA office was established with Harvey Watt & Co. acting as the Third-Party Administrator.

 

1999 – 2000 – Improvement to DPMA Member Services and Benefits

In 1999, the IRS ruled that DPMA benefits are not taxable. In 2000, DPMA's logo became officially

registered as a trademark.  Also, DPMA hired the first full-time employee.

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2002 - 2005 – DPMA Gains VEBA Status With IRS Ruling 501(c)(9).

In 2002, DPMA received the Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) status in a ruling from the IRS. The first independent DPMA office was opened at 1003 Virginia Avenue, Atlanta, GA, and a second employee was hired.

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2008 – DAL and NWA Merge

The Northwest Airlines Pilots and Delta Air Lines pilots approved the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA)

on August 11, 2008. As a result, DPMA added over 4,500 new members. Also, the first two Client Care Specialists (CCS’)

joined DPMA to aid with the increase of the pilot care workload and disability cases.

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2013-2017 – DPMA Benefits Expand

In March of 2013, the DPMA office was moved to 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Suite 330, Atlanta, GA.

Also in 2013, the Survivor Benefit ($15,000) was amended to cover “a member in good standing and on the

Delta Pilots Seniority List,” which effectively expanded the survivor benefit to members who had exhausted all of

their DPMA benefits (730 days of disability benefits).

 

In 2014, Delta significantly increased the hiring of new pilots. 

In May 2015, DPMA's first Executive Director was hired.

In April, 2017, the first employee retired from DPMA.

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2018 – Present - DPMA Recent History

DPMA celebrated its 75th Anniversary at the Delta Flight Museum in September, 2018.

In 2019, DPMA became incorporated.  DPMA, Inc. was now a nonprofit corporation under Georgia law.

In April of 2019, the Board increased the Survivor Benefit to $25,000.00.

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