History of DPMA

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. 

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.