The original Delta pilot pension plan was terminated in 2006 and is now administered by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Today, the primary defined-benefit-style plan for Delta pilots is the Market-Based Cash Balance Plan (MBCBP), introduced under the 2023 Pilot Working Agreement. It receives contributions when Delta’s 401(k) employer deposits exceed IRS annual addition limits, and it functions more like a pension fund than a traditional 401(k), with no individual investment selection. Understanding your MBCBP balance and distribution options is a key step in preretirement planning.