Mesaba Chief Pilot and Recruiting

[xjcaptain]

ACTUALLY, it was 83 Saabs. 49 B+, 11 B- from pinnacle (returned to PNCL), and 23 A models (returned to Saab Leasing and under litigation). But that was only for a short time.

We'll, your math works, but the timing doesn't. Some of the "A" models were returned well prior to the first straight "B" from 9E. Then again it doesn't really matter. I think we both agree that we need a bunch of airplanes to get even where we once were, before it is considered "Growth".

 

[Spinn555]

From inside the HR walls at XJ...

The website has advertised for just a few days openings for Pilots. They AVERAGE 100 resume submissions a day.

No matter what happens, there is still someone out there willing to work in a bad situation, as long as it is a jet pilot job.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

well between the current (never furloughed) pilots and the recalls bidding the jet good luck any new hire getting a jet seat....

 

[WMUSIGPI]

besides that any fool putting in a resume here instead of spirit or pinnacle (yes in that order duh) may God have mercy on thier soul... naw never mind they don't deserve it...

 

[SplitBar]

besides that any fool putting in a resume here instead of spirit or pinnacle (yes in that order duh) may God have mercy on thier soul... naw never mind they don't deserve it...

Why Pinnacle over XJ? The XJ contrat is still better than Pinnacles...not to mention the professionalism of the pilot group. XJ is the one in growth mode now, not 9E. As far as spirit, CFI's coming out of the pilot factories aren't competetive or qualified to fly for Spirit. I take it your not taking the recall?

Didn't you just ask this question the other day..... "so do we need to fax that form in again with the CR9 choices or can we use the electronic form like before furlough?"

So new hires are Fools for applying but your the smart guy for taking the recall. Whats the difference? Too bad you don't deserve any mercy on your soul

 

[YourPilotFriend]

From inside the HR walls at XJ...

The website has advertised for just a few days openings for Pilots. They AVERAGE 100 resume submissions a day.

No matter what happens, there is still someone out there willing to work in a bad situation, as long as it is a jet pilot job.

Those hundreds probably applied to every other regional as well.

 

[saabservant]

The only difference between a pinnacle pilot and a mesaba pilot is whether they paid for their training, and the quality of their training department.
I hear this crap about our (mesaba) contract being so much better; in reality the work rules amount to about a 6% improvement over pinnacle's, but the fact is, a Pinnacle captain is making a LOT more money than a saab captain, with likely half the seniority, and is based where that saab capt. would like to be. Where will that saab capt. most likely be in two years with the 36 crjs?
On the saab...
Who has the better deal?

The other thing in common between the groups is the opportunity to be whipsawed by not only the three mgmt. teams, but mainline and natl. alpa.
Why anyone would consider making a career here as a red tail fee for departure pilot is beyond reason, and is based on the illusion of security...

 

[xjhawk]

yeah and about the differences between the two XJ and 9E is that if I was hired there at Pinnacle, i would be a crj captain by now making 60 something an hour. Now the best bet I have at Mesaba is a possible upgrade to a saab making what, 48 an hour for a 5-6 year capt. Oh thats a crappy schedule out of memphis....yeah I am real excited about doing that.....but most likely I will. The best thing that could happen is we get 50-90 crj 900's and attrition stays steady. I am sure the attrition will be greater than the averaged they have forcasted.

 

[saabservant]

xjhawk: but just think of what a fancy crashpad you(and/or) I can get with the proceeds from the bankruptcy claim payout! You'll be living high in Melvis...

 

[Vspeeds]

Compass Airlines

Does anybody have a web address or physical address/Fax for Compass?

Appreciate any info!

 

[Workin'Stiff]

www.compassairline.com

 

[xjhawk]

how true!

xjhawk: but just think of what a fancy crashpad you(and/or) I can get with the proceeds from the bankruptcy claim payout! You'll be living high in Melvis...

Think of it, 4 guys get together and buy one of those gated condos somewhere in the nicer area of melvis, might not be a bad idea. In ten years we sell it. we all could make a grand or two. On second thought....I would rather keep it in my 401k and live in minneapolis.

 

[IHateMgmt]

Think of it, 4 guys get together and buy one of those gated condos somewhere in the nicer area of melvis, might not be a bad idea. In ten years we sell it. we all could make a grand or two. On second thought....I would rather keep it in my 401k and live in minneapolis.

Last time I checked, home values there were actually depreciating. Wonder why...

 

[ARJLVR]

Last time I checked, home values there were actually depreciating. Wonder why...

Really? When was this? By what means were you checking and by what comparison? Sing it to the people paying $150+ s.f....which is high for "Melvis". We have slums/ghettos but the pilots I know here don't live in 'em...

 

[Prophead]

FO,
So, let me do an ethics check here. If any Mesaba pilot has plans to move on during the concessionary contract they should give some of this payout money back. I would be willing to bet that many pilots at Mesaba are now looking or waiting for a call from another company. So maybe they should not get their share of the payout. Only pilots that will remain at Mesaba for the duration of the current contract should get the full payout. Where does this stop? Half the current pilot group will most likely move on to another airline in the next couple of years.
I think you sould worry about your own decision to come back and quit trying to figure out who deserves thier payout. I am sorry, but you have no right telling any other Mesaba pilot whether of not they deserve this money. Do you plan to look for greener pastures if you go back to Mesaba?

I am always a little bothered by the self-righteous? They always seem to be a little hypocritcal.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Why Pinnacle over XJ? The XJ contrat is still better than Pinnacles...not to mention the professionalism of the pilot group. XJ is the one in growth mode now, not 9E. As far as spirit, CFI's coming out of the pilot factories aren't competetive or qualified to fly for Spirit. I take it your not taking the recall?

Didn't you just ask this question the other day..... "so do we need to fax that form in again with the CR9 choices or can we use the electronic form like before furlough?"

So new hires are Fools for applying but your the smart guy for taking the recall. Whats the difference? Too bad you don't deserve any mercy on your soul

Why.. because I was just trying to balance out the Pinnacle bashing that always seems to happen. Just trying to be nice to them for once. I may have to start relying on their safe efficient transportation again soon. And as for the rest I guess there needs to be a banner for sarcasm that can be put on postings...

 

[flap operator]

Prophead - WTF are you talking about? I'm not sure if you confused another post for mine, but you're way off base directing your comments towards me since I said/posted nothing of what you're asserting.


FO

 

[Livinthewhat]

I know its late in the post, if there are any credible posts left in this one...Does anyone know for sure how they will recall? Will they tell you what you would be able to come back to? Just trying to make an educated decision here. What about seat locks? The best guess I have heard is somewhere along the lines of the top 400 holding Capt slots with the rest waiting for a long time. Anyone who is in the system with genuine advice care to weigh in???

 

[Prophead]

FO,

Sorry if you thought that was directed at you. It was just a reponse to the subject that you brought up. I have seen postings debating who should get the money. The only point I was making is that all of the Mesaba pilots have made sacrafices and no one pilot can be the moral judge of who deserves the payout. When I read my post it did look like it was directed at you and for that I am sorry.

 

[flap operator]

Prop -

No prob - even though you addressed it directly to me. How else was I supposed to take it =) I've always maintained that we've all shared in the
a$$ kickings at XJ and that everyone deserves some sort of compensation for that. Between the contract junk from 2001-2004 and the proceedings in the last 1.5 years, I'm sore for being beaten so much.

It would be great if everyone could get a large payout, but I understand how the MEC decided the direction of the claim must go to the people that will work under the new contract. Each individual pilot has their own needs and the MEC is trying to meet those needs. With more than 1 pilot on the seniority list it will be impossible to please everyone. Thus, the infighting amongst the ranks. It's too bad that money is going to continue to divide the pilot group. Hopefully people will see beyond that and XJ can continue to have a great bunch of pilots.

Seeyaaa,

FO

 

[xjhawk]

lets see how the numbers work

I know its late in the post, if there are any credible posts left in this one...Does anyone know for sure how they will recall? Will they tell you what you would be able to come back to? Just trying to make an educated decision here. What about seat locks? The best guess I have heard is somewhere along the lines of the top 400 holding Capt slots with the rest waiting for a long time. Anyone who is in the system with genuine advice care to weigh in???

36 new planes=approximately 360 new pilot positions=180 captain positions and 50 aircraft on property= approximately 500 pilots (we are supposed to be over staffed right now) so 250 captain positions, so we can figure 250+180=430 or so captain positions. Now figure the deliveries stop in 2008 a year from now and an attrition rate of 8 pilots a month average, lets just say 100 pilots leave by the time the last crj900 comes on property. That means that every active pilot should be a captain if they choose by the time the crj900s stop coming. th

 

[XJohXJ]

Between Jan 15th and Feb 1, 30 pilots left. More have left since then, and more will continue to leave. A lot of them are Captains at XJ right now, going to Southwest, Spirit, AirTran, and Continental. At times, many go to FedEx, as well (I don't know about right now...) Some are still going to CityJet, and senior FO's are going to NetJets. Not to mention, Cathay, and Emirates, and a few others as well. Compass, for what it's worth, will probably also grab some current XJ guys.

Argue as much as you want about how 36 CRJ's is not growth. I agree, we aren't really "growing" until we top 100 hulls or so. However, the upgrade opportunities are there in abundance.

It's a gamble, but so is every other regional out there. Yes, SkyWest and CHQ are growing like crazy right now. We probably have some furloughs at SkyWest who are very close now to upgrade there. It still is not a "guaranteed" upgrade for those who come in now! No airline will offer that. At XJ, we know very well how things can change in an instant. There is no true security at any US pax carrier.

However, having a few years in a XJ still offers a better deal then starting at rock bottom as an FO at a different regional, especially when you factor in commutes and crashpads.

I know its popular for current XJ pilots to speak ill of XJ. But there are many people still out there who consider returning to XJ to be the best of a bunch of sub-par options. There is ample movenment coming on the XJ list to make it a reasonable choice.

So what if you won't make it to the top 200. That's not an option anywhere else, either, unless you get picked up in the first wave at compass, which is still a huge unknown.

Lighten up people. XJ is middle of the road. If you live in base, it's worth it. Some of us don't want to move. If that results in a "sacrifice", so be it. That's called a personal choice.

 

[Ridgeback]

36 new planes=approximately 360 new pilot positions=180 captain positions and 50 aircraft on property= approximately 500 pilots (we are supposed to be over staffed right now) so 250 captain positions, so we can figure 250+180=430 or so captain positions. th

Don't forget about instructors and mgt pilots that don't fly the line but hold a senority number. Already 15 instructors needed per xj memo.

250 + 180 + 20=450 Captains Figure 200 just for the new crj's

 

[xjhawk]

I agree with the last couple posts. If you are an FO here, and cannot go to a major or a national, its best to stay here. I know a couple have left in the last couple months to various places, and if it makes them happy, more power to them and I wish them luck. But many of them left when we did not have a firm order (that can change as well), and made choices based on lifestyle and pay. If you were furloughed or had only a couple years invested here, it was better to leave to somewhere like Skywest, which with orders and proposed growth would make for a quick upgrade and better FO pay in the long run. Those of us with more time invested, and chose to hold out for something better comng along at XJ, should be rewarded with an upgrade. I am further betting on more than 36 aircraft and am hopefull that NWA pilots will somehow work us into their list. remember I said HOPEFULL, NOT EXPECTING

 

[naglasair1]

I agree with the last post. I think there is a chance NWA might get rid of Compass soon and possibly give Mesaba the ERJ's and we might end up on their list too. (with a flow down/up agreement, good or bad or whatever)

I have a friend who sits in on some of the meetings regarding the new terminal, and he hears many new rumors himself from NWA people. If you just take a look at Compass's website it is a joke!!

This is a direct quote from Compass Airlines website off the employment page:

"Compass is a company where you can make an impact. Explore our career opportunities and consider the possibilities awaiting you. Our employees work in offices, airports and inside the aircraft. They wear wings, crunch numbers, dispatch planes, and fly with a smile."

That doesn't sound to me like a very legitimate company.
Check it out for yourself at: www.compassairline.com

 

[FlyBunny]

I really don't think sour grapes are the issue. I don't believe anyone who put in their time at Mesaba really wants the pilots, whom they worked alongside for years, to fail. If anything, its simply disappointing to see corporate greed rewarded, but the pilots have fought hard and deserve nothing but the best. Lets be honest though. You really shouldn't lead someone to believe that there is a possibility of a 2 year upgrade when there hasn't been one in 7 years! How long has the most senior FO been on property? No, a 2 year upgrade isn't "out of the question", but neither is a 10 year upgrade. The last CRJ isn't due on property until December 2008. Thats 2 years just for those. Please tell me you aren't already counting on the NEXT set of jets.
I'm just saying it isn't responsible to mislead someone who is attempting to make a career decision. Sorry if that offends you.

Good Post!

 

[FlyBunny]

From inside the HR walls at XJ...

The website has advertised for just a few days openings for Pilots. They AVERAGE 100 resume submissions a day.

No matter what happens, there is still someone out there willing to work in a bad situation, as long as it is a jet pilot job.

What's wrong that that. Almost any turbine/turbofan job is better than most CFI jobs. Throw in a regualr paycheck and benefits with twin-turbine entry in the logbook, any CFI would be a TOTAL fool not to take this opportunity. Of course, from your point of view - and you did indeed do the same, take the airline job with the lowest pay and all that - you want these young pilots not to take these jobs, so in long term, you could benefit.

Interesting.

Bunny