Mesaba Interview on Wednesday

[Shaheen]

Got a Mesaba interview on Wednesday. Just wondering if this is a good move? I hear different scenarios from different people, but would to hear from those who are flying for Mesaba right now. Another friend also got an interview and we both got calls on the same day. Sounds like they are gearing up for 'hiring' quite a few. Any idea about what bases and what airplanes? Also, what about the interview? I have no information on them and any insight would be appreciated. I am particularly interested in if there is any written and/or simulator tests/checks. They said they are sending a FedEx packet with all the info, but it hasn't arrived yet. This is my first 121 interview and please no Mesaba bashing. Any input as to pay rate, benefits, bases, airplanes, future would be helpful.

 

[marycon]

FO pay year 1 - $22.81 regardless of aircraft.

Bases; Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis. Not sure where new hires would end up going but odds on favorite wherever the CRJ 900's are going, MSP first.

Interview; Used to be a sim eval, a short written 10-20 questions IFR related things, HR interview, and interview with one or more of the chief pilots.

Aircraft; Saab and starting in May deliveries of CRJ 900's at a rate of 2 a month. New hires going to which aircraft? A good chance of the CRJ. The first few CRJ deliveries look like they are going to MSP.

 

[flyguy340]

As you probably already know, Mesaba has had their ups and downs. We have many FOs that have been here 7 years and never had the chance to upgrade or were only captain for a few months then displaced back to FO. Who knows what the future holds, especially connected to NWA. If you live in one of the bases that adds to your quality of life. If you are commuting, I may suggest to be cautious with Mesaba and evaluate other regionals that are hiring.

 

[gnx99]

Wow. There's still 220 on furlough, and they can only guess to how many are coming back. Hiring people already?

 

[5ontheglide]

Quite possibly the WORST CEO in the business - (a CHUMP among chumps)! Most definately the worst mainline partner in the business.
There will be MANY shady things going on at XJ for the next several months...years etc... Good luck with your decision.

-One furloughed pilot who will not come back.

 

[whaleroast]

As Don Johnson once sang:
"I'm looking for a heartbeat"

 

[Monster Buck]

I am not trying to be rude but......... How could you not have any info on the company.........that you applied to?

 

[captain dad]

I am not trying to be rude but......... How could you not have any info on the company.........that you applied to?

I agree! But instead of telling you how ridiculous you are, I am going to help you.

1. airlinepilotcentral.com (pay, a/c, what's going on...)
2. aviationinterviews.com (cost $10 well worth it)
3. wikipedia.com type in MESABA AIRLINES (best general research tool on the planet and it's FREE)

It is called research!

Don't ever go into an interview cold. That is unless you want people to laugh at you behind your back?


It is hard to tell, you could be a captain in two years or it could suck hard for the next ten. It all depends on NWA, Compass, and how many of these 900s they are going to get.

Good Luck

May all your beer flow like wine.

PS That'll be 50 bucks.imp:

 

[Sonny Crockett]

As Don Johnson once sang:
"I'm looking for a heartbeat"

I was a Big hit in Japan

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Table top sim last I heard. Old but I guess a good eval. I thought I failed my interview because of it. All the gouges prior to my interview talked about sim evals in the saab/avro sim. good luck.

 

[Twisted Mind]

Any news as to weather Mesaba is going to have a training contract?

 

[xjlifer]

Any news as to weather Mesaba is going to have a training contract?

Yea probably with a outfit like "Jet University" or some other 100grand puppy...opps I mean pilot mill.

 

[AWACO]

Got a Mesaba interview on Wednesday. Just wondering if this is a good move? I hear different scenarios from different people, but would to hear from those who are flying for Mesaba right now. Another friend also got an interview and we both got calls on the same day. Sounds like they are gearing up for 'hiring' quite a few. Any idea about what bases and what airplanes? Also, what about the interview? I have no information on them and any insight would be appreciated. I am particularly interested in if there is any written and/or simulator tests/checks. They said they are sending a FedEx packet with all the info, but it hasn't arrived yet. This is my first 121 interview and please no Mesaba bashing. Any input as to pay rate, benefits, bases, airplanes, future would be helpful.

Well I am furloughed from XJ, still waiting for my call back though. Good luck on that interview of yours.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

I would say it depends on 2 things mainly... Do you live in one of the 3 hubs? How many furloughs will be coming back ahead of you? Depending on those answers will determine if XJ is a good move for you. Upgrade times, can I commute, what will I fly and where.... you will be rolling the dice on those questions at any airline.

 

[TAWS]

This doesn't sound legit! 220 guys on furlough and they are starting interviews???
I haven't received a recall letter/call yet - not that I care anymore! I hope this is the start of better days at XJ, but I see very few guys returning.

 

[SplitBar]

This doesn't sound legit! 220 guys on furlough and they are starting interviews???
I haven't received a recall letter/call yet - not that I care anymore! I hope this is the start of better days at XJ, but I see very few guys returning.

The recall letters will go out based upon the vacancy award and the preference bids of those who are on furlough. The company is projecting a lot of bypassing and resigning so it is time for them to ramp up and start a hiring pool. It is legit since the newhire pool wont be drawn upon until all recalls have either recalled or resigned. All the bypassing will cause the recalls to hit the bottom of the furlough list and resignations will be forced from the bottom up. Look for a BIG bounce up the list and new hires to begin in by May. Just because they are interviewing TAWS, doesn't mean that those hired will begin class before all furloughed pilots are recalled/resigned.

 

[TAWS]

Didn't mean to get you all worked up Splitbar. I didn't think that they would go through the list THAT quickly, that it would justify interviewing already! Are you guys getting growth or EXPLOSIVE growth? Either mngt knows that more deliveries are coming, or that they are coming faster - either way, I would've thought that it would happen differently.
On another note: reading the ALPA email, it seems like upgrade is more timing than anything, with all the seat locks (3 years, etc), leading an average Pilot to believe that a more junior guy could be in the left seat far more easily than under normal circumstances. Anyone else see this?

 

[SplitBar]

This doesn't sound legit! 220 guys on furlough and they are starting interviews???
I haven't received a recall letter/call yet - not that I care anymore! I hope this is the start of better days at XJ, but I see very few guys returning.

Who is worked up? I was just explaining to you how it is legit and how the recall/newhire process will rampup. Sorry you mistakenly construed that as me being all worked up. Sorry that your feathers are so easily ruffled. You don't forsee many guys retuurning and neither does the company, thats why they are interviewing and starting a pool. By the way, if you have no intention of returning and you don't care about your recall notice, why are you still on the furlough list awaiting your recall notice?

 

[Whataboutbob]

Ok guys calm down.

Splitbar is right, everyone will bypass leading to hitting the bottom of the list like yesterday. Only once the heat is put on with a last chance (telephone call or letter) will guys get serious about either coming back or resigning.

I think some of the confusion about why they are interviewing but no recall letters have come out is the fact that they are waiting for the vacancy notice to be awarded then the letters or phone calls will go out. And like splitbar said, HR is preparing for the worst case scenerio. So I hope all the furloughs updated their preference bids because rumor has it they will award any openings based on those bids. If you didn't update your bid with the new furlough bid sheet you run the risk of being awarded something even though you wanted to stay on furlough. From what I heard that vacancy award may be binding which means if you get MEM SF340 F.O (because you didn't update your preference bid) and wanted to stay on furlough you either take your award or see ya later.

To support TAWS I think if you are on furlough what do you have to loose by staying on the list even if you aren't going to come back. I think guys will agree never say never. That is the luxury or should I say the only perk of being on furlough is you might be able to play two hands of cards at the same time. There are a lot of unanswered questions that would lead most furloughs to want to delay going back as long as possible (NWA ALPA, 79 a/c mark, what happens to the Saabs, Colgan, Pinnacle). The furloughs are already getting screwed on the claim so at least let us enjoy our one perk of not having to resign until we have too.

 

[SEVEN]

Welcome Back TAWS

TAWS, see you at PanAm in April for the Short Course.

 

[XJohXJ]

I'd be worried if they weren't starting interviews yet.

There are two classes planned for April. April 2nd Mesaba will recall 50 pilots. April 30th Mesaba will recall/newhire 30 or 40 pilots. The next class in May will need 20-30 new/recalled pilots.

Although they don't agree on the exact number, every groups' guess for the amount of returning furloughs falls in the 50-100 range, meaning the list will be used up in 2-3 vacancy notices. In other words, the furlough list should be empty in about 2 months or so.

They're going to need new pilots by May. Now is not too early to start a hiring pool, especially when considering the problems many regionals are having attracting pilots. No one can afford to be a regional FO anymore. Those who are staying/recalling to Mesaba have simply decided that XJ is still the best gamble. I'd guess that most would rather live in base than commute, and 2nd or 3rd year FO pay at Mesaba is better than first year pay at any other regional.

Despite the uncertainty and lack of trust, it seems likely Mesaba will keep the 49 Saabs for at least 5 years, and get all 36 CRJs. With fleet expansion evident, it is better to bank up prospective pilots than to be scrambling for them after it's too late. With NWA money, Mesaba can afford to do that.

If I had decided to go somewhere else instead of recall, I might be one of those guys wishing for Mesaba to fail, as a validation of my decision to leave. That's just human nature, and it's hightened by the monumental uncertainties of our waning profession. Lord knows, I dislike our dissolute management as much as anyone else.

However, for those of us who have decided to stay, at least until something BETTER comes up (not lateral), it seems to make sense to hope that Mesaba is successful again. (I am NOT saying we should kowtow to mgt.)

Mesaba was middle of the road before, with relatively good work rules, and, hey, guess what? Mesaba is still middle of the road, with good work rules. The milk spilled, it's time to stop crying.

 

[TAWS]

Well put XJohXJ!!

Seven, have you accepted a recall and what class will you be taking? CR9 or SF340?

 

[airmasn]

"The furloughs are already getting screwed on the claim so at least let us enjoy our one perk of not having to resign until we have too.[/quote]

getting screwed by the claim...how so?

 

[XJohXJ]

Furloughs won't know what's what until the vacancy award on the 13th. Anyone who filled out and FAXED a bid form (not online) will only get a recall letter if they are awarded a seat above "furlough" on their bid form. Of course, we will all get the letter soon enough, as the final letters go out from bottom to top of the list.

If this process gets completed soon enough, the returning furloughs will get a full fair share of the BK claim money. Basically a furlough will get similar money as they would have if not furloughed, according to the payout formula. What they won't get is: six months out of the four years worth of money (in other words, 1/8 less money) and they wont get the payout for the lost week of vacation, as they didn't lose a week of vacation.

If a lot more furloughs return than expected (not likely), then maybe the payouts will be less as it will have to be divided amongst more pilots.

 

[airmasn]

the furlough peeps will get their fair share, there is a contingency fund set aside for errors and such...what is not used in the contingency fund gets reallocated amongst the entire pilot group when all is said and done.

 

[xjhawk]

To get back to the origional question. Do your research as someone lredy stated. Study your basic instrument knowledge and be yourself. Try not to be uptight, ask intellegent questions and be yourself. If you are arogant, I hope you are not hired. If you are a good guy or gal, welcome board. Oh by the way, there is a lot of bitterness around here and I am sure you will be scorned by some idiots for coming here. I was hired in 03' and being new then was not the easiest either. As for the sim, when i was interviewed, it was the avro sim, i guess that is gone......and the saab sim will be too busy, so I do not know what they are doing. good luck, I hope they need to hire 500 new hires.......

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Seven will be resuming his job on the ramp. Hey, shut your trap and throw bags!

 

[XJTool]

Mins?

What are the new mins? I heard 300 and 50.

---Mesaba sucks!

 

[SEVEN]

Seven will be resuming his job on the ramp. Hey, shut your trap and throw bags!

Don't you have some oil pressure guages to read or something?

 

[Shaheen]

FO pay year 1 - $22.81 regardless of aircraft.

Bases; Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis. Not sure where new hires would end up going but odds on favorite wherever the CRJ 900's are going, MSP first.

Interview; Used to be a sim eval, a short written 10-20 questions IFR related things, HR interview, and interview with one or more of the chief pilots.

Aircraft; Saab and starting in May deliveries of CRJ 900's at a rate of 2 a month. New hires going to which aircraft? A good chance of the CRJ. The first few CRJ deliveries look like they are going to MSP.

Thank you. Good information and I appreciate it.