Mesaba wow!

[Raskal]

Considering how many LCA's they have lost off the Saab in the last couple weeks.... not only are we hurting on the jets but once again we will be hurting on the Saabs. Now is the time to press the issue of the woefully underpaid LCA position. And with them dragging their feet about the flow I hope nobody will even apply and make it known that is a main reason. The union has figured out why I won't take a Saab upgrade (seat lock/jet captain likely) and has told the company (not that they care) so I have little hope that the company would care about the LCA's but maybe for once the company will surprise us.

As someone in the first street capt group, I understand your statements now much more than before I got here. I'm thrilled with the job, but I now get why all of this came about. Hopefully the arbitration on the flowthrough/seatlocks will be successful and the locks will be reduced-however, seeing the situation from the inside now I just don't see the company giving in on that one.

 

[CptMurf]

I hope nobody will even apply and make it known that is a main reason. The union has figured out why I won't take a Saab upgrade (seat lock/jet captain likely) and has told the company (not that they care) so I have little hope that the company would care about the LCA's but maybe for once the company will surprise us.

Won't happen. In fact there are plenty of people interested in and applying for the LCA positions. They just ran a full Check Airman Ground CAG class and have filled the next one, just haven't set a date for it. The first class will do their sim and line observations and be on the line soon.

 

[Whataboutbob]

Sounds like a lot of potential upgrades are waiting for the CRJ rather than take the Saab now.

Tough decision but on the Saab you would get your 1000 PIC quicker, less pay on the Saab but you will be able to probably credit more since you won't be on reserve as long and the trips are more efficient. You can start getting your 2 year seat lock out of the way now rather than waiting for the CRJ and having the seat lock finish later. I guess we will find out how important the seat lock issue is once the Flow up is finalized. Also by the time you finish training on the CRJ for FO guarantee you could have probably flown 150 hours on the Saab for Captain pay. So I think when you look at it from a 2 year window the pay difference in small. I guess some people believe props are for boats.

 

[woutlaw]

S
Tough decision but on the Saab you would get your 1000 PIC quicker, less pay on the Saab but you will be able to probably credit more since you won't be on reserve as long and the trips are more efficient.

I don't know enough about the ins and outs of scheduling at a regional to even ask the question correctly, but what's a "typical" trip on the Saab vs. an RJ and what makes for more efficient trips in the Saab?

I guess what I'm getting at is are you looking at more 2-day trips in the Saab or a similar mix of 3 or 4-day trips on both the Saab and the jets just with quicker turns and less airport appreciation time on the Saab?

It's probably way off base, but my sense as a guy thinking of making the jump into regional flying as a lowly FO seems to be fly the Saab if you want to be a captain sooner, fly the jet if you just gotta fly a jet.

Which assumes there's even a choice, or do you just show up and get assigned an airplane?

 

[WMUSIGPI]

I don't know enough about the ins and outs of scheduling at a regional to even ask the question correctly, but what's a "typical" trip on the Saab vs. an RJ and what makes for more efficient trips in the Saab?

I guess what I'm getting at is are you looking at more 2-day trips in the Saab or a similar mix of 3 or 4-day trips on both the Saab and the jets just with quicker turns and less airport appreciation time on the Saab?

It's probably way off base, but my sense as a guy thinking of making the jump into regional flying as a lowly FO seems to be fly the Saab if you want to be a captain sooner, fly the jet if you just gotta fly a jet.

Which assumes there's even a choice, or do you just show up and get assigned an airplane?

Saab has much less airport appreciation time in general. The turns at the outstations are usually quicker too. This also varies by base. DTW is the most efficient base and MEM is the least. As far as which gets you to captain sooner, neither if you already meet ATP mins. You just need to wait for your seniority to hold a captain seat (basically first awarding after you are hired right now) At Mesaba there isn't a choice. HR/Planning puts you where they want you. I suppose you could call and make a request but it's just a request no guarantee like Eagle was doing.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Sounds like a lot of potential upgrades are waiting for the CRJ rather than take the Saab now.

Tough decision but on the Saab you would get your 1000 PIC quicker, less pay on the Saab but you will be able to probably credit more since you won't be on reserve as long and the trips are more efficient. You can start getting your 2 year seat lock out of the way now rather than waiting for the CRJ and having the seat lock finish later. I guess we will find out how important the seat lock issue is once the Flow up is finalized. Also by the time you finish training on the CRJ for FO guarantee you could have probably flown 150 hours on the Saab for Captain pay. So I think when you look at it from a 2 year window the pay difference in small. I guess some people believe props are for boats.

I'd rather sit reserve on the jet than need to be an opentime whore, flying to credit 95+ every month to equal the 75 hours jet pay. Oh, and I am quite sick of having to wear earplugs all day long at work. Otherwise the Saab isn't bad.... I do prefer the more efficient flying if I have to fly. Even with the seatlock for the flow, I'd be looking at well over 2 years til my chance to flow arrives so that's not an issue. If we had Q400's instead of the Saab I probably wouldn't be waiting (they would pay the same as the CRJ200).