Mesaba in KATL

[EV120]

Looks like Mesaba is setting up a MX base in KATL. It will be interesting to see how long it will take for a pilot base...

 

[damnflyboy]

Yea...have fun with that. Just remember that airlines are like porn stars. They always make the unrealistic look realistic---only to pull out in the end.

 

[TOOL CRIB]

They probably have a MX base at every outstation a Saab winds up at...

 

[Raskal]

The listing is for 40 mechanics in ATL...why so many? Anyone know?

 

[Cpt Oveur]

Lot of Saabs and -900s are going to be there. Anyone hear that the saabs will be on the Echo Pad? They can take that piece of real estate and enjoy the timely busses and helpful gate agents.

 

[rightseatjocky]

Welcome to Atlanta Mesaba.
Welcome to holding for no reason..
Welcome to having your ontime factor down the tubes....
Welcome to the armpit of the south....
:bomb:

 

[WSurf]

Anyone know when the Saabs will be running over to Hilton Head?

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Anyone know when the Saabs will be running over to Hilton Head?

There has been a little birdie chirping about March...

 

[OCP]

Lot of Saabs and -900s are going to be there. Anyone hear that the saabs will be on the Echo Pad? They can take that piece of real estate and enjoy the timely busses and helpful gate agents.

FWIW SH said that they'd park on D.

 

[flyn96]

There has been a little birdie chirping about March...

Delta flight service to return to island in March

By DON McLOUD
[email protected]
843-706-8139
Published Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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Delta Air Lines announced Monday it will resume flights between Hilton Head Island Airport and Atlanta starting March 2.
The announcement follows the company's acquisition of Northwest Airlines, a deal that gives Delta a type of plane suitable for the island's short runway.
The return of Delta flights in the spring will follow a three-month suspension of service at Hilton Head that will start Nov. 30. During the suspension, Delta will retire the planes it currently is using on the island, according to Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott.
Delta announced the suspension in service in July, but said it would resume flights in the spring after it found a plane better suited to the island's 4,300 foot-long runway.
The airline is retiring its 66-seat ATR-72 turboprop aircraft, which was deemed by the company to be old and inefficient. That plane will be replaced by the 34-seat Saab 340 turboprop.
The carrier will have four daily flights out of the airport, Elliott said. It currently offers three flights a day. Reservations for spring flights can be made starting today at www.delta.com, Elliott said.
Despite Delta's promise to resume flights to and from Hilton Head, some local officials were concerned that the carrier might not come back. Then, as now, the airline industry was struggling with high fuel costs and other financial problems.
A contingent of county and town representatives recently made a goodwill trip to Charlotte to visit officials at US Airways, the other airline serving Hilton Head, to make sure all was well with that company's service between Hilton Head and Charlotte. US Airways has said it has no plans to change its service on the island.
When Delta acquired Northwest on Oct. 29, it became the largest airline in the world. As part of the deal, Delta acquired Mesaba Airlines, a Northwest regional carrier that flies the Saab 340.
The smaller Saab 340 will be a good fit for the island, Elliott said.
Delta began service to Hilton Head in March 2007. Airport officials hailed it as a chance to tap into the busy
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Delta initially planned to serve Hilton Head only during peak-travel summer months, but the success of the route led to flights throughout the year. Elliott said Delta's Hilton Head service will fly year-round when flights resume in March.
"We are happy to be returning to the Hilton Head market," she said.
That sentiment was echoed Tuesday by Hilton Head political leaders.
Town officials hadn't yet heard about Delta's decision when they gathered at 4 p.m. Tuesday for a council meeting, but the news was welcomed.
"We were always hoping they'd come back, but you never assume," said Mayor Tom Peeples. "That's good news -- for once."
Town officials had exchanged several letters with Delta.
"That's wonderful news for the community," said town manager Steve Riley, "and good news for tourism."

 

[crj567]

I love how this article refers to the ATR as "old and inefficient." Somehow attempting to infer that carrying 1/2 the pax at pretty much the same fuel burn in an old bucket like the 340 is better....

-Nice

 

[WIPilot]

I love how this article refers to the ATR as "old and inefficient." Somehow attempting to infer that carrying 1/2 the pax at pretty much the same fuel burn in an old bucket like the 340 is better....

-Nice

Perception is 90% of reality.

 

[Flybywire44]

Welcome to Atlanta Mesaba.
Welcome to holding for no reason..
Welcome to having your ontime factor down the tubes....
Welcome to the armpit of the south....
:bomb:

Mesaba's 900's have been in and out of ATL for awhile so they know ATL, and they won't be holding Saabs. Props have their own arrivals.

 

[Citrus531]

Welcome to Atlanta Mesaba.
Welcome to holding for no reason..
Welcome to having your ontime factor down the tubes....
Welcome to the armpit of the south....
:bomb:

I think for the most part, the airport is pretty efficient and organized. Granted, when wx hits the bottom falls out but that's not a big shock.

I was born and raised just north of Atlanta and it has a lot to offer...hardly an "armpit" in my opinion. Just the areas very close to the airport aren't very desirable but I'm sure that's true with other major cities.

 

[OCP]

and they won't be holding Saabs. Props have their own arrivals.

Wow you haven't flown in ATL much have you?

 

[JoeMerchant]

Wow you haven't flown in ATL much have you?

Flybywire is right about the turboprop holding....With very few exceptions, when the jets were holding, the turboprops would come right in under you guys. ATL approach sets in trail separation for jets and for turboprops....when there are only a few turboprops coming in....you hardly ever hold.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

4300 feet, huh? I think the shortest strip we'd take the Saab into was Benton Harlem, but that was 5100 of icy goodness.

What's the shortest runway Saab destination right now?

 

[SEVEN]

The listing is for 40 mechanics in ATL...why so many? Anyone know?

As I said months ago, Mesaba's ATL base will be as large as our DTW base ASAP. This is per DAL.

 

[Tarzan]

As I said months ago, Mesaba's ATL base will be as large as our DTW base ASAP. This is per DAL.

Quit your gloating. You're new to the DCI thing. One thing you need to understand about DAL is that they will change their minds quite a few more times before anything happens. You guys won't be getting as much in ATL as you've been lead to believe.

 

[777forever]

I never held once on the ATR.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Hardly anybody truly holds in ATL these days. You get slowed down or vectored all over Georgia so ATC doesn't get knocked on their performance numbers.

 

[flap operator]

ATL the armpit of the south? Hardly! That glorious title hands down, MUST go to MEM.

As for XJ in ATL - the only thing we KNOW is that there will be some saab flying, there will be some 900 flying and as of now noo base. So this size of DTW and gloating BS is just that.... BS.

Once again... thanks for the welcome to DCI. Mesaba wasn't born yesterday and neither were the crews. It's not as if this new found XJ fortune is because we're all wet behind the ears and were spawned from Ch11 and this merger. I think we can handle the rigors of ATL and what games DL and DCI will play.

 

[XJohXJ]

One thing that could be pointed out here is that, last time I checked: NWA management and Delta management are the same people, and have been for about a year or so. Once RA jumped back in, the difference between NWA and Delta ceased to exist.

We've lived through the NWA beatings, so now the only thing changing is the color of the whip.

 

[Regional4life]

I was Nonreving between MSP and MEM the other day. Saw JS and JR on the plane down to MEM. I followed them down to the fishbowl and saw where they were taking measurements for the new fishbowl that they are going to put in ATL. They wanted it to be just as cozy as MEM to remind guys of home. However, I hear it's going to be two square feet smaller.

Plus, they are trying to figure out how to get all the aircarts over to ATL. They want to make sure that everyone stays cool and comfortable.

See, these guys have made a turnaround. I also heard they are bringing back the Christmas party this year and handing out free turkeys again. I've got my baster all ready to go.

 

[Tarzan]

Mesaba wasn't born yesterday and neither were the crews. It's not as if this new found XJ fortune is because we're all wet behind the ears and were spawned from Ch11 and this merger. I think we can handle the rigors of ATL and what games DL and DCI will play.

Certainly not from the merger but I believe you may have missed the point on where the Mesaba growth has come from. It is a direct result for the reorganization and terms imposed on you guys by the bankruptcy. It is on that regard and that is how DAL plays the game. There are quite a few guys that are wet behind the ears. Not in the aspect of flying airplanes possibly but new to Mesaba therefore cheap. Don't kid yourself on the real rationale behind why those airplanes are going to Mesaba.

The major handicaps you guys will face will be the snap back and the fact that Delta owns the company now. Because there is a supposed contract the fly the planes for a certain period of time means nothing. Will Delta sue itself when they decide to give the flying to someone else who is doing for $10 per metric hour less? Unlikely. More likely chance they have awarded within the wholely owned section because they have much more leverage to move those planes later if they choose too. This isn't the case when it comes from outside.

 

[XJohXJ]

Thanks for the lesson on contracts, Tarzan. We signed a new 10 year contract with NWA for Avro service just a few months before every single Avro was gone.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

4300 feet, huh? I think the shortest strip we'd take the Saab into was Benton Harlem, but that was 5100 of icy goodness.

What's the shortest runway Saab destination right now?

I forget which city has it but I took off the short 4300ft or so runway in either YKF or YXU last year.

 

[SEVEN]

Quit your gloating. You're new to the DCI thing. One thing you need to understand about DAL is that they will change their minds quite a few more times before anything happens. You guys won't be getting as much in ATL as you've been lead to believe.

No one is gloating, just stating the facts. My statements are based on "fairly credible" information. I'll say it again: Delta Airlines Inc. wants Mesaba's new base in ATL to be a large as the DTW base as soon as possible. What is so hard to understand about that? Delta's CEO has a long history with Mesaba and respects what our company will now bring to the table; a safe, economical and reliable regional carrier for the new Delta. It's as simple as that.

 

[USCtrojan]

No one is gloating, just stating the facts. My statements are based on "fairly credible" information. I'll say it again: Delta Airlines Inc. wants Mesaba's new base in ATL to be a large as the DTW base as soon as possible. What is so hard to understand about that? Delta's CEO has a long history with Mesaba and respects what our company will now bring to the table; a safe, economical and reliable regional carrier for the new Delta. It's as simple as that.

And Delta's DCI Contract requires ASA to do 80% of the Connection flying out of Atlanta. If ASA is a great example of how Delta runs wholly owneds, then Mesaba will learn. Don't get me wrong here, welcome to the ATL. Delta will siphon any and all money that Mesaba makes, and will give you just enough to survive and operate. Just ask the Comair guys how it is to be owned by Delta. Maybe if you're really lucky, Delta will send some of their Managers over to make the whole process complete. Need I give you a resume of how Skip Barnette (ASA), Brian Lebrecque(ASA), John Selveggio (Comair), and anybody else who ran these Companies fared?

Trojan

 

[flap operator]

Thanks you Tarzan and the rest of the DCI boyz for reminding me and many XJ pilots exactly what contract 2001-2004 and Ch11 was all about. It must have escaped our minds, how fun those years were.

Don't lecture any Mesaba pilot on how we got where we are today. We know very well, since we are carrying those sacrifices on our backs, everyday. So, who the heck are you to educate us as to the reasonings behind the current state of affairs at XJ?

Where were the rest of the regional pilots when Mesaba shrank, sacrificed and saw its darkest days? Oh, that's right... growing, prospering, riding the wave and furthering their careers. Now that it's our turn, the rest of our "brothers" throw rocks, call us sell outs, treat us like job stealers, undercutters and lecture US on how the industry works? That's rich.