Mesaba LGA Saabs' future???

[zasca]

Questions from a Piedmont guy in LGA:

What is management telling you guys about the near or distant future regarding USairways flying? Our bosses are telling us we are preemptively pulling down dash flying as much as possible and sending it elsewhere, in case the slot swap happens. To me it seems like Mesaba invested too much money just for a summer gig covering lga. I think PDT finally gets to shut us down once enough Saabs come online and the slot swap never happens. Hence, our CEO's wet dream comes true...

Also, how many LGA RON's do you guys typically have? What time do they originate? PDT has none and the company complains mainline marketing sets schedules that don't allow for them anymore...

It would be nice to know what bull to call the company on!

Thanks

 

[whaleroast]

From what I undestand its all risk flying for xj out of lga. I dont know what the future of it is after we get through this year. With deltas pulling all the saab flying the company has been trying to find a place for the saab by shopping it around to other carriers. The company is spending alot on tdys (and creatively bypassing the contract screwing those that are based in lga but that is another story).
This summer is going to be brutal if you happen to be on the saab waiting for a push with no gpu hooked up. That plane gets hot quick and with no external power there is no supplemental ac (which is broken most of time anyway and deferred). I hope guys start utilyzing the direct start method after they get pushed instead of waiting for the ground crews to hook up the power to assist the start. Were gonna have alot of sweaty and irritable people on board.
We have no lga rons unless there is an operational problem and right now we overnight in ith, pvd, syr, iad and cho. I think were also supposed to start nantucket and marthas in the summer.

 

[jynxyjericho]

To me, in the beginning and even now, it always seemed like a play out of the Colgan book. Take the slots you have open them up for a risky bid scenario, when it doesn't work anymore tell the company that is paying you, "Hey we are shutting down and we'll renegotiate with you in Chapter 11, or you can release us from your contracts and pay us more on the leftovers. Either is fine."

Treat your paying customers like crap, no matter if they are airline or passenger.

 

[SEVEN]

If they don't come up with a plan fast, XJ pilots will not board the AC unless the temp is appropriate. Either an air cart or changing the pushback procedure to allow one engine running. I know I won't board when the temp is above 105 degrees in the cockpit. Most if not all the captains will do the same. You can't expect paying customers especially infants, small kids and the elderly to sit for 30 minutes in August with a temp of around 110 degrees. Not gonna happen. They better figure it out quick. It's almost June.

 

[zasca]

Fantastic! Most of us do the same, and we have "apu's".... Ha

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

If they don't come up with a plan fast, XJ pilots will not board the AC unless the temp is appropriate. Either an air cart or changing the pushback procedure to allow one engine running. I know I won't board when the temp is above 105 degrees in the cockpit. Most if not all the captains will do the same. You can't expect paying customers especially infants, small kids and the elderly to sit for 30 minutes in August with a temp of around 110 degrees. Not gonna happen. They better figure it out quick. It's almost June.

This!

 

[Flyer1015]

They better figure it out quick. It's almost June.

BWAHAHAHAAAAAA! I love it. Mesaba pilots expecting change. News flash, your new corporate owner Pinnacle isn't exactly "industry leading" in positive changes, nor do they figure things out quick. But don't worry though, Pinnapenetration hurts only the first few times. After that, you get used to it. Welcome aboard!

 

[SEVEN]

BWAHAHAHAAAAAA! I love it. Mesaba pilots expecting change. News flash, your new corporate owner Pinnacle isn't exactly "industry leading" in positive changes, nor do they figure things out quick. But don't worry though, Pinnapenetration hurts only the first few times. After that, you get used to it. Welcome aboard!

It will change when we don't allow boarding for safety reasons.

 

[dingo222]

you can board all you want. they will have external air hooked up. its when you close the door and they pull the air that it sucks.

 

[SEVEN]

you can board all you want. they will have external air hooked up. its when you close the door and they pull the air that it sucks.

I have been hearing that they don't even have air carts in LGA for the Saabs. Not sure if Colgan had them or not. Just what I've been told.

 

[bri5150]

I have been hearing that they don't even have air carts in LGA for the Saabs. Not sure if Colgan had them or not. Just what I've been told.

I heard that too. I honestly don't get it. When you open a base, get the gear you need to operate the base. Maybe they will be there soon. It is just now warming up. Maybe we should give them a chance.

 

[On Your Six]

USAir just announced to the media today that they are negotiating again with Delta for the LGA slot swap, which I think includes those Saab slots Mesaba would use? If USAir takes the deal, and moves a lot of the operation to DCA, will there still be use for them there? I saw the article in Yahoo. USAir will file the papers with the government in a couple weeks.


OYS

 

[General Lee]

USAir just announced to the media today that they are negotiating again with Delta for the LGA slot swap, which I think includes those Saab slots Mesaba would use? If USAir takes the deal, and moves a lot of the operation to DCA, will there still be use for them there? I saw the article in Yahoo. USAir will file the papers with the government in a couple weeks.


OYS

OYS,

Why can't you post these articles? I think I found the one you were talking about.


US Airways May File Papers in Weeks on Delta NYC-Washington Swap

By Mary Schlangenstein - May 6, 2011 12:21 PM MT

USAirways Group (LCC)said it may file documents soon in negotiations with Delta Airlines (DAL) and federal regulators to swap airport slots in New York and Washington.

A filing may be made “in the next couple weeks,” US Airways President Scott Kirby told employees today in an employee newsletter. The airlines have been negotiating with regulators since an earlier plan to trade slots at New York’s LaGuardia and Washington’s Reagan National was rejected.




Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[redflyer65]

Sweet!

The General arguing with his alter ego. Love it.

 

[General Lee]

Sweet!

The General arguing with his alter ego. Love it.

Arguing? Nah. I just wish he would post the article sometimes if he quotes from one or says it was in the media. He knows he is still "my best FI buddy!"


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Flyer1015]

Wait, so is OYS actually General Lee?

 

[IslandDriver]

I escaped from CJC in 2008...but that summer they really did a good job of hooking up external air. Most of the gates were equipped with hoses that reached...there were a few that did not so CJC had 3 Air Carts that worked well. We would push....do a Batt start on 2 then a cross gen on 1 and then feather 2 and use HP air. Worked pretty well.

The tughest part was just getting the ground crew to hook you up. They were so used to the EMB's and Dashes that had the APU going. But after a little education to the ops agents and ramp...it seem to work well.

ID

 

[SEVEN]

I escaped from CJC in 2008...but that summer they really did a good job of hooking up external air. Most of the gates were equipped with hoses that reached...there were a few that did not so CJC had 3 Air Carts that worked well. We would push....do a Batt start on 2 then a cross gen on 1 and then feather 2 and use HP air. Worked pretty well.

The tughest part was just getting the ground crew to hook you up. They were so used to the EMB's and Dashes that had the APU going. But after a little education to the ops agents and ramp...it seem to work well.

ID

Thanks for that post.

 

[On Your Six]

Wait, so is OYS actually General Lee?

Give me his seniority, and YES, I will be GL. If you want me to, then sure.


OYS

 

[On Your Six]

Arguing? Nah. I just wish he would post the article sometimes if he quotes from one or says it was in the media. He knows he is still "my best FI buddy!"


Bye Bye--General Lee

Thanks man! Sorry about not following "the rules.". I can usually do it from my home computer, but not always on my android. No biggie.


OYS

 

[General Lee]

Thanks man! Sorry about not following "the rules.". I can usually do it from my home computer, but not always on my android. No biggie.


OYS

No problem.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Hpilot]

Arguing? Nah. I just wish he would post the article sometimes if he quotes from one or says it was in the media. He knows he is still "my best FI buddy!"


Bye Bye--General Lee

I think the swap will be good for both parties involved, but I'm afraid our brilliant union USAPA is talking about trying to fight it. Any job openings over there general? I think I'd trade my four bars at US for three at Delta. You know it's bad when you trust management more than your own union.

 

[Kaman]

As far as I know the conditioned air in LGA comes off units that are installed on the jetways themselves and typically had been working in years gone by. The real pain comes when you get the airplane cooled down, and boarded. Because now, you have to wait for as much as 20 minutes to get pushed off the gate if you are going to spot 22 which is in the airport movement area and approval from ground and ramp is required.
I wish that I could offer a helpful solution, and having been someone that has endured the misery that is about to beset our Mesaba brothers and sisters I truly empathize with you. I am not sure exactly where it is written, but there are rules in the contract with USAirways that specify how long you can have people on-board without conditioned air being supplied to the aircraft. Lord knows how bloody hot the SAAB cockpit is in the summer! I have flown both 1900 and the SAAB and at least on the 1900 we had the little vent windows...
Stay safe, drink ALOT of water (Till you are tired of it and forcing it), keep your sense of humor and hold the company's feet to the fire. It is a safety, customer service and fatigue issue and needs to be addressed.

 

[SEVEN]

As far as I know the conditioned air in LGA comes off units that are installed on the jetways themselves and typically had been working in years gone by. The real pain comes when you get the airplane cooled down, and boarded. Because now, you have to wait for as much as 20 minutes to get pushed off the gate if you are going to spot 22 which is in the airport movement area and approval from ground and ramp is required.
I wish that I could offer a helpful solution, and having been someone that has endured the misery that is about to beset our Mesaba brothers and sisters I truly empathize with you. I am not sure exactly where it is written, but there are rules in the contract with USAirways that specify how long you can have people on-board without conditioned air being supplied to the aircraft. Lord knows how bloody hot the SAAB cockpit is in the summer! I have flown both 1900 and the SAAB and at least on the 1900 we had the little vent windows...
Stay safe, drink ALOT of water (Till you are tired of it and forcing it), keep your sense of humor and hold the company's feet to the fire. It is a safety, customer service and fatigue issue and needs to be addressed.

Well said. I have also found that communication with the ramp also can prevent and early shut down of cool air. i.e....don't unhook the air until I say...clear to push.

 

[Ridgeback]

BWAHAHAHAAAAAA! I love it. Mesaba pilots expecting change. News flash, your new corporate owner Pinnacle isn't exactly "industry leading" in positive changes, nor do they figure things out quick. But don't worry though, Pinnapenetration hurts only the first few times. After that, you get used to it. Welcome aboard!

You are a perfect example of why Mesaba is more respected in the industry than Pinnacle. Mesaba pilots will do the right thing, something you can learn from the Mesaba Pilots when your not trying to procreate in the MSP Saab sims or the Forest in Harrisburg...amazing only took your group two weeks in the MSP training center to build on your awsome reputation...congrats!! you must be proud.

 

[Andrew_VT]

trying to procreate in the MSP Saab sims

Whaaa? Details!

 

[RJLoser]

You are a perfect example of why Mesaba is more respected in the industry than Pinnacle. Mesaba pilots will do the right thing, something you can learn from the Mesaba Pilots when your not trying to procreate in the MSP Saab sims or the Forest in Harrisburg...amazing only took your group two weeks in the MSP training center to build on your awsome reputation...congrats!! you must be proud.

Never bid to the PCL side. We don't want guys like you. Fools that believe the drivel or behavior of a few represent the entire group have their own problems. I'm not going to bring up examples of unbecoming behavior of a few XJ pilots because I do not believe it is a fair representaion of your pilot group as a whole. They XJ-ers I have met lately are stand up individuals. Grow up and gauge a pilot group better. It makes your cohorts look bad.

 

[Ridgeback]

Never bid to the PCL side. We don't want guys like you. Fools that believe the drivel or behavior of a few represent the entire group have their own problems. I'm not going to bring up examples of unbecoming behavior of a few XJ pilots because I do not believe it is a fair representaion of your pilot group as a whole. They XJ-ers I have met lately are stand up individuals. Grow up and gauge a pilot group better. It makes your cohorts look bad.

Ok, lets consider this....Your union represents YOU after all of YOU voted for them. Colgan AND Mesaba Union leadership tired to get together one last time to get a fair SLI done...Guess what? YOUR leadership declined... In my opinion a really bad idea for you, after all when all your SLI brings to the arbratator is a yellow notebook full of a totally out there positon, not even close to ALPA merger policy YOUR group gives new meaning to bring a knife to a gunfight. But hey the more I get the better.

It also amazes me how the excuse "don't blame the actions of a few.... well it seems to me that watching 9e over the years you have way more than a few. Yes you are correct have a few here as well but they are long gone, terminated.

 

[Ridgeback]

Whaaa? Details!

Ask around you'll get the details...safe to say bring a few extra sanicoms to sim 1 though

 

[RJLoser]

Ok, lets consider this....Your union represents YOU after all of YOU voted for them. Colgan AND Mesaba Union leadership tired to get together one last time to get a fair SLI done...Guess what? YOUR leadership declined... In my opinion a really bad idea for you, after all when all your SLI brings to the arbratator is a yellow notebook full of a totally out there positon, not even close to ALPA merger policy YOUR group gives new meaning to bring a knife to a gunfight. But hey the more I get the better.

It also amazes me how the excuse "don't blame the actions of a few.... well it seems to me that watching 9e over the years you have way more than a few. Yes you are correct have a few here as well but they are long gone, terminated.

I am not a union guy. I work hard for my family along with about 1290 other PCL guys. I do not know what stance my union took at the table. I assume (and hope) it was to look out for me and my family. We are now past that. It shows a the intellect of an individual to argue things that cannot be changed. What are you going to do about this to move our horrible pilot group in the right direction? You have gone from knocking another pilot group to shi++ing where you eat. You are among the problem you are stating. Where do WE go from here my friend?