Big Brass at Mesaba

[Workin'Stiff]

New news... My old man works for NW and he was over at NATCO today. He caught that the buzz over there is things are lining up for XJ to receive a large CRJ fleet...

 

[8HRRULE]

New news... My old man works for NW and he was over at NATCO today. He caught that the buzz over there is things are lining up for XJ to receive a large CRJ fleet...

I believe the new CRJ-2's will go to 9E and the remaining balance will be CRJ-900's that Mesaba gets.

 

[Dodge]

I just got done with my 4 day in MEM on the ERJ. Nice plane, though it was missing a couple of engines and for some reason had 16 first class seats in it.

All the Big Wigs at the Pan Am Center, eh? Probably looking to see what can bring in some fast cash at a garage sale.

 

[Rook]

It's obvious why Pinnacle needs more CRJ's.......Replacements. Ouch, did I say that out loud? My bad.

I guess if performance, safety, and experience are overlooked, you're a shoe in.

So you took the flamebait. Congratulations. Oh and thanks for the nice comment about my deceased co-workers. That's classy of you.

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

 

[Rook]

What exactly have I posted that is so bad? I havn't speculated on anything. Only stated facts that are available for anybody to read (NTSB) etc. I also havn't said that their pilots are sub par or anything else. I said that there have been a string of incidents that may indicate that some things may need to be addressed in the Pinnacle corporate structure (management, training issues etc) to prevent further incidents. I think that is the ultimate goal, to prevent other things from happening if at all possible. If I ruffled your feathers, it's your problem not mine. I do not apologize for anything that I have posted. I believe that my posts have been factual and on point. Sometimes reality can be a real slap in the face.

You're right. And I've come to the realization that you're an A-hole.

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

 

[Ace McCoy]

I thought NW has said any new growth goes to other carriers
besides Mesaba and Pinnacle..because of an agreement with
the NW pilots union. Are you hearing that is changing?

That was for 50 seaters. There has been and still remains no restriction on the number of 44 seat jets that anyone can fly for NWA. So if you hear about crj's to Mesaba it is the 44 seat variety.

 

[WildBlue]

I just can't see more 44's. Sure, under NW scope, they can go anywhere and do anything, but those 6 fewer seats makes it tough economically. So what are all the rumors? I guess we'll find out soon enough. I'm not betting on 44's.

 

[aimfar]

From Airline News

@...High fuel prices combined with abundant airline capacity are forcing Northwest Airlines Corp. to scale back its expansion plans yet again. As recently as January, Northwest said it would increase domestic capacity by 2 percent to 3 percent. But by last month, Chief Executive Doug Steanland said the company had reconsidered and would slash growth to zero. On Monday the airline was said it would shrink further, another 4-5% beyond current estimates. Steanland laid out the plan as follows, "the prudent thing right now is to scale back. Fuel is at an all time high right now and we need to be proactive. It is fair to say that the 4-5% decrease in capacity is small, particularly when compared to the 178% growth in our regional jet fleet for the year, but we think it is important to point out that while fuel cost per seat on a regional jet is higher than any other jet aircraft we feel we can make up the difference in volume. Volume is the key. Volume leads to market share and market share could lead to profits, perhaps not now or any time soon or any time we can even envision but the path is very clear and you can either lead or get run over in this business". "As part of the capacity cut back there will be a number of service changes, the following numbers include the painful mainline downsizing combined with the prudent growth of our RJ business, we will be growing our Milwaukee hub by 40% and our new Indianapolis hub will double in size. We will be opening new hubs in Dayton and Grand Rapids. The real pain will be in Memphis and Minneapolis where we will only grow 5-10%. Detroit will grow a healthy 20% as it is the core of our business strategy. All other markets will suffer equally in the cuts with an average of only 10% capacity growth post cut."

 

[Fly4hire]

So you took the flamebait. Congratulations. Oh and thanks for the nice comment about my deceased co-workers. That's classy of you.

With all due respect to the deceased and their families, a spade is a spade.

From all open source material available (NTSB, Canadair) it is fairly evident they put themselves in extremis by lack of experience, equipment knowledge, failure to follow procedures, and some very poor judgement.


When I was in the military I was involved in accident investigations. I've buried squadron mates in small, close knit units. Stupid hurts, and frequently kills.

The tragedy of their deaths does not mitigate the circumstances that caused it.

 

[Rook]

With all due respect to the deceased and their families, a spade is a spade.

From all open source material available (NTSB, Canadair) it is fairly evident they put themselves in extremis by lack of experience, equipment knowledge, failure to follow procedures, and some very poor judgement.


When I was in the military I was involved in accident investigations. I've buried squadron mates in small, close knit units. Stupid hurts, and frequently kills.

The tragedy of their deaths does not mitigate the circumstances that caused it.

That's understandable, but there is a certain amount of tact which should be involved in discussing issues like this. Basically saying that 9E has a bunch of cowboys flying around in their CRJ's it's about time someone crashed, isn't the way to go about it. I'm all about dissecting the accident and learning from it but I would never use it as ammo against a fellow pilot group like this guy did Fly4hire.

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

 

[IFIxUmUBrakeUm]

well lets all look at the New Plane Issue at Mesaba---

1. We in the tech ops dept. can not keep the airplanes flying that we have. We have to small of a work force they would have to start hiring mechanics last month if thay wanted to get a new fleet type-

2. Why is there not a large amount of hiring of other groups?? ie mechanics, FAs, Dispachers ect????

3. the dispach, and mechanics contracts have been up for over a year and right now the company will not talk to the mechanics--If there were new aircraft coming dont you think they would want the deal done before the airplanes come

4. Its not going to happen untill the nwa pilots let go of the scope-

 

[Towelie]

well lets all look at the New Plane Issue at Mesaba---

1. We in the tech ops dept. can not keep the airplanes flying that we have. We have to small of a work force they would have to start hiring mechanics last month if thay wanted to get a new fleet type-

2. Why is there not a large amount of hiring of other groups?? ie mechanics, FAs, Dispachers ect????

3. the dispach, and mechanics contracts have been up for over a year and right now the company will not talk to the mechanics--If there were new aircraft coming dont you think they would want the deal done before the airplanes come

4. Its not going to happen untill the nwa pilots let go of the scope-

Pilots are the only group that are not cross-trained. In other words, you can easily transition dispatchers and FA's so that is not a big deal. Once you want to start training instructors for a new plane, you have to pull them off line and the holes start opening up.

I know this isn't what a mechanic wants to hear, but I think more contract maintenance is the norm from here on out.

NWA scope has nothing to do with 44-seat jets so that doesn't matter.

Finally, it doesn't matter why you think it can't happen because they are on the way.

 

[IFIxUmUBrakeUm]

First of all "CT George Zip'' It is not a Dumb argument. The mechanics have all ready taken a strike vote and we will strike as soon as the nmb lets them- It not about the $ it is about the language of the contract --

Right now the table is level--put a new aircraft in the mix and the stakes go up, the mechanics have the up-

Buy the way them grease monkies keep you alive--they dont go around calling you peter pilot, throttle jockies, capt. dork, ect they show the mesaba pilots respect, something you do not have.

I know a lot of mechanics that will stand in the rain to fix something that a pilot does not like(and not whine) even if it is a minor item just to make the pilot feel safe so he can get grandma home.

Also as soon as the airlines figure out how they will try to contract the right seat duties

 

[Jimdandy]

First of all "CT George Zip'' It is not a Dumb argument. The mechanics have all ready taken a strike vote and we will strike as soon as the nmb lets them- It not about the $ it is about the language of the contract --

Right now the table is level--put a new aircraft in the mix and the stakes go up, the mechanics have the up-

Buy the way them grease monkies keep you alive--they dont go around calling you peter pilot, throttle jockies, capt. dork, ect they show the mesaba pilots respect, something you do not have.

I know a lot of mechanics that will stand in the rain to fix something that a pilot does not like(and not whine) even if it is a minor item just to make the pilot feel safe so he can get grandma home.

Also as soon as the airlines figure out how they will try to contract the right seat duties

Yes I must agree our mechanics are some of the best and are the grunts of the organiztions they take a beatin' and don't get the pay and recognition they deserve. I hope you guys do well during negotiations and get a good raise and better work rules.

But I also must agree that the company does not care too much about the disp. or Maint. contracts because if you strike - they can temporarily fill your place with supervisors with a min of cancellations - while hiring newbe scabs and fire the lot of you. So when it comes to deal making you have much less leverage then you deserve. Good luck on the contract.

 

[Ace McCoy]

Hey Ifixum,

Last year during our negotiations there were many MM1's that had a picture of Calvin (the cartoon character) flipping us off with the caption "Hey ALPA, the only pilot that deserves a raise is the autopilot."

So I just want to thank the mechanics for their support in our negotiations.

 

[Towelie]

Buy the way them grease monkies keep you alive--they dont go around calling you peter pilot, throttle jockies, capt. dork, ect they show the mesaba pilots respect, something you do not have.

Easy, Francis. . .

 

[IFIxUmUBrakeUm]

Mr. Ace McCoy

First of all I have to say that I fully Suported the negotiations and I knew it was for the better of the employees. ME TOO's

You did us well on the 401k we hope to help with the vacations--We are trying to work together!!!!!!!!

As far as the stickers I can tell you that you were not in the msp system If I seen a MM1 with what you discribe on it. It would have been swapped out-- I can also tell you that in the 5 days I work I seen most of the fleet and I only seen One logbook that had anything In it.

The Msp Mechanics have total respect for the other groups of the company--we just dont respect the brass

 

[IFIxUmUBrakeUm]

Just for the record -- does anyone Know how close Mesaba was to having there cert. pulled When the Mechanics Walked Out in 1998
LESS THAN 24 HOURS--and that came from a fed.. You still have to have your core of mechanics you cant just scab them out, it runs into a BIG problem with the feds.