CRJ's for Mesaba?

[PTinbound]

I just heard from a friend yesterday that Mesaba might be getting some CRJ's.
I figured something would be on here for sure by now, but ????.
For the sake of all my friends there after being there for six years, I sure hope there's a lot coming. (If only I'd stayed, maybe I could fly a CRJ...)
Anything official yet?

 

[Steveair]

You're about a month behind on your current events!


http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050422/225054.html?.v=1

Old news... it was discussed on here back in late April.

 

[AZ Typed]

You're about a month behind on your current events!
Old news... it was discussed on here back in late April.

That's what often happens when one "makes it"

 

[FlyBunny]

XJ CRJ's

Well, the SARCASM never ends on this board...

What's wrong with simply giving the guy an answer to his questions?
Why do we have to have this 'put down' kind of a reply?

I visit this board as much as I could, but I haven't been here a while...there might have been things I completely missed...should that preclude me from asking?

Isn't it that this board is all about pilots to share their knowledge and experience and, if possible, give out the best information?

Who defines a certain time limit to ask a question just because the topic was covered before. If that's the case than very little new information would've been posted.

If you don't have an answer then please do not reply with a sarcastic remark. If your copilot/captain/cabin crew asked you a question before/during/after a flight, would you say that to him/her that '...you should know this' or '...it's been covered'?

Just my two cents!

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Wow... wrong side of the bed this morning, huh???

 

[Steveair]

Wasn't putting him down ~ was trying to be sarcastic. Sorry I offended you.

 

[BlackPilot628]

Yes. Mesaba is getting 10 CRJ2's I think.
I'm not sure when they're taking delivery but, I know they've started hiring for that aircraft. I hope this helps.

That's really all I know. Maybe a MES guy will chime in.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Nope, not quite... 15 crj's with delivery in september i think?? and we've got dibs on the next 20-25 that nwa should order...

 

[flap operator]

15 firm 50 seat CRJ deliveries starting in Sept with revenue flights starting in Oct. We have dibbs on the next 20 which will be 44 seaters. Vacancy notice comes out for the plane in early June. The first class will be in July. The planes are assumed to be going to MSP, but we should know soon what NWA has in store for the XJ CRJs. Let's not forget... these planes (at least the first 15) will only bring our fleet back to what it was before we started shrinking in 2001.

It's been a long time coming... the most exciting thing is seeing the capt upgrades getting closer to my seniority! Oh, and the saab and avro agreements getting extended.


FO

 

[mikehoran]

I'm looking at applying at both Piedmont and Mesaba. Is it a safe bet to say that Mesaba is the better alternative?

 

[BlackPilot628]

I'm looking at applying at both Piedmont and Mesaba. Is it a safe bet to say that Mesaba is the better alternative?

I would say so. I'm not saying PDT is a back company to work for, as I have a lot of friends flying for them now; But people are unsure what will happen to the Dashes if the Meger goes through.

 

[AZ Typed]

Often I think "rude" remarks (that are really just pilots being pilots) are the result of something that is really, a dumb question. Why? You're a professional. This entails keeping current with your PROFESSION - systems, experience, NEWS, etc.

I once saw a Delta FO in the LGA security line turn to a regional captain and say "so what are you flying?" Mind you that the regional captain was wearing the wings of the airline he flew for, who's planes were parked right out of the window they were standing next to in the security line. Those planes said "DELTA CONNECTION" on the side.

The Delta FO had no idea who FED HIS AIRLINE WITH PEOPLE - he had no idea who his own company's regional feeders where, much less what they flew. Is this required information for him to know? Well...come on! Dumb question?

So I wasn't "bashing" the gentleman that asked the XJ CRJ question. Instead I was pointing out that often once we make it to the next level (myself included) we often forget that life still exists at those levels below us and it wouldn't hurt to stay up-to-date with those "levels" and avoid asking such "dumb" questions. The fact that XJ is getting some CRJs is pretty big news in the regional world - considering they should've gotten ALL the pinnacle deliveries from day 1...but that's another subject for another day .

Clear as UALs future for ya? (another sarcastic remark, relax)

 

[DoinTime]

...considering they should've gotten ALL the pinnacle deliveries from day 1...

You can try to explain it away all you want but your still an a**hole.

 

[Flyer1015]

Let's look at what's happened thus far:

Pinnacle (at the time, Express I) has a pilot contract. Mesaba is in the process of getting ready to negotiate a pilot contract. CRJs go to Pinnacle. Mesaba goes deep in contract negotiations, and MORE CRJs go to Pinnacle. Mesaba pilots almost strike, but a contract is agreed upon just [literally] minutes before the strike deadline. Note that during this time: NO new aircraft at Mesaba, ALL CRJs went to Pinnacle.

And NOW look at the current situation. Mesaba has a contract, Pinnacle pilot contract becomes amendable this month... what happens? Now CRJs go to Mesaba. It's always the case that Northwest management has awarded aircraft to the other Airlink company to pressure the Airlink company that's currently IN negotiations.

I hope people realize that all of CRJs being rewarded to the Airlink carriers are solely NWA management decisions, and whipsawing is an age-long management tool.

 

[flap operator]

Not to nitpick... but we went about 2 days after the strike deadline before a TA was reached. We were not on strike, but the company was shut down for about 48 hours.

And yes, you hit the nail on the head with regards to WHIPSAW. It even goes back further than what you described. Back in the 1996-ish timeframe shortly after XJ signed the '96 agreement the whip started swinging towards Express I and II. They were completely swept out of MSP and relegated to MEM flying saabs and jetstreams. All the while XJ had MSP and DTW exclusively, were taking deliveries of saabs and avro and even starting MEM avro service.

Come 2000 we stopped growing with our last avro and negotiations started in 2001 or 2 can't remember. The shrinkage started then and the last 4 years have seen brutal negotiations, 5 avros withdrawn and subsequently returned to service, many furloughs and other job losses and numerous other nasty deeds NWA and XJ mgmt pulled. All the while PNCL took delivery of hundreds of CRJs, hired like crazy and returned to MSP and made their debut in DTW.

Now it's our turn to grow and their turn to feel the pinch. It's classic NWA and anyone who didn't see this coming is simply blind and/or naieve.


FO

 

[AZ Typed]

You can try to explain it away all you want but your still an a**hole.

See - I knew that'd get some fun conversation going (relax pal, it was meant as a joke).

 

[Rook]

See - I knew that'd get some fun conversation going (relax pal, it was meant as a joke).

Keep your day job dude. For all you XJ'rs this is long overdue. Enjoy the CRJ. It's about freaking time.

Rook

 

[PTinbound]

AZ, sorry if I sounded unprofessional to you! I really feel allegiance to all my former XJ brothers and sisters, and that's why I asked, so I COULD be in the loop. I just don't have time to read every post on this or any board all the time, so sometimes I have to ask what would appear to others as a "stupid" question. Heck, I probably flew with darn near every SF 340 pilot in DTW. Sometimes I even miss those MQT high speeds...

 

[Workin'Stiff]

PT- You're my boy, Blue!