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Mesaba big annoucement imminent

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It wouldn't be a stretch at all

Six months would be VERY possible. Considering the fact that we have guys in our pilot group that wrote all the training material for Pan Am for their CRJ program and the CRJ (according to one of them) is one of the easiest jets to learn, I don't think we'd have any trouble flying those planes within six months. I heard a monkey with no thumbs could fly one of those with only 2 weeks of training.

Six to eight months is plenty of time.
 
While I agree that 6 months should be adequate time to put a new
aircraft type on the certificate in normal times. I am concerned that the certification using the CSET team from the FAA is backed up and
may not be able to fit it in the schedule. Has anyone checked to see how backed up they are?
 
It isnt Chicago Express. Here is a paste from fltos.com

Indianapolis-based Okun Enterprises, Inc. has emerged as the high bidder for Chicago Express Airlines, the regional carrier once linked with ATA Holdings at Chicago Midway Airport.



Okun Enterprises, a real estate investment and management firm, is controlled by Edward H. Okun. The U.S. bankruptcy Court approved Okun's bid for substantially all the assets of Chicago Express including the operating certificate, spare parts and inventory. In addition, Okun has agreed to purchase two SAAB 340B aircraft owned by ATA Airlines, Inc.
 
theo said:
While I agree that 6 months should be adequate time to put a new
aircraft type on the certificate in normal times. I am concerned that the certification using the CSET team from the FAA is backed up and
may not be able to fit it in the schedule. Has anyone checked to see how backed up they are?

I don't know but one of our Fed inspectors said they have already been working with Mesaba on an issue that "can't be discussed." He said he didn't know officially but was led to believe it is a new plane.

I don't know why some people have such a hard time believing this. It isn't that tough to figure out.

Why?

1. Can't be 70-seaters due to NWA scope.

2. Can't be Chicago Express because someone else bought them.

3. Can't be more Avros. Again, NWA scope won't allow it.

4. Can't be more Saabs. Fleet manager said there are none to be found for us, even if they wanted more which they don't due to W and B issues.

5. High amount of hiring of both new hires and instructors, which is going to be two classes a month based on the latest vacancy notice.

6. Hiring more into the Saab, as that will be used to supply CRJ captains.


Why are so many people having a hard time believing that the small jets are on their way?
 
What if a contract extention and longevity/pay freeze (ala Comair) were presented to the Mesaba group? How do you think that would play out?

I have a hard time believing that Mesaba management would pass up an opportunity to wring some big concessions out of the pilot group. Comair just proved that even the proudest of the proud will hang their heads in shame when presented with an opportunity to get more airplanes.
 
Nobody believes that new airplanes are coming because XJ has let down the employees so many times. they have cryed wolf, and the employees worked harder then, sorry no planes-- this happened too many times now nobody cares about the company.

The mechanics do there job to the fullest and dont care about the company anymore they just care about the safety of the aircraft and the people that fly them and ride them. The story of meeting our goals will get us aircraft is BS-- If its broke, it is not going period!!!!!!--

They value every life that is on the airplane even if they have not seen them before (ie grandma, kids,ect). Safety is #1,
 
DoinTime said:
Comair just proved that even the proudest of the proud will hang their heads in shame when presented with an opportunity to get more airplanes.

The Proudest of the proud?? Too high a percetage of those guys did the PFT gig to be overly proud!
 
This is Northwest management we're dealing with, not Mesaba. Mesaba's MGT is just the puppet. Nothing comes for free when you're dealing with NW.
 
Looks like we will get a vote after all at least according to the last paragraph:


This is the Mesaba MEC pay day pilot hotline for Friday, April 1,
2005.

There continues to be a significant amount of speculation and
questions about the confidential discussions that the MEC and the
Negotiating Committee have had with management. At the time the
confidentiality agreements were signed, we did not anticipate that
it would be this long a period of time in which we could not share
the substance of the discussions with the pilot group.

We understand that it is difficult to know that there are ongoing
discussions that could affect your future and not to be apprised of
what they are. We are under a legal obligation to continue to honor
the terms of the confidentiality agreement, and there are
consequences if it is violated. The entire MEC would much prefer to
keep the pilot group fully apprised, but we are not in a position to
disclose the substance of the information shared by management
at this time. The term of the confidentiality agreement lasts as long
as there are legal reasons to substantiate the information
remaining confidential.

Be assured that if something occurs that requires a change to our
contract, you will be fully briefed, and you will have a vote. Thank
you for your patience and support. That is all for today. Fly safe,
and fly the contract.
 
Ace McCoy said:
Be assured that if something occurs that requires a change to our contract, you will be fully briefed, and you will have a vote.

Hmm... You will have a vote as in MEMRAT or as in "call your LEC rep and tell him your concerns before he votes on your behalf"?

This says "if something occurs" but I was led to believe by people in the union and the company that this was more or less a done deal. I have to wonder if the union isn't doing a little "pre-spin" on this one.

This whole thing is getting old and nothing has even been announced yet. :rolleyes:
 
Towelie said:
Hmm... You will have a vote as in MEMRAT or as in "call your LEC rep and tell him your concerns before he votes on your behalf"?

This says "if something occurs" but I was led to believe by people in the union and the company that this was more or less a done deal. I have to wonder if the union isn't doing a little "pre-spin" on this one.

This whole thing is getting old and nothing has even been announced yet. :rolleyes:

It is becoming painfully obvious that it is just "business as usual" at mesaba. There will be no announcement, there will be no growth or otherwise, there will be no CRJs, and there will be no hope. It only makes sense to give the new CRJs to the airlink that already operates them.
 
Mel,

From everything I've heard, your description of the announcement is d@mn close. The only thing you stated that I haven't heard is a seat lock for current F/O's. Everything else you've stated is nearly verbatim from reliable sources. Should be soon.
 
Talked to a union guy yesterday. All he would say is what was said in the VARS this week. They are just waiting until they can talk. I got the impression from him that the deal is done and they are just waiting for ??? to happen.

My guess is that all the agreements are there. All we have to do is wait for NWA to announce the jet award and then we can all talk about it. That way no problems with the SEC.

The seat-locks etc. can then be voted on by the union. He also gave me the impression that it should be soon so it sounds like Mel's 10 days is right on target.
 
Does NW own Pinnacle and Mesaba?

If so, why would they want to have 2 companies flying the same equipment type? What is the chance that the new airplane is an Embrarer type?
 
I think this will go in the "Let Down" book again. If there something going on it will fail. just like all the other times in the last 4 years--

If your so sure what is the hold up?? there waiting on something and it will not pass just like all the other times
 
SlapShot said:
Does NW own Pinnacle and Mesaba?

If so, why would they want to have 2 companies flying the same equipment type? What is the chance that the new airplane is an Embrarer type?

The buzz is 44 seat CRJ's..

As a 9E guy I am pleased for XJ in not only growth but also having ulterior motives. For years our (9E) managment keeps telling us XJ is like apples to oranges. Two different companies, different aircraft, no comparison. When XJ was in contract talks we were getting rid of our Saab's, now we are in talks and they are getting CRJ's? The same as we have.. now let the comparisons begin!

It only feeds the fire when XJ will operate them differently than us and there contract is already different from us.

SO, from a 9E guy.. I trully hope they get plently of them, we need all the ammo we can get in these contract talks. What could 9E management offer short of taking some of ours away and giving them to XJ (true whipsaw in NWA fashion). This is setting up a perfect whipsaw in one hand but a great fight for a better contract in the other. NWA already played the Avro card in XJ's contract, it will only be a matter of time and hopefully by that time XJ will have a decent fleet of CRJ's.
 
As always, dondk, you have a well thought out post. However, I am convinced that nothing is going to happen at Mesaba. Too many times this management team has dropped the ball on doing anything at XJ other than just coming into the office and doing the same thing that they have been for the last 7 years.
 
dondk said:
As a 9E guy I am pleased for XJ in not only growth but also having ulterior motives. For years our (9E) managment keeps telling us XJ is like apples to oranges. Two different companies, different aircraft, no comparison. When XJ was in contract talks we were getting rid of our Saab's, now we are in talks and they are getting CRJ's? The same as we have.. now let the comparisons begin!
Yeah. Sure. Great. We get to compare our contract to XJ's... and their pitiful CRJ rates which, at D.O.S., were LESS than ours and even now are within a dollar per hour.

I don't want to be compared to XJ thankyouverymuch; we need to be thinking more along the lines of CMR, XJET, ASA, and AirWhiskey (pre-concessions). True, XJ has block or better, a min day rig, and a better trip drop/swap provision, but other than that I'm not very fond of their contract and would gladly strike rather than live under it.

Flying this piece of sh*t airplane for the wages we fly them for is shameful, and I am embarrassed to tell people who I work for. Since only a few are moving on to bigger and better things, we'd better be prepared as a pilot group to make this contract count, rather than be another rung to lower the bar upon.

All that aside, I sincerely hope that XJ gets the rest of the CRJ's that Northwest has options for; you guys are due some serious growth and my F/O friends over there are MORE than ready for the CA's seat. I have no fear that you will grow and we will shrink because I also don't subscribe to the whipsaw tactics that management uses; I'm smarter than that and hope that most of my colleagues will use their mind likewise.

Our growth or lack thereof is NOT the fault of the pilot contract or labor costs, but rather management's ability to work with those agreements to make the airline profitable - that's their fu*king job...
 

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