Mesaba developments -- NEW NEWS

[AvroJockey]

28 Newhires!!!

I believe the last class that was this big was mine, 28 in Jan '99! However, JS said there wasn't anything to anounce. I guess this class size is only due to attrition from people realizing JS is retarded.

Sorry to offend you retards.

 

[cathal]

None taken.
And thanks to the NWA guys and everyone else who are sticking up for us pathetic people.

 

[Monster Buck]

I wouldn't be happy about growth at a Regional airline. That just means fewer jobs with the big boys and you flying for your pathetic little carrier that much longer.

Dear Captain over the hill, 159 posts in one month? You do realize they make a little blue pill for your ... ummmm....... problem. Just think, you could be like BOB again.

 

[Captain Overs]

Dear Captain over the hill, 159 posts in one month? You do realize they make a little blue pill for your ... ummmm....... problem. Just think, you could be like BOB again.

I realize they make the little blue pill and your wife has thanked me for using it on her.

Now about my thread. You guys can bash me all you want and get emotional like a bunch of teenage girls. DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!! You can rationalize all you want why growth at the Regional is good. You have to think long term. The more flying done at the Regional level takes away from flying at a major. Fact of life. Scope is great and all, but who would do that flying if their was not regional feed? The major partner.

Eventually the mainline airlines will bleed to death because of the feed RJ's are providing. It's expensive to run an RJ per seat mile. Wake up people! You've been drinking the Kool-Aid a little too much.

 

[Monster Buck]

I realize they make the little blue pill and your wife has thanked me for using it on her.

Now about my thread. You guys can bash me all you want and get emotional like a bunch of teenage girls. DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!! You can rationalize all you want why growth at the Regional is good. You have to think long term. The more flying done at the Regional level takes away from flying at a major. Fact of life. Scope is great and all, but who would do that flying if their was not regional feed? The major partner.

Eventually the mainline airlines will bleed to death because of the feed RJ's are providing. It's expensive to run an RJ per seat mile. Wake up people! You've been drinking the Kool-Aid a little too much.

Thanks big boy I let HIM know that.

 

[Le Pilote]

If regional pilots got paid what they deserve, it wouldn't matter now would it? Wake up people. It's not a stepping stone. It's not a game. It's a career.

A plus,

Le Pilote

 

[Captain Overs]

If it's a career then stop accepting contracts that are sub par!

 

[Le Pilote]

OK, agreed. Just as long as you stop taking concessions.

A plus,

Le Pilote

 

[Captain Overs]

Good point, finally someone who's thinking on this board.

 

[surplus1]

That just means fewer jobs with the big boys and you flying for your pathetic little carrier that much longer.

Tell me is it better to fly for a pathetic and bankrupt big carrier than a pathetic little carrier?

 

[Captain Overs]

Yes. Better schedules, equipment, work rules....I could go on.

 

[AVRO_FO]

Captain Overs:

deleted my comments because the were unprofessional

 

[needsumluv]

Hey captain over,

Your right growth at the regional will eventually make them ineffiecent and too exspensive - than the LCC will come in and kill you..... Then I will get a job at a LCC. Its all part of the master plan when your have 33 more years in the business you think differently. I don't want to work with a bunch of crustys who only think of the next five years and not the long term.

 

[vc10]

Utah is home to a couple of banks that specialize in being trustees for aircraft owned by aircraft lessors. The fact that you see aircraft owned by entities in Utah doesn't mean a whole lot. The Utah aircraft listed in the FAA website below are all being flown by US Airways, except one which is being flown by Chautauqua.

Here is the link http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/acmain.htmtype in erj-170 then look at the ones in Utah

 

[aimfar]

Huh? Where did you get that from? I don't think we have washed that many people at all in the last several months. Plus it is true that we haven't had a class that big in many years. Where are you getting the idea that people get cut quicker? I know for a fact that several people got MORE than two extra lessons. What you are saying is not true at all.

You say it's speculation??? Call HR, call a CP, or call training and ask them. This is not for attrition and not for "many not making it through training". (By the way, you might want to call the training manager before you make accusations that so many people aren't making it through. To all you potential Mesaba pilots, that is NOT TRUE. Pass rate is currently VERY high.)

We are hiring 28 new hires. That's not speculation, my friend. That is SMOKE. And where there is smoke, there is FIRE.

I was at the MEC meeting yesterday and found out from the chairman of the training and testing committee that we are washing out candidates. He stated specifically, "if after two additional lessons a candidate can't succeed the company has no problem cutting the cord." That's a fact. I won't comment on certain individuals getting additional training, beyond two lessons, if that happens. I don't know. All I do know is what was stated and I consider that information as a result in a higher number of interview candidates. Attrition, as you stated, is also a reason for a higher number of interview candidates. 8 or more people leave Mesaba per month. That is a fact worth attention.

When I mentioned speculation, I should have been more clear. Anything other than increasing the number of interview candidates to increase the training class size in order to back fill vacancies is what should be in our minds at this time until further information is passed down. Otherwise guessing as to why the number has increased to 28 other than to increase the choices is speculation. Remember, people thought that the world was flat until someone proved it was round. And where there is smoke, there isn't always fire. What happens today, doesn't necessarily mean it will happen again next month.

I look forward to each day I strap myself into the plane. I hope the information that finally filters its way to the pilot group will be good for the many. The gag order will not last forever.

 

[Towelie]

I was at the MEC meeting yesterday and found out from the chairman of the training and testing committee that we are washing out candidates. He stated specifically, "if after two additional lessons a candidate can't succeed the company has no problem cutting the cord." That's a fact.

No, that's a POLICY. You even admit it yourself: "the company has no problem cutting the cord." That doesn't say they DO or WILL. I know, for a fact from the training department, that they have canned less than 10 people TOTAL in training for the last year. That's less than 10 TOTAL. That is hardly enough to cause this kind of scramble. Also, tightening up the policy is usually what happens when mass training starts. They can't afford to waste time on people who can't cut it so that the masses can move along. But less than 10 people cut in a year does not equate to 28 new hires.

Attrition, as you stated, is also a reason for a higher number of interview candidates. 8 or more people leave Mesaba per month. That is a fact worth attention.

Agreed. But that has been going on since last fall and we haven't had a class bigger than 16, and the big classes we did have were in anticipation of getting the Houston flying. After we didn't, class size went way down even with the same attrition. So regular attrition would not cause this spike.

Otherwise guessing as to why the number has increased to 28 other than to increase the choices is speculation.

Speculation is what is causing the increase. The increase is fact and the increase is not normal. You can say what you want but attrition has not, and is not causing this spike. There is a reason for it. We don't know what but there is a reason and it is not speculation to say that. This is the biggest class since 1999 when we were hiring like crazy. Trust me, this is anything but normal.

And where there is smoke, there isn't always fire.

By definition, there is. This may turn out to be a new opportunity or plane we don't cash in on just like Houston, but something is up.

For my own curiousity, why are you so quick to kill the speculation? Are you a company man? Anyone who has been here more than a year can tell you going from 6 to 28 new hires that quick means something is definitely up.

 

[aimfar]

[/QUOTE]For my own curiousity, why are you so quick to kill the speculation? Are you a company man? Anyone who has been here more than a year can tell you going from 6 to 28 new hires that quick means something is definitely up.[/QUOTE]

For your curiosity, I'm not a company man. I'm a pilot who just does his job. I live a life of facts and can see that things are going on, yet, I am patient to wait it out without getting too excited. The dissappointment will be easier to take when things don't work out like everyone wants.

 

[Whoop Whoop]

Black Box,

Your question was lost among much of the speculation, which is merited, as we're overdue for something to happen.

If you're sincerely interested in Mesaba- Capt. Dan Larson, MSP Chief Pilot, is who I would fax or mail your resume to.

Good Luck!

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

Isn't this the same burnt out post from last week? Are you just looking for someone to talk to Mel?

 

[jetbluedog]

I like the BILLBOARD Mesaba guys!! Nice work!!

http://mesabapilots.alpa.org/gallery.htm
(Last 2 images on page)

I wish they'd put more of these up around the country for the "general flying public" who thinks PILOTS ARE LOADED.

-The Dog

 

[88_MALIBU]

This info is really nice for the guys at the bottom of the list!

 

[xjavro85]

Here is some more rumouring for you. I see in april we are adding a route from GRR to DCA with the AVRO. I thought the avro was restricted to flying in and out of the 3 hub cities (MEM,MSP,DTW) is DCA going to be a new hub? If not how did they work around that clause in the NWA agreement?

 

[T-handle]

The Chicago Express pilots sure have been quiet throughout this whole ordeal. Any C8 folks care to share their views and their rumormill????? Is their MEC in secret meetings like ours?

That would suck if we bought em out and didn't take the pilots. Would be a typical screw job by our buddies in the upperlevels of Blue Genitalia Drive.


And 1 "short-notice" class of 28 isn't really anything to get all excited. Sure if they were forecasting to hire 28 per month, then it would have some merit. But I suppose 28 would help the bottom fella feel 28 numbers more senior.

 

[88_MALIBU]

Blue Genitalia Drive.

thats good

 

[Napoleon TNT]

The Chicago Express pilots sure have been quiet throughout this whole ordeal. Any C8 folks care to share their views and their rumormill????? Is their MEC in secret meetings like ours?

Windy City is non-union, dude.

 

[9DRIVER]

Hub By-Pass

Here is some more rumouring for you. I see in april we are adding a route from GRR to DCA with the AVRO. I thought the avro was restricted to flying in and out of the 3 hub cities (MEM,MSP,DTW) is DCA going to be a new hub? If not how did they work around that clause in the NWA agreement?

Under our new concessionary agreement at NWA the scope clause was massaged to allow for up to 15% of NWA system 50 seat RJ Flying to be "hub bypass". In checking PARs there appears to be no AVROs scheduled between GRR and DCA in April. I do recall an announcment last week that Pinnacle was to start a once daily LAN - DCA in stead of going into IAD since Independence Air pulled out of that market.

 

[Mel Sharples]

Isn't this the same burnt out post from last week? Are you just looking for someone to talk to Mel?

What part of "NEW NEWS" did you miss?

Go read some porn in your CRJ and leave the rest of us alone.

 

[CWASaab]

Under our new concessionary agreement at NWA the scope clause was massaged to allow for up to 15% of NWA system 50 seat RJ Flying to be "hub bypass". In checking PARs there appears to be no AVROs scheduled between GRR and DCA in April. I do recall an announcment last week that Pinnacle was to start a once daily LAN - DCA in stead of going into IAD since Independence Air pulled out of that market.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050210/cgth029_1.html

Link to the Press Release about the GRR-DCA Avro service. Service starts May 2, 2005.


edit: added service start date

 

[Mel Sharples]

Here is some more rumouring for you. I see in april we are adding a route from GRR to DCA with the AVRO. I thought the avro was restricted to flying in and out of the 3 hub cities (MEM,MSP,DTW) is DCA going to be a new hub? If not how did they work around that clause in the NWA agreement?

A previous post on this can be found here. According to that:

The restrictions on point to point service only apply to "regional jets" as defined by the NW PWA (45-55 seat turbojet aircraft with a max gross weight of less than 70,000 lbs). There have never been any restrictions on 44-seat CRJ's or RJ-85's.

 

[Lear70]

First, there HAVE been removals of some restrictions on point-to-point as well as hub-to-hub flying; PCL announced several such flights beginning in May and June.

Second, don't discredit the C8 thing too quickly. Unless you guys have a base I don't know about, it seems very odd that the airport Raddison in IND had a large room dedicated to MESABA this week (you pass right by it on your way out the back door if you want to walk to the airport instead of ride the 2 minute van - walking's quicker actually).

Either they're hiring ground personnel for IND expansion OR they're talking to C8. Either way, it definitely means more flying... congrats!

Lastly, don't sweat the RJ's, you guys are getting some soon enough, the whipsaw hasn't started for us yet but I'm certain that you guys will be the central player in that comedy of errors, directed by the loving folks at Northwest Corporate. I'd even imagine you'll get some that we're currently operating towards the end of negotiations and shrink us some... straight out of the playbook. *sigh*