Mesaba Hiring Pilots with Less than 600 and 50 with Chief Pilots Approval

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

i think ASA and CMR both wanted to increase first-year pay to second-year pay to attract pilots. the union said sure, if you increase everyone's pay equally...

i wouldn't be surprised if in a few years regionals were paying pilots wiith 0 hours to go to an ab initito program where they're taught the airline philosophy from day one. they'd have to give a few years to the airline in return for the investment.

still, a number of regionals have been offering bonuses to some pilots (say, with previous CRJ experience) upon completion of training.

Rumor has it that Pinnacle recently (last few months?) hired a new FO for the CRJ. The FO checkride was to also act as this person's MEL Commercial check ride. Dunno if it's true, but it was a pretty good source I heard it from.

 

[norskman2]

UAL also.

NWA too. They set it up at UND in the early 90s. I think they graduated like two people before they shut it down.

 

[ataopsdave]

Rumor has it that Pinnacle recently (last few months?) hired a new FO for the CRJ. The FO checkride was to also act as this person's MEL Commercial check ride. Dunno if it's true, but it was a pretty good source I heard it from.

This is not true...has not happened at Pinnacle YET

 

[ex j-41]

Last year Doug Parker said that he wants to attract the best pilots for the lowest wage.
I guess he lied...
Now they hire the least qualified for the lowest price.

I guess as long as airplanes aren't falling out of the sky, all is well!

 

[John Pennekamp]

I guess as long as airplanes aren't falling out of the sky, all is well!

But eventually one will. And after the lawsuits and loss of business, how will management justify the decision? How can they even justify the risk now?

I'm very experienced, and was 100% single pilot in bad weather with a 300 hour wonder the other day. A new captain would have been in over his head.

Another short sighted band aid approach to an industry problem by airline management. What do they care... they won't have to live with the decision as they'll have moved on to trash some other company by then. We'll be the ones who have to live with it.

 

[ex j-41]

But eventually one will. And after the lawsuits and loss of business, how will management justify the decision? How can they even justify the risk now?

I'm very experienced, and was 100% single pilot in bad weather with a 300 hour wonder the other day. A new captain would have been in over his head.

Another short sighted band aid approach to an industry problem by airline management. What do they care... they won't have to live with the decision as they'll have moved on to trash some other company by then. We'll be the ones who have to live with it.

I agree. My sarcasm doesn't show in my post....All is not well.

Remember back in the 80's when General (GM) made school busses? They had a problem with the fuel tanks exploding if they were hit on the side. Well the GM exec's figured it would be cheaper to pay law suits then fix the problem. Last meeting in CLT someone asked Doug Parker what he thought about the safety issue regarding hiring low time pilots. He responded by putting Marten on the spot and then Marten said that no training dept would sign off a pilot unless they are safe.
Management will not be responsible for an accident. It will come down to the sudo management types...ie training dept. Pass the buck...Or the Captain will get violated. Either way management is far far far removed to be blamed for any accident.

 

[AC560]

If the low time pilots are a safety issue as is being implied then what should commercial certificate minimums be raised to? Should all crew members be required to have an ATP for 121/135 operations?

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

UAL tried that in the '90s too... well, nevermind...

LOL. As long as you had Form 36-C filled out.

 

[gnx99]

The latest vacancy award is out. The junior Captain award (MEM) was hired in April 2007. Looks like Mesaba is gonna run out of people qualified for upgrade real fast.?

 

[SEVEN]

The latest vacancy award is out. The junior Captain award (MEM) was hired in April 2007. Looks like Mesaba is gonna run out of people qualified for upgrade real fast.?

Just wait until we get options on the 900. Those same pilots will be Captains on the jet in 1-2 years.

 

[CFIfornow]

Seat lock release in site.

 

[ex j-41]

If the low time pilots are a safety issue as is being implied then what should commercial certificate minimums be raised to? Should all crew members be required to have an ATP for 121/135 operations?

I am all for having an ATP in order to work for an airline. It would solve many problems. The problems it would create would be for Airline Management. They have had a free ride this past 6 years so maybe it's time for them to feel the pinch.

 

[Slick]

Let's have some fun with this.

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[n25na]

The latest vacancy award is out. The junior Captain award (MEM) was hired in April 2007. Looks like Mesaba is gonna run out of people qualified for upgrade real fast.?

holy sh#t!! looks like i should have taken the recall after all.........

 

[John Pennekamp]

Should all crew members be required to have an ATP for 121/135 operations?

As a matter of fact, yes. Every new hire to a 121 airline should meet ATP minimums or have the ticket. This should be an FAR. ALPA is actually looking into it, according to Prater. Just like the AMA controls entry into their field, we should control entry into ours.