Mesaba Interview on Wednesday

[Shaheen]

I am not trying to be rude but......... How could you not have any info on the company.........that you applied to?

Good question. I do have information on the company, but it's quite old and am not sure if that would still apply to future employment and hiring process. For instance...one thing is already clear that they don't use Avro for sim eval. Also, I hear on the web that new pilots would train for Saab340 and not CRJ-900 (no, that won't be the reason I'd accept of reject the offer if it is made).

I thank everyone who has given even a littlest piece of information. I will post my comments on the 'aviationinterviews.com' after the interview. In the meanwhile, please keep up the good work by posting more information.

Thanks!

 

[Shaheen]

What are the new mins? I heard 300 and 50.

---Mesaba sucks!

100TT/100ME as posted.

 

[gnx99]

Also, I hear on the web that new pilots would train for Saab340 and not CRJ-900 (no, that won't be the reason I'd accept of reject the offer if it is made).

Mesaba has pretty much always put new-hires where they need them. When the Avro was around, it was pretty random as to who (which new hire class) got the Avro vs. Saab. Also, the first time they got CRJs, plenty of new-hires got the CRJ.

 

[Whataboutbob]

I was just trying to start an up roar by saying "the furloughs got screwed on the claim" I know we will get our fair share. No worries.

People keep saying that Mesaba will have trouble finding new hires. I disagree. I think there are always alot of Locals (minnesota) that want to work for the home town team no matter how much dirt the company has been through the past 2 years. Also you have to gamble in this industry when looking for that first airline job, and why not gamble on a company that seems to be on its way back up and will probably only have 600 pilots once the furloughs are back verses starting at the bottom of the list at Skywest or Chautaqua, which has 3 and 4 times as many pilots. I could see it being a problem finding people once we get to the tail end of the growth, but right out of the shoots they won't have trouble finding people. Just like at Skywest, everyone was bailing to go over there in the summer and now it sounds like they are having trouble filling classes.

Also don't worry which equipment you end up in. Yeah it would be cool to fly the 900 (for the first couple of month), but you will upgrade on the Saab so why not fly it from the right seat first. It will make upgrading that much more easier. Plus they pay the same in the right seat. Its all about quality of life and time off.

 

[SEVEN]

Well put XJohXJ!!

Seven, have you accepted a recall and what class will you be taking? CR9 or SF340?

Not yet. If I do I'll go back on the Saab.

 

[xjhawk]

I wonder how many of the super senior lifer FO's will be taking the 900, I know a couple who are thinking about it. MIght be fun to take it, then bail from the company. Ofcourse after the claim checks are deposited!

 

[MesabaDriver]

You guys/gals are the biggest bunch of whinning B**ches I have ever heard. YOUR FURLOUGHED boo hoo. Your company is in Bankruptcy who cares. Reality check... you choose to chase that 200k/yr dream in an industry that historically every ten years dumps everything on it's ass. For all those furloughed guys out there, yeah its sucks there are 210+- of us out there. Some arent comming back... But your gonna get between 15k to 25k depending on where you fit into the list when you return. Be greatful that you got something out of the deal. It could have been way worse. For you to get money in your pocket/401k from a bankrupt company... thats pretty damn good. We arent united or delta or even anything that resembles that type of carrier, but here we are getting money out the whole deal. There are worse places out there to work. If you dont like it leave. So for those furlough that think we are getting screwed, like I said there is always someone who has it better. Go tell your buddies at MESA what your getting. Thats a friggin year plus salary for those guys. And your still making more then them. For those of you planning to return, grab the money and leave... It would be a pleasure to throw your ass down the stairs at A19. Then ill take the elevator to meet down there. GET OVER IT... Or go work at Lowes. CCCCYYYYAAAA

 

[captain dad]

You guys/gals are the biggest bunch of whinning B**ches I have ever heard. YOUR FURLOUGHED boo hoo. Your company is in Bankruptcy who cares. Reality check... you choose to chase that 200k/yr dream in an industry that historically every ten years dumps everything on it's ass. For all those furloughed guys out there, yeah its sucks there are 210+- of us out there. Some arent comming back... But your gonna get between 15k to 25k depending on where you fit into the list when you return. Be greatful that you got something out of the deal. It could have been way worse. For you to get money in your pocket/401k from a bankrupt company... thats pretty dang good. We arent united or delta or even anything that resembles that type of carrier, but here we are getting money out the whole deal. There are worse places out there to work. If you dont like it leave. So for those furlough that think we are getting screwed, like I said there is always someone who has it better. Go tell your buddies at MESA what your getting. Thats a friggin year plus salary for those guys. And your still making more then them. For those of you planning to return, grab the money and leave... It would be a pleasure to throw your ass down the stairs at A19. Then ill take the elevator to meet down there. GET OVER IT... Or go work at Lowes. CCCCYYYYAAAA

Have fun flying with this guy in MEM. If I'm not mistaken I think he's a bit miffed.:angryfire

 

[ikillbigfoot]

Mesaba folks,

I have an interview there soon as well.

Do you/what is your commuter clause?

Travel benefits? Free for wife? How about parents?

How is the 401K matching? Is it 12.5% match right away or slow transition?

I want MSP very badly. What is the likelyhood?(whether its the SF34 or 900)

Reserve questions. 2 hour call out or? Rsv schedule? is it like most others? 5 on 3 off?

Any answers would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time folks.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Mesaba folks,

I have an interview there soon as well.

Do you/what is your commuter clause?

Travel benefits? Free for wife? How about parents?

How is the 401K matching? Is it 12.5% match right away or slow transition?

I want MSP very badly. What is the likelyhood?(whether its the SF34 or 900)

Reserve questions. 2 hour call out or? Rsv schedule? is it like most others? 5 on 3 off?

Any answers would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time folks.

The fate of the NWA wholly owns is still unknown.

 

[Fly4hire]

The fate of the NWA wholly owns is still unknown.

In what regard for XJ? They are going to operate. The only question is what form the grievance remedy will be for NWA ALPA - flow up/down, contract enhancements, etc?

 

[Shaheen]

Personnel info

A quick follow up:

What are names of:

CEO?
Director of Ops?
System Chief Pilot?
HR Manager?
Detroit Chief Pilot?

A friend who used to work there just told me that Mike Anderson is the DO, and Dan Larson is the CP. But, he qualified that by admitting that he left Mesaba over two years ago, so wasn't sure if there are any changes since the NWA ownership.

It would be nice to hear from Mesaba current pilots about what changes, if any, have taken place since last year.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

Wow, those are some old names. . . Anderson is at Spirit and Larson is no longer chief. We get Bulletins with personnel changes about once a week.

I would say that the only thing that has changed is that people are slightly optimistic that there might be a small chance at upgrade going down from 8 years to, uh, 5 or hopefully less.

 

[Abbey]

Mesaba would be a great place for one to start their airline career. In 2014, after 7 years as an FO with a terrible 401K balance, you can tell all your friends in your next regioanl new hire class, "I have never been a CA, I've been furloughed thrice in as many years, and I have 5000 hours in the right seat of a Saab."

Just funning a little, but seriously, it's definately no fun in the interviews when the question of "why didn't you ever upgrade/why did you stay if you weren't going to be a CA?" question gets asked.

 

[BoilerAV8TR]

Everybody know when the avro was new the best and brightest new hires went into the right seat, while the UND kids, and Western grads, and Riddleites all went to the saab. Of course they then had better schedules with more days off and more credit per month less junior manning, etc. But I got some jet FO time, yippee. Be careful going to the new equipment on property.

 

[OttoPilot]

CEO? Spongebob Jinglepants (COO)
Director of Ops? Howdy Doody
System Chief Pilot? Wilson
HR Manager? Don't know or care
Detroit Chief Pilot? Van de Kamp

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Everybody know when the avro was new the best and brightest new hires went into the right seat, while the UND kids, and Western grads, and Riddleites all went to the saab. Of course they then had better schedules with more days off and more credit per month less junior manning, etc. But I got some jet FO time, yippee. Be careful going to the new equipment on property.

I remember stories of Avro captain bids going Extremely junior when they first showed up to the point that when those guys were subsequently displaced it took many years for them to get back to the plane... just in time to sit reserve on it again for a while til it disappeared for ever...

 

[xjhawk]

yeah FO's who did not watch their bids were getting Avro capt awrds in a base far far away from where they wanted to be. They were then stuck making the decision, go there and be on the bottom of the list and having a sucky lifestyle. Or refusing it, and taking the seat lock. We all know who will take the first 40 -50 slots in the jet. Then its anybodies game. Oh by the way, i have seen the amount of people resigning has not gone down. People are still leaving for skywest and net jets. Oh and ofcourse all the regulars......airtran and others