Mesaba stuff

[Joe Patroni]

I work in the training center and heard today that Mesaba has hired consultents. Apparently there are consultents running all over the place. They are interviewing over 50 applicants this week. They are interviewing another 58 the first week of April. This is way above the forecasted attrition rate. It also sounds like they have hired another 5-10 instructors.

 

[CRJDog]

Is the entry level ac the saab at mesaba?

 

[Towelie]

I work in the training center and heard today that Mesaba has hired consultents. Apparently there are consultents running all over the place. They are interviewing over 50 applicants this week. They are interviewing another 58 the first week of April. This is way above the forecasted attrition rate. It also sounds like they have hired another 5-10 instructors.

What do you do at the training center? Only people I know of interviewing today were HR and the CP's. I know they hired consultants to look into mx control and some other stuff but they have nothing to do with hiring. The next class is 28 and it sounds like it will stay high for a while.

 

[Joe Patroni]

Not always. A new hire class may have 28 . There might be a ratio such as 12 AVRO and 16 Saab. They assign by age in the class. If you are an ole dog you can pass up your choice.

 

[Joe Patroni]

just put my time in...... yes HR was interviewing along with the CP's. I think they interview around 20 today.

 

[Towelie]

Not always. A new hire class may have 28 . There might be a ratio such as 12 AVRO and 16 Saab. They assign by age in the class. If you are an ole dog you can pass up your choice.

Not true.

It's not by age. Age determines seniority but aircraft assignments are determined by the training managers. They say it involves the "easiest transition" but you do not get to pick. New hires have no say in aircraft but they can bid for domicile.

 

[Joe Patroni]

When did that change?
Seniority was always by age.. yes. I knew a guy who quit because he didn't get the AVRO. He has the most time out of anyone in the class but was a youngster. He had no choice in aircraft. He picked up his bags and left.

 

[Towelie]

When did that change?
Seniority was always by age.. yes. I knew a guy who quit because he didn't get the AVRO. He has the most time out of anyone in the class but was a youngster. He had no choice in aircraft. He picked up his bags and left.

Within the last year they started doing it that way. They wanted to minimize training failures. For instance, if you have a ton of TP time they may stick you in the Saab, because that is what you are used to. It used to be that the highest time people got the Avro, but not so anymore. PK, RR, and CM review the flight experience of each new hire and then decide where they would fit in best as far as training is concerned.

Failures are way down but we'll see if that sticks when training jacks up.

 

[Joe Patroni]

Failures should stay down as long as we get quality individuals. Saab failure rate was less than 1% in 2004. Most of this was from a new hire group in March of 2004 from " Pan Am " flight academy.

 

[Crizz]

They assign by age in the class. If you are an ole dog you can pass up your choice. Yesterday 20:38

Yah definately not true. I was the youngest in my class and I'm in the Avro. Good luck to all XJers! I hope whats been rumored holds true.

 

[Jimdandy]

Yah definately not true. I was the youngest in my class and I'm in the Avro. Good luck to all XJers! I hope whats been rumored holds true.

Let me guess your entire class was in the Avro. Lets see they put you into the avro because you have so much complex time compared to everyone else. Please don't flatter yourself - it is all seniority based. Freaking jet jockeys

 

[CFIfornow]

Let me guess your entire class was in the Avro. Lets see they put you into the avro because you have so much complex time compared to everyone else. Please don't flatter yourself - it is all seniority based. Freaking jet jockeys

Not always true. The youngest in my class got the Avro, oldest the Saab, Everyone had about the same amount of time. (We had a F16 driver who went to the Avro, no surprise there.)

 

[Towelie]

Let me guess your entire class was in the Avro. Lets see they put you into the avro because you have so much complex time compared to everyone else. Please don't flatter yourself - it is all seniority based. Freaking jet jockeys

Once again, it has nothing... I say nothing... to do with seniority. Nothing.

 

[anavrofo]

When I accepted employment at Mesaba, I (among others) were given a choice of class dates. Avro or Saab, the Avro class was a month earlier. I had never flown anything with a turbine in it, I had just over 1000 hrs and 200 multi and I know I didn't do all that well on the tests at the interview. The only reason they called us was to add more to an existing class. There were around 12 new-hires in my class ranging from early 20's to early 40's.

 

[xjlifer]

We had a guy...(he is still here) who after he got hired in the Dash8 ...one of the first classes I think. Anyway he went around telling everybody and I quote.."I was hand picked to fly the Dash" Now of course he was put into the Dash because when he was hired that is were planning needed him. People used to tell him buggers were hand picked also!

If you get hired here and we get twin otters and that is were they need you then that is were you will go. I have heard of folks asking in the interview if they will get the Avro...when told they will be put were they are needed some get up and walk out. The only time I heard of experience counting was when the ARJ first came here and training was gearing up for it. If you had jet time they might have then put you in an ARJ class. I KNOW they do not do that anymore. It is stricly were the need is for at the time you are hired.

 

[Simon Says]

Speaking from experience.....................The Saab is a much more difficult airplane to fly than the Avro. The Avro is much more comfortable than the Saab.

So, for you new hire FO's that think that you are hand picked for the Avro......you probally are. They think you are not up to the job to handle condition levers, CTOT, and Autocoarson's along with flying Arcs, Procedure turns, and complying with non controlled airports procedures.

 

[xjlifer]

God I am a lazy puke now in the SAAB I can't imagine auto throttles...I would need one of those trucker things that beep when my head nodds.

 

[Dodge]

Simon is correct. The Saab is a much more labor intense and a tougher assigment. There is also no choice for new hires into which aircraft they are put in. For awhile a few years back when we actually had upgrades at Mesaba, management would put the lowest time new hires in the jet. The reasons were two fold; it would take them longer to get the required time to upgrade so they save on training costs (avro training overseas is pricey) and the plane is easier to fly.

 

[Simon Says]

Dodge,

Your avatar is taken at gate 41B in EWR.

 

[Crizz]

Let me guess your entire class was in the Avro. Lets see they put you into the avro because you have so much complex time compared to everyone else. Please don't flatter yourself - it is all seniority based. Freaking jet jockeys

Wow... cant believe there is so much bitterness. In fact, the first 2 weeks we spent with both aircraft types. There were 9 saabs and 7 avros. I have spent more time with the saab guys through this process than I have the Avro. The class on the whole is a great group of people.

And to respond about flattery... I was HOPING for the saab. I cant say I was dissapointed in getting the Avro, because I am thankful for having a job and it is an awesome aircraft. Im sorry if I came off flattering myself, because that definately wasnt the case. I envy the saab guys - its much quicker to get MSP as a base. I will be stuck commuting for over a year on the jet, unless this rumor mill produces anything real.

Good luck and hope to see you on the line. First round is on me, so maybe you wont think Im a stuck up "Freakin Jet Jockey."

 

[T-handle]

I wonder how our AMFA negotiations are going to pan out, with a 92% strike vote. We could get some unexpected vacation.

 

[xjlifer]

Hey Crizz...

Crizz, Welcome aboard....try not to read anything into what you see or read on this forum. The overwhelming majority of people you are going to fly with are great folks. We..(like every company on earth) have a few knobs if ya fly with them just grin and bear it. Then when you upgrade remember to never do what the knob did.

If I fly with ya I will buy the beer.

 

[skywriter]

Joe Patroni - please check your pm's - thanks

 

[Jimdandy]

Well crizz you will have to excuse me I'm not the most sensitive of guys.

Us Saab grunts can get a little uptight about things when a jet person complains about how tough they got it or they got the jet because they are somehow better. This is what I thought you were doing(I was wrong). I jumped on you a little too hard my bag. But you other 3 percent jet jockey scum who are a bunch of pre-madonnas you disgust me.

peace,

Jim

 

[flap operator]

Jim - maybe you're being a little OVER sensative. I can't believe that there is so much animocity between the avro and saab drivers that it makes you so hateful!! Maybe when the jets were new, but we've had them for so long now that I think the luster has worn off. I'm sorry if you really feel so disgusted by the jet FOs. BFD, we fly a different plane to some different places. You guys probably get more days off, less TAFB, better schedules and make more in the lng run because of it, even though the FO wage is the same!

IMO there is more of jetjocky complex from the PNCL boys and girls who never flew the saab over there and forget what their company roots really are. Those are the true jet pre madonnas!

Dude, we're all on the same team!


FO

 

[Dodge]

Simon,

Yes it was. I took that picture about a year ago or so. A very snug fit. I need to try and lighten it up some.

 

[mynameisjim]

I work in the training center and heard today that Mesaba has hired consultents. Apparently there are consultents running all over the place. They are interviewing over 50 applicants this week. They are interviewing another 58 the first week of April. This is way above the forecasted attrition rate. It also sounds like they have hired another 5-10 instructors.

Pete: Now's not a good time, I'm really busy. In fact, I'm going to have to ask you to go ahead and come back another time. I have a meeting with the Bob's in a few minutes.

Bill: I wasn't aware of a meeting today.

Pete: Yeah they called me at home.

 

[Jimdandy]

IMO there is more of jetjocky complex from the PNCL boys and girls who never flew the saab over there and forget what their company roots really are. Those are the true jet pre madonnas!

Dude, we're all on the same team!


FO

You xj guys are so hard to flame - always the diplomats - I'll guess I will have to stick to the Comair and Delta guys for my fun. Now they like to get nasty!

 

[fly4ever]

Jimdandy,

We'll take that as a compliment. We have a few that are quick to respond in the negative but by far, a great group of people to work with. We have had no choice but to be patient over the past few years and letting ourselves get riled up doesn't accomplish anything.

Cheers,

Fly