Mesaba wow!

[WSurf]

We'll I thought I have seen it all? But yesterday in CLT there was a guy passing out papers to pilots that showed that Mesaba was Hiring street Captains.

Is the industry that bad that nobody is even applying there for the Street Captain jobs?

 

[dpneedham]

All the people who would qualify for these jobs have apparently left the aviation field, and taken up careers are pizza delivery drivers, UPS of FedEx delivery drivers, or similar careers with more promise and prestige. I am middle age (45) so I have outgrown the need for prestige, but I am still young enough to want the money. I can't afford to be a FO. FWIW

 

[wmuflyguy]

We'll I thought I have seen it all? But yesterday in CLT there was a guy passing out papers to pilots that showed that Mesaba was Hiring street Captains.

Is the industry that bad that nobody is even applying there for the Street Captain jobs?

It could be a hard sell for some to sit at the bottom of the seniority list and be on reserve for a long time.

Maybe people are starting to figure it out, it isn't worth selling out your personal life, just to get some PIC time, especially since places are hiring without it.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Seriously. It's a trash job. No money, long periods away from home, incompetent management. It sucks.

 

[Paladin]

UPS or FedEx delivery drivers, or similar careers with more promise and prestige.

Now that is funny...

 

[On Your Six]

We'll I thought I have seen it all? But yesterday in CLT there was a guy passing out papers to pilots that showed that Mesaba was Hiring street Captains.

Is the industry that bad that nobody is even applying there for the Street Captain jobs?

Good news for the former SYR based pilots... The senior pilots can leave and continue to build PIC time...

Where are these junior PICs getting based - MEM or DTW?

 

[wmuflyguy]

Good news for the former SYR based pilots... The senior pilots can leave and continue to build PIC time...

Where are these junior PICs getting based - MEM or DTW?

I know they had some street CA for DTW start on the 19th.

 

[Whataboutbob]

Apparently the street captains are getting Captain pay from Day 1 of training since that is the position they were hired into. Not sitting well with those who have waited 3-8 years for the upgrade.

 

[Flybet3]

We'll I thought I have seen it all? But yesterday in CLT there was a guy passing out papers to pilots that showed that Mesaba was Hiring street Captains.

Is the industry that bad that nobody is even applying there for the Street Captain jobs?

Who knows, you talk to all timers and they all talk about back in the day the industry going to hell. Sooooo, basically all I know is that some people are made to be in the career and some are not. One thing is for sure, if you keep trying to get rich from this gig you must be retarded. If you have doubts, or just dont like the way things are going or being runned then you should just get out and drive a UPS truck like one guy said here. I keep hanging out b/c at the end of the day it still beats the hell out of working. One thing's for sure, there will be a high demand in the future and you'll see all kinds of "offers and bonuses" from companies to get people to staff their airplans. Who knows. All I know is I still love what I do and plan to do for a long time.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Apparently the street captains are getting Captain pay from Day 1 of training since that is the position they were hired into. Not sitting well with those who have waited 3-8 years for the upgrade.

That is correct per the contract.... Bad oversight to allow such things... as the first batches of CRJ captains are learning. Some are still sitting on Saab min guarantee awaiting IOE on the CRJ, 6+ months now on Saab guarantee. I'm guessing that's going to be on a lot of people's gripe list to fix in the next contract. Start the higher pay day one of the upgrade class, not completion of IOE.

 

[Whataboutbob]

That is correct per the contract.... Bad oversight to allow such things... as the first batches of CRJ captains are learning. Some are still sitting on Saab min guarantee awaiting IOE on the CRJ, 6+ months now on Saab guarantee. I'm guessing that's going to be on a lot of people's gripe list to fix in the next contract. Start the higher pay day one of the upgrade class, not completion of IOE.

You should get Captain pay at least after the type ride. I know that Skywest even pays there Captains either after the type ride or after the a/c flight training. They even let their crews pick up open time in the right seat for captain pay while they wait for IOE. Not getting into the whole union deal just staying the facts.

 

[BCpilot81]

You should get Captain pay at least after the type ride. I know that Skywest even pays there Captains either after the type ride or after the a/c flight training. They even let their crews pick up open time in the right seat for captain pay while they wait for IOE. Not getting into the whole union deal just staying the facts.

That could work, so long as that is not taken advantage of. I would not want to be a Capt, and complete IOE then be called to do and/or be able to pick-up open time to sit FO. Personally, I would not mind it. Even though it would be a brain f*cl< for me.

 

[XJohXJ]

The main problem is that waiting until completion of IOE is letting the company completely off the hook as far as scheduling delays go. Capt pay should start after passing the type ride, at the latest.

Unfortunately this is not what the contract states, so there is no chance to change it unless it could be negotiated in an LOA, which would require some sort of incentive to get the company to agree.

 

[xjhawk]

Hey flybet, well said on that comment. I totally agree. On another point, I have a thought that sounds underhanded but sort of fits our industry.

First, the company is using our seat lock language to manipulate the NWA pilots agreement with NWA for a flow program with the Mesaba seniority list. No where does it mention delays and stipulations by MEsaba management. If they want to screw our pilots on going to NWA I say lets make some demands of our own.

First, if they want to keep line check airmen instructors and other pilots so bad I say they pay for it. What I think is that the rate for line check airmen has been at ten dollars an hour for years, I say that is not enough. So why not all line check airmen resign along with instructors. If they want them, let them pay for them. Why not time and a half for line check airmen, and more for instructors. Now is the time for renegotiating, when the company has the upper hand in negotiating, they use their advantage. Why not the pilots use theirs! I sure hope the company does not get a thing out of this.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Considering how many LCA's they have lost off the Saab in the last couple weeks.... not only are we hurting on the jets but once again we will be hurting on the Saabs. Now is the time to press the issue of the woefully underpaid LCA position. And with them dragging their feet about the flow I hope nobody will even apply and make it known that is a main reason. The union has figured out why I won't take a Saab upgrade (seat lock/jet captain likely) and has told the company (not that they care) so I have little hope that the company would care about the LCA's but maybe for once the company will surprise us.

 

[Raskal]

Considering how many LCA's they have lost off the Saab in the last couple weeks.... not only are we hurting on the jets but once again we will be hurting on the Saabs. Now is the time to press the issue of the woefully underpaid LCA position. And with them dragging their feet about the flow I hope nobody will even apply and make it known that is a main reason. The union has figured out why I won't take a Saab upgrade (seat lock/jet captain likely) and has told the company (not that they care) so I have little hope that the company would care about the LCA's but maybe for once the company will surprise us.

As someone in the first street capt group, I understand your statements now much more than before I got here. I'm thrilled with the job, but I now get why all of this came about. Hopefully the arbitration on the flowthrough/seatlocks will be successful and the locks will be reduced-however, seeing the situation from the inside now I just don't see the company giving in on that one.

 

[CptMurf]

I hope nobody will even apply and make it known that is a main reason. The union has figured out why I won't take a Saab upgrade (seat lock/jet captain likely) and has told the company (not that they care) so I have little hope that the company would care about the LCA's but maybe for once the company will surprise us.

Won't happen. In fact there are plenty of people interested in and applying for the LCA positions. They just ran a full Check Airman Ground CAG class and have filled the next one, just haven't set a date for it. The first class will do their sim and line observations and be on the line soon.

 

[Whataboutbob]

Sounds like a lot of potential upgrades are waiting for the CRJ rather than take the Saab now.

Tough decision but on the Saab you would get your 1000 PIC quicker, less pay on the Saab but you will be able to probably credit more since you won't be on reserve as long and the trips are more efficient. You can start getting your 2 year seat lock out of the way now rather than waiting for the CRJ and having the seat lock finish later. I guess we will find out how important the seat lock issue is once the Flow up is finalized. Also by the time you finish training on the CRJ for FO guarantee you could have probably flown 150 hours on the Saab for Captain pay. So I think when you look at it from a 2 year window the pay difference in small. I guess some people believe props are for boats.

 

[woutlaw]

S
Tough decision but on the Saab you would get your 1000 PIC quicker, less pay on the Saab but you will be able to probably credit more since you won't be on reserve as long and the trips are more efficient.

I don't know enough about the ins and outs of scheduling at a regional to even ask the question correctly, but what's a "typical" trip on the Saab vs. an RJ and what makes for more efficient trips in the Saab?

I guess what I'm getting at is are you looking at more 2-day trips in the Saab or a similar mix of 3 or 4-day trips on both the Saab and the jets just with quicker turns and less airport appreciation time on the Saab?

It's probably way off base, but my sense as a guy thinking of making the jump into regional flying as a lowly FO seems to be fly the Saab if you want to be a captain sooner, fly the jet if you just gotta fly a jet.

Which assumes there's even a choice, or do you just show up and get assigned an airplane?

 

[WMUSIGPI]

I don't know enough about the ins and outs of scheduling at a regional to even ask the question correctly, but what's a "typical" trip on the Saab vs. an RJ and what makes for more efficient trips in the Saab?

I guess what I'm getting at is are you looking at more 2-day trips in the Saab or a similar mix of 3 or 4-day trips on both the Saab and the jets just with quicker turns and less airport appreciation time on the Saab?

It's probably way off base, but my sense as a guy thinking of making the jump into regional flying as a lowly FO seems to be fly the Saab if you want to be a captain sooner, fly the jet if you just gotta fly a jet.

Which assumes there's even a choice, or do you just show up and get assigned an airplane?

Saab has much less airport appreciation time in general. The turns at the outstations are usually quicker too. This also varies by base. DTW is the most efficient base and MEM is the least. As far as which gets you to captain sooner, neither if you already meet ATP mins. You just need to wait for your seniority to hold a captain seat (basically first awarding after you are hired right now) At Mesaba there isn't a choice. HR/Planning puts you where they want you. I suppose you could call and make a request but it's just a request no guarantee like Eagle was doing.