Mesaba

[cathal]

Just talked to friend who spoke to a certain chief pilot at MSP about his buddies that interviewed on Tues. The CP was practically bursting with the good news that hiring ain't gonna stop anytime soon. Avro's have about a 17% increase in time for the fall. NWA and 9E are about to enter negotiations. ACA just cancelled a bunch of CRJ orders. Our mediator has stated that we're "not going to be negotiating into next year." A long time XJ mechanic told the same friend that we're already working on our own CRJ manual, and a certain other training type pilot may or may not have been getting typed in it recently.
So, the stage is set for one of the nastiest whipsaw fights we may have ever seen, I only hope it unites us. But, it looks like Mesaba's gonna grow again. If you want to know how I really feel about all this, read my ranting and raving under "we're all suckers at the regionals"
And by the way, with an engine running on the ground, the Saab cockpit is cooler than the Avro's. Where's all this porn I kept hearing about? And no, ctot is nothing like autothrottles.
SSSSEEEEEEE YA!

 

[flap operator]

Interesting news... I'll believe things when I see them though. Not to discredit your thoughts and comments of course - I'm just cautious.

If you're not flying with a "scraper" there are lots of places to look for porn. Just think about these things: evacuation, jumpseater, airconditioning, smoking, mag compass turns and APR fire. That should lead you in the right directions.

YEs the avro cockpit is quite hot - especially when our fellow pilots don't put the sun shades up on a 90 degree day!! Or the APUs are deferred which seems to be on just about every plane each summer. 1 pack people!!!




FO

 

[FO for life]

that is interesting news, does the increase on the Avro mean that NWA is finally getting rid of the few DC9-10's they have hanging around.

as for the porn let's not forget the emergency gear extension handle - i have found MANY 8 1/2 by 11 pages rolled up in those over the past several months. unfortunately the planes have been relatively clean but i do remember back in early June that 450 was loaded and more recently either 421 or 436 had some floating around. good luck hunting

FO for life

 

[justmeinmsp]

Just talked to a friend of mine that went to Montreal last week to pick up a CRJ. He said that the folks there said that they were to deliver 25 of them to XJ beginning early '04. Congrats!!

 

[4fanman]

Trust but verify...

Our mediator has stated that we're "not going to be negotiating into next year."

Just curious, where did you hear this from? I'm not trying to discredit you, but I have never heard this before and couldn't find anything on the ALPA board about him saying that. I hope it's true.

 

[cathal]

Where else do you hear these things? From someone who was told by the person the mediator said it to. So I guess I'm the third person recieving the message. There was also something about yellow monkey 10 o'clock butt, but that didn't seem pertinent.
Thanks for the info on the picture hunt everyone. Gotta go- Homer's about to say someething witty.

 

[T-handle]

The rumormill is back!!!!

Wow, all these new rumors floating around. At least it takes your mind off the contract B.S. for a minute.

Yea what's up with this mediator telling our chief pilot that we're not going to be negotiating into next year?(That means either a strike and/or a new contract) That's a good one. And the other one about XJ receiving 25 CRJs next year? Uh ok. Foley told us that 2 years ago. Well we better have a CRJ training program in place very soon. And oh yea, a new contract would be nice to have, FIRST. And how is NWA planning to circumnavigate the scope clause on RJs since 9E is receiving them through the end of next year?? And what does ACA cancelling CRJ orders have to do with us? Bombardier still has orders comin out of their a$$ they are barely keeping up with the demand.

Ok, here's a good rumor surfacing. And this supposedly comes a Mesaba station up north. An employee who knows people at the Star Trib and Pioneer Press apparently was leaked some "off the record" info about NWA in the process of negotiating (or having already negotiated) a huge RJ deal with Embraer, but they have yet to disclose this information pubicly til the final numbers are crunched and/or XJ gets our pilot contract settled. Remember a rumor is a rumor, but we'll see how this one pans out.

You know notice MAIR's stock going up in the recent weeks? Coincidence, summer flying, or what?? I haven't seen it above 6.50 in ages......

 

[cathal]

yep, they're all rumors. I won't believe any it until I see it either, but you've got to admit that they have to get us done and growing before the others start negotiating so they have something to hold over their heads. And, seeing as there isn't a single one of us willing to get less than the better of Comair or Air Wisconsin, things can only be looking up, whether or not we have to strike. Which I'd be all to happy to do.

 

[DoinTime]

NWA and 9E are about to enter negotiations.

What exactly are we negotiating? We have a brand new service contract that was signed last year and runs through Feb 29, 2012 for a minimum of 95 CRJ's. This contract can be extended for five years at the discresion of Pinnacle airlines. All 95 CRJ's are to be delivered by Dec 31, 2004.

 

[avrodriver]

Come on think a little harder than that Dointime....I think they are referring to your pilot contract which we all know is theoritically between you and you mgmt, but really is run by the great OZ Northwest. On the flip side though I think they are jumping the gun, why would you guys think they are about to enter negotiations??? I think it goes till 2005 although DT would be the one to know. Why would they be anxious to start negotiations??? People currently working at Mesaba of all people know that there is no advantage to mgmt initiating negotiations early........drrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaag it out, it's the lastest craze...ask Skyway, ASA, CoEx, etc, I don't think mgmt is pressed for time.............AD