Mesaba

[Cargoboy]

Thanks for the input. I hope things can change soon for them. They def. have had a lot of patience waiting. And the fact there has been no movement for anyone their for the last two years.
Nothing like being at SWA though....what a great place to work!!

 

[panampilot]

"In order of seniority on the SAAB: MSP, DTW, MEM
AVRO: MSP, DTW, CVG, MEM"

Has MSP ever been junior or does anyone think it might go junior in the future? I would love to be close to family and that's where they are located. Any hope for me?

 

[flap operator]

Sine Minnie is Mecca - I seriously doubt MSP will go junior any time soon. MEM is more senior now on the avro than CVG, by the way. If you ever got hired here, there is nothing stopping you from living in MSP and commuting to your base. Lots of people do.



FO

 

[TedCFII]

Here is what I remember from my Saab days...

S.omethings
A.lmost
A.lways
B.roken

How you guys like those B Models we pawned off on you?

 

[furlowedSF34]

Or....

S end
A nother
A ircraft for
B ags

That was popular with the Dash 8 guys

 

[DoinTime]

Has MSP ever been junior or does anyone think it might go junior in the future? I would love to be close to family and that's where they are located. Any hope for me?

MSP is pretty junior at Pinnacle. FO hard line holders are running about two months longevity. CA's are about 27 months.

 

[saabservant]

the "new" saabs

Those pinnacle saabs are ok, no big problems yet for me.
The cabin configuration is better, and the seats are much more comfortable than mesaba's...still an airplane that can't always get the job done, though. Weight and balance issues, and bumping pax. and bags when heavy due to high loads or bad weather requiring more fuel.
We have a few routes that won't support crj's, so we will probably need some for a long time, but 60? No way.

By the way, I still get mad when I see so many crj's here in my msp base, which I'm about to get bumped out of forever, due to crj growth and the pinnacle pilots we took on who were granted seniority. I save my anger for nwa, though. It's all part of their whipsaw game...hopefully, we'll get a contract after a strike, grow a little, and then it's your turn...
That one-list idea is probably the solution, in spite of the headaches. It's all up to big brother, though...see ya

 

[TedCFII]

Those 10 B Models where the Pride of the Express Airlines Fleet.. I loved flying them...more so than the A Models we had.

By the way, I still get mad when I see so many crj's here in my msp base, which I'm about to get bumped out of forever, due to crj growth and the pinnacle pilots we took on who were granted seniority

It was a slap in the face when XJ came to MEM and seeing OUR B model fleet with MESABA pasted on the side. But we/I didn't take it personally. As you stated, its not I who is taking "your job". It is NWA Management who is trying to pad their pockets with as much bonus money as possible by getting all 3 pilot groups to hate each other. I wasn't here when the closing of MSP base occured and XJ took on Express Pilots...that's in the past no need to dwell upon it...take it to your MEC Chairman if you feel you have been wronged.

I stand behind you 100% in getting a better contract and work rules. GOD knows what you guys get will be much better than what we have at the moment.

As for one list.... it would be of benefit long-term for those senior enough to survive.... short-term most of the Pinnacle Pilots would be on the street seeing how we have around 650+/- Pilots and NWA has that many already furloughed with more to come....

Since we are the smalles of the 3 groups we stand to lose the most. Until someone can convince me that no airlink pilot will be put on the street I vote NO for one list.

Just the other day I had a NWA Airbus Capt on the jumpseat... he said "The only way we can incorporate CRJs into the mainline fleet is to eat our young"

I took that to mean that they (Mainline Pilots) would take the CRJs and there would be no Airlink other than some Saab flying..... what that means to me... is I would be out of a job since we no longer have any Saabs.

 

[Simon Says]

Ted,

with the incorporation of one list would bring up fences that would protect junior guys at pinnacle and xj. The worst thing that would happen is seat locks for an extended period of time.

Northwest would not be able to bring back their furloghed pilots only to bump an XJ or 9E guy out.

 

[TedCFII]

It's also my understanding that there can't be anyone on furlough at the time this "one list" is to be approved.
I do understand about the fences... but mainline guys are going to be loooking out for "their best" interest.

A few that have came over to fly the "barbie jet" are infecting the morale and stirring the pot about how we are the devil that will cause the demise of NWA Mainline Pilot positions..... I suppose they figured they could try to convert us some how by accepting the low paying little jet job.

 

[saabservant]

Valid points about nwa "eating their young" and 9e being most vulnerable.

It reminds me of a conversation with a recently furloughed american fo a year and a half ago. She was talking about how rough it was to be furloughed. All I could think of was how I would be happy to trade places for a seniority number at a mainline. Wonder how many airlink folks would brave unemployment or a different job for a few years, in exchange for better pay, lifestyle, and retirement in the long run?
Most of our fo's could do better on the outside today, which is why they have nothing to lose in this contract battle.

Perhaps a poll by the mec's would be interesting....all who volunteer to hit the street for a seniority number, raise your hands!!!!

 

[T-handle]

>>>>Mesaba is interviewing/hiring<<<<

It is official. Mesaba is hiring. How many? Not sure. 15-20 is the number going around the crew room these days. All furloughs were called back too or at least the ones that wanted to come back. And apparently they are only accepting resumes through current pilots. interviews are being conducted next week.

Word of caution. With Mesaba's current situation (contract negotiations and Saab retirements later this year), do not quit your current job if you get on here. If you can somehow go part time and convince your boss that you will be back, I'd recommend it. Everyone is speculating that all these furlough callbacks are just for summer flying (which is evident of last summer), which includes the new hires. Once summer is done and the Saab A-models go away this Fall, you will get furloughed.

Lets do the math. All furloughs are called back. And you interview next week. You get a class. Ok, groundschool for a couple of weeks. Then sim training. By then it's early August. Then your IOE. Now it's mid to late August. Guess what? Summer flying is nearly done. September rolls around. Everyone is back to school and parents back to work. NWA dramatically reduces its flying and we start losing the rest of our Saab A models = ..........

As for "Ksu Aviator"'s post. Some of us may know who he is from our Mesaba ALPA msg board. Blaming Mesaba for setting you back 2 years is not fair. This industry is all about timing and a little luck. Mesaba was a great place to work until recently. But guess what??!??! ALL airlines go through this crap. And putting Mesaba below Great Lakes is almost insulting. Just because YOU didn't get off reserve and YOU didn't upgrade and YOU got furloughed twice doesn't mean XJ is a lousy place to work. We've got furloughs from the Sept 4 2001 class that are still hanging around! Talk about dedication.

I commute to work every week and I can't stress how many pilots(including mainline) are supporting us. Most of us XJ pilots are just riding this out. There's really not a whole lot we can do at this point, except stand together and not give into ANY concessions. Just save what we can for a possible strike and continue to do our job day in and day out. Once we get a new contract, things will improve.

 

[Gator1999]

T-Handle,
I couldn't agree more. You obviously talk like the true professionals that we have working here at MSA. I like so many of those close to the bottom have gotten used to the fact that we aren't going anywhere, anytime soon, and to just make the most of the time that we do have here. I personally like to stay away from the crew room talk, but every now and then it's good to hear that people are passionate about this company and the committment that they have made to Mesaba in the long run. I don't know much about Great Lakes, but I'm not about to go and say that they are a bad outfit, I never flew there and don't know anyone flying for them. Sure, we're going through a bad time, but I think that once this new contract is signed, sealed and delivered, Mesaba will shine as it once did, the airline of choice for the aviation professional.

 

[cl-65link]

We all may as well buy Powerball tickets right now, because there is just as good a chance of one of us winning that as there is with a one-list for red-tailers.

 

[Mkay?]

We've got furloughs from the Sept 4 2001 class that are still hanging around! Talk about dedication.

Just for clarification ...

I was in that class. There were 4 saab guys and 4 jet guys. I don't know about the avro crew, but I know that none of the saab guys are coming back. 2 are at skywest, one at ACA and one has left aviation.

Good luck with the new contract.

MKAY!!