PSA-Mesaba

[Biggie]

Little help here please, got a few questions about both companies.
1. Hiring outlooks and pay scales.
2. Average days on/off per bid period.
3. Ability to get CVG/DAY domiciles.
4. Upgrade times.
I've find out a little info about both PSA and Mesaba, but l'd like some inside info.

Thanx,
Biggie

(I am a minister of death praying for war!)

 

[T-handle]

Regarding Mesaba......

1. Hiring is nil since 9/11. We still have about 10 pilots on furlough that were in class during September. the company has been plucking one or two a month to fill in the Avro. As much as I hate to say, I don't see Mesaba hiring for a while due to numerous circumstances.

2. Mesaba schedules, however, are very good. The Saab schedules are great averaging 14-19 days off for FOs and 14-20 days off for CAs. Mesaba is pro commuting and has a good commuting policy. Allow at least 2 Northwest/Mesaba flights to get to work. Otherwise, if you can't make it, you don't get paid for the trips and no other harm done. A reserve is assigned your trip.

3. CVG is an AVRO only domicile. For FO newhires, it is(was) a common place to go so I think it is a fairly junior base. But I can't say much about CVG since I'm a Saab dude. DAY is not a domicile in our system, but we do fly there (to DTW and MSP our other domiciles). You live in this area I take it? Probably be an easy commute for you.

4. Upgrade times?? hmmm... pre 9/11 for Saab it was 2 to 2.5 years. plus or minus a few months. It went as junior as 1.5 years. For AVRO, not exactly sure, but 2-3 years. Some real junior pilots were able to take the upgrade in 1 year, but that meant sitting on the bottom for a long time. But I guess if you're young single with no attachments, then there's really nothing to lose.

Another issue at stake is Mesaba pilots are currently under contract negotiations. Our amendable date is next month (June), and very little progress has been made. (typical) Alot of things are affecting it. NWA has ordered 200 or so CRJs. Express I/Pinnacle airlines, the other Northwest Airlink, is receiving a good share of them while we, Mesaba, are still bidding for a good chunk. In the mean time, NWA is slowly shrinking us and growing Express with the CRJs. I could tell you to go to Express if you want the easy "jet" time, but you should do your homework on Express if you haven't.

Mesaba's current contract dates back to 1996. Mesaba was THE place to work from '97-'99. Our contract is no longer as current as Air wisconsin, Comair or ACA. But we're fighting to raise the bar. Once we get a contract, we will hire and grow again. It's a great place to work, despite the circumstances of 9/11 and NWA shrinking us. It's all business and airline whipsaw but we'll be back. We hope to be the place to work again.

 

[Focker]

say those days off again?

Not doubting you at all, just want to make sure you meant days off, not on.
That's a bunch(19,20) and that's awesome. I need to commute to a guard job and that's the number one thing on my list.
Also, how long on reserve in the saab, and how senior to have to ge those kind of days off.
Oh yeah, still not hiring anyway. Oh well

 

[T-handle]

I say again...

I will only generalize because every month schedules change, especially from summer to winter, and every domicile and equipment varies. But yes, you can see days OFF anywhere from 12-20. The more important thing is where you are based and which aircraft (Saab or AVRO). The Saab schedules have always been historically better than the AVRO. However, the AVRO is very senior on the captain side. Many AVRO CAs here are staying here for retirement.

Pre 9/11, (in the saab) you would've have expected to sit reserve maybe 6-8 months? before picking up a line (12-14 days off). I have been here over 2 years and commute from the west coast and get 14-17 days off. I think the movement on the AVRO side is a bit slower because of the seniority.

For example, next month schedules (June) historically have always been lower on the days off mainly due to the pick up of summer travel. But July and August improve. That's why I say I can get 14 to 17 off. CAs in some cases can get 19-20 days OFF. And that is great for commuting.

Hang in there. Not sure if Mesaba HR is taking resumes/apps even to just file, but wouldn't hurt to look into. If you're still looking for a regional job in a year or two, look us up. Things will be better around here. We should have a great contract and hopefully CRJs on property.

 

[Biggie]

Thanx for the info, dude. Right now jet time isn't a problem for me as I'm about to upgrade in the -135R, and I'm lucky to get 30-40 hrs/month. I hear good things about Mesaba, though.
If I can just get a PSA guy to respond........
(and you're right , I live in CMH!)

 

[j41driver]

Biggie,

I'm not a PSA pilot and I don't know any specifics about the actual working conditions there, but I would be careful looking for employment at any of the USAirways wholly owned carriers. Think Comair, ASA, & ACA as these carriers seem to be doing better than others. Comair and ACA have CVG bases as well. Just my two cents. Good luck with the upgrade!

 

[Biggie]

Thanx again, but do you mean ASA as opposed to ACA? Just wonderin'. Besides, that's the beauty of the Guard, I've always got it to fall back on.

 

[bluestuck]

Avoid PSA like the plague. they are having major problems with mainline right now. Great airplane though, but the contract is a concessionary piece of crap.

Also, the earlier poster was right, ACA has a DorkJet base in Cinci as well as Comair's main hub.

 

[Anaconda]

if you live in OH are you considering comair? obviously the major player in OH, i would think that would be a logical choice. they would love a guy with your experience

mesaba dudes...i hear a lot about your great schedules, but how much do they block? last i heard they were in the low 70's. kind of hard to enjoy 18 days off a month if you aren't getting paid squat. just curious, and wondering if the situation has changed.

has avro tng finally shifted to MSP?

 

[T-handle]

Well actually now at Mesaba the block time is starting to come back up to normal 82-88 credit, but yea the days off are starting to dwindle down. Over the winter we were getting great days off but with only guarantee pay (75 hours). You win some you lose some.

The captain lines are still low on credit, but the FO lines have picked up again. But even pre 9/11, I'd say our schedules were among the best for a regional carrier.

"has avro tng finally shifted to MSP?"

Not sure what you mean... lol it's a little early in the morning.

 

[Biggie]

Yea, I'm definitely considering Comair, and now ACA since they have a CVG base.Just considering all options in the area right now, though. I'll have to wait to get back from Southwest Asia (the Big Sand Box) at the end of July before I make any moves.
Here's a thought: How difficult is it to get CVG based with ACA?

 

[Anaconda]

when i interviewed at mesaba the avro tng was in england and berlin (- the basic indoc). i still follow the company and had heard that you all were building a tng center in msp and the sim from england was moving there. just curious...

as for aca, i haven't heard anything about cvg yet, i think it just started this month (?) i would think it might be popular, given the other choices of bases on that thing (lga and bos). however, that's just my opinion...

 

[j41driver]

All recent FRJ newhires here at ACA have been assigned to CVG. Classes are starting every Monday and they alternate betweeen CRJ one week and FRJ the next. I think all of the recent CRJ newhires have been assigned to ORD. We've got a bunch of resume's on file so if you are thinking about coming here you should act quickly. Also, a referral from a current ACA pilot will generally get you an interview within a week or two. Hope that helps. Good luck either way!

 

[Biggie]

Thanks a bunch, that does help, but like I said before I really can't do much until my turn in the barrel (Middle East rotation) is done.Probablyaround the end of the summer. Thanks for the info, though!

 

[I'm Q]

Mesaba training has all moved to MSP. We've still got about 8 guys on furlough, the last 4 called back are being recalled into the Avro. Movement is going to be slow for a while, if you get on expect reserve or ready reserve with 10 days off a month for a while. Some pilots are leaving but it's slow. Lines, once you hold one, are pretty good and, as previously stated, credit for FO's is 85+ hours on average with 13 to 17 days off average depending on your domicile. I've heard training is improving. Our contract is up in June and the company is dragging its feet big time. However, it looks like we've got a couple of good bulldog union reps that aren't going to roll over (I hope).

 

[Anaconda]

just curious what you mean by "training is improving"?

thanks for the info.

 

[T-handle]

LOL ok Anaconda I figured out what you meant by "tng".. training. I'm slow..
anyways, yea we have a brand new training facility in MSP and it's cool. It's only 50% done, but we've been using the open half since about Feb. We have 1 saab sim and an avro sim, with one more Saab sim being certified soon or may be done now. not sure.

 

[I'm Q]

I've HEARD, not yet experienced, that training is more standardized and consistent. This is supposed to be happening with testing as well.

 

[BoredToDeath]

Biggie,

If your still interested in life at PSA from what i heard last week we are interviewing even though there is all this mess going on here.

This month at one base there is 37 hard lines 4 build ups and 6 reserve lines.

Avg credit hours of the 37 hard lines is 90.86

Days off avg 12 - 2 lines with 15, 8 with 14, 11 with 13, 12 with 12, and 4 with 10 off.

For commuters the lines have gotten much better. This month I fly 4 on 3 off.

I posted our new pay rates (not industry leading, but at least its more) on another thread here somewhere.

good luck

 

[Biggie]

BoredToDeath,
Thanks for all the information. I really do appreciate it. I'm definitely considering PSA when I get back.