What now for Mesaba?

[PilotChapin]

So what's going to happen now at Mesaba with Delta taking away 10 of the 15 promised 900's?
Are you guys looking to furlough, displace or are you guys going to be ok? Did they already hire all the people for the 5 CRJ 900's?

 

[WMUSIGPI]

we are now overstaffed for the current plans (which could again change anytime) As of right now there have been no announcements as to what will happen because of this. Likely if no new flying comes along then there will probably be at least a realignment if not at least some furloughs, though they will also offer unpaid leaves before using furloughs, it just depends on what plane/base you are in right now. Looks as if we are more overstaffed on the FO side and probably could not have to downgrade anyone (other than maybe some of the Saab street captains who could be at risk of furlough...)

 

[Flybet3]

we are now overstaffed for the current plans (which could again change anytime) As of right now there have been no announcements as to what will happen because of this. Likely if no new flying comes along then there will probably be at least a realignment if not at least some furloughs, though they will also offer unpaid leaves before using furloughs, it just depends on what plane/base you are in right now. Looks as if we are more overstaffed on the FO side and probably could not have to downgrade anyone (other than maybe some of the Saab street captains who could be at risk of furlough...)

I agree. For now everything is just peachy. I asked around and it seems like we are a bit overstaffed, but like WMUSIGPI said it's mostly FO's. We have 1174 people or so on the seniority list and there are street captain between the 840ish to 950ish range I think. Worst case scenario is that a few of the street captains get downgraded but I really doubt a furlough. I'm very sure that by march or april we'll start to see time off with out pay being offered. That will surely help. Last time we had that there were more than enough people that took it and with that furloughs were prevented. Las time around "last year" we were REAAAAALLY overstaffed, by more than 200 if I remember hearing. So this time around we're not so severely overstaffed.
But who knows, thing change all the time and this year will make or brake many companies I believe. Two things could hurt mesaba, losing the 5 airplanes and/or losing the 17 CRJ 200's. Then we would see massive furloughs and what not.

 

[DoinTime]

I asked around and it seems like we are a bit overstaffed, but like WMUSIGPI said it's mostly FO's. We have 1174 people or so on the seniority list and there are street captain between the 840ish to 950ish range I think.

To put the overall staffing numbers in perspective XJ will have 107 airframes and 1174 pilots. PCL will have 140 airframes and 1306 pilots and our management thinks we are way overstaffed.

 

[XJohXJ]

To put the overall staffing numbers in perspective XJ will have 107 airframes and 1174 pilots. PCL will have 140 airframes and 1306 pilots and our management thinks we are way overstaffed.

That's just plain scary.

 

[flyboyike]

One thing this debacle shows is that with Delta, everybody's flying is in play at all times. Nobody can count on anything.

 

[rightseatjocky]

It was just a few weeks ago someone from Mesaba was gloating about getting all those 900's. It's amazing how fast Delta whipsaws us against each other.
I wouldn't be suprised if they were awarded to someone else before this is said and done with!!!

 

[WMUSIGPI]

The other bad thing coming up this spring is planes are scheduled to be pulled off line to get the new paint jobs thus causing even more overstaffing though as stated that would be a shorter term problem likely solved with voluntary time off without pay offerings.

 

[CptMurf]

It was just a few weeks ago someone from Mesaba was gloating about getting all those 900's. It's amazing how fast Delta whipsaws us against each other.
I wouldn't be suprised if they were awarded to someone else before this is said and done with!!!

Really?

I don't remember ANY gloating. But then again your post could be read in that light now, couldn't it?

 

[Metro752]

Really?

I don't remember ANY gloating. But then again your post could be read in that light now, couldn't it?

I do, but that's ok. Mesaba is the best thing ever.

They are so super awesome, I couldn't even get hired there!

 

[flyboyike]

It's amazing how fast Delta whipsaws us against each other.

What's even more amazing is how we (who are supposed to be so damn intelligent) keep letting them.

 

[Texx]

So what's going to happen now at Mesaba with Delta taking away 10 of the 15 promised 900's?
Are you guys looking to furlough, displace or are you guys going to be ok? Did they already hire all the people for the 5 CRJ 900's?

????????????

 

[Erlanger]

It was just a few weeks ago someone from Mesaba was gloating about getting all those 900's. It's amazing how fast Delta whipsaws us against each other.
I wouldn't be suprised if they were awarded to someone else before this is said and done with!!!

It's my understanding that it's not about whipsawing. It's all about the bottom line. The flying recently awarded went to the lowest bidder with conditions that most regionals couldnt live with and walked away from the table. Maybe it's the desperate that's taking the flying and I'm not refering to the ASA award.

 

[DoinTime]

It's my understanding that it's not about whipsawing.

Honest question.....where would that understanding come from? Have you engaged in lengthly conversation with the executives of Delta and the connection carriers regarding this?

Pilots will always be the victim of management shell games so long as we continue to believe that we have it all figured out.

 

[USCtrojan]

It's my understanding that it's not about whipsawing. It's all about the bottom line. The flying recently awarded went to the lowest bidder with conditions that most regionals couldnt live with and walked away from the table. Maybe it's the desperate that's taking the flying and I'm not refering to the ASA award.

You couldn't be, ASA is not the cheapest by a long shot right now!

Trojan

 

[OttoPilot]

Heard today that JR (DO) and DW (CP) came throught the Training Department and told the FTIs to expect to be "forlughed." Mesaba like to use the "F word" when it sends all of its union instructors back to the line. This could be ugly as there are numberous instructors with phantoms awards on the 900.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Not likely that most would be at risk of furlough. Perhaps being releaved of their instructing position and returned to whatever phantom position they hold to fly the line again but most FTI's are quite senior (to the point that we could pull all the jets and they'd still not get furloughed).

 

[Baronman]

You don't know who is the "cheapest." That's the thing. ASA may have submitted the lowest bid to fly those aircraft, in which case they may make the smallest margin or loss to fly them. What the pilots take home and what the company charges to fly the aircraft are independent.

 

[Texx]

It's my understanding that it's not about whipsawing. It's all about the bottom line. The flying recently awarded went to the lowest bidder with conditions that most regionals couldnt live with and walked away from the table. Maybe it's the desperate that's taking the flying and I'm not refering to the ASA award.

And why were the 900s removed from Freedom? The lowest cost of all DCI.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

"forlughed."... numberous...

Hopefully there won't be numberous forlughes.

 

[OttoPilot]

Hopefully there won't be numberous forlughes.

Apparently, numerous Captains. If you know what I mean.

 

[Ridgeback]

With al the tak on this thread about the "cheapest."

How much does mesaba cost, ASA, Comair, ect...

Yea, I didn't think you knew....

 

[sweptback]

ASA has the right to match the lowest bid for any new flying in ATL.

 

[Seaknight1]

ASA has the right to match the lowest bid for any new flying in ATL.

Was this a bid or an award? Does that include SLC as well or is that just for SkyWest?

 

[One Wing Low]

Wasnt there something in the latest agreement with Comair that said Comair was garunteed a certain percentage of new DCI flying? What happened there?

 

[RiddleEagle18]

Wasnt there something in the latest agreement with Comair that said Comair was garunteed a certain percentage of new DCI flying? What happened there?

None of this is "new" flying. It was all previously awarded to freedom. Delta sees this as a reallocation not an award.

 

[flyboyike]

Wasnt there something in the latest agreement with Comair that said Comair was garunteed a certain percentage of new DCI flying? What happened there?

Even if there were such a guarantee, it's not like Delta would honor it. They don't honor anything else, goodness knows.

 

[Tarzan]

Really?

I don't remember ANY gloating. But then again your post could be read in that light now, couldn't it?

Really?

yaaaaaaaaaaay!

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Well it looks as if Mesaba is the first safe regional...

The only question is how big will they get?

Saabs will be in ATL soon

Mesaba also was in the early stages of getting the ATR-72-600 for NorthWest...

 

[Tarzan]

Wasn't there something in the latest agreement with Comair that said Comair was guaranteed a certain percentage of new DCI flying? What happened there?

There lies the rub when it comes to being wholly owned. The question becomes, "Is Delta going to sue itself if it breaks the agreement?"

 

[CptMurf]

No different than these...

ASA finally gets some 900s, too bad they have to park 20 200s

but the 1st of 20 isn't leaving until 2010...have a feeling those at ASA are safe.

Told ya'.....damn its tough being right all the time.....

Except these are not XJ guys. Interesting they both use the "safe' word.

No gloating. In tough times you have to look out for you and yours. To wipe your brow and have a false since of security when you get good news is inevitable. Maybe they shouldn't have expressed their relief on a forum thread, but don't globally bash a pilot group for a few individual comments.