cybourg10

If it amkes all the sense on the world you can bet that airline management is not thinking it. Do not count on new airframes until you are in the cockpit of one. If DAL/NWA is planning on giving Mesaba the 7 freedums a/c why are they temporarily giving them to Pinnacle? I hope that Mesaba is getting new a/c but just because airlines are hiring does not mean future growth, airlines have repeatedly been horrible at determining staffing numbers. Just look at Comair recently. Again I hope this is not the case but lets not ever rule out incompetence from airline management.

bored

Why Pinnacle temporarily? Simple, the merger is not done yet. Until then we have no infastructure to fly for DL. It would also take a capasity agreement to have Xj fly for another mainline carrier. Why sign one, when we'll be wholly owned in a few months. Pinnacle has the ability to fly for DL at a moments notice. After the merger which is expected to take place by the end of the year, we'll be wholly owned and DL can do what they wish with us. Until then, it's all controlled by NWA.

Trust me, XJ pilots that were hired before last spring know all about "we'll believe it when we see it." I bet even the ones that are post Ch11 have learned quickly about this business. We can all sit around pretenting something may or may not happen, but the facts speak for themselves. The matter in which this second hiring boom started proves that we're not hiring just for some off chance phenomena.

cybourg10

Sounds good but you have to understand this hiring "boom" does not prove anything. We can speculate all day long but the only proof is when the aircraft have Mesaba pilots in them. I agree with your prediction but there is no proof, yet. I am just pointing out that airlines (esp regional airlines) have hired based on expected aircraft deliveries only to have the plans change and then turn around and furlough. It happened to a wholly owned carrier named Comair recently and I am not convinced the same can't happen at Mesaba. I hope it does not but there is no proof, there is speculation.

bored

You make a good point, but Comair "had them" and then "didn't have them" for a very short time. True, there is no public proof that we're growing or even surviving the merger. There is no proof in the form of a press release. But there is proof based on action. Actions speak louder than words and the actions are obvious, not subtle.

We've hired and trained large numbers for nearly 2 months now. Granted, if this stuff falls through, then we'll be staffed for our status quo fleet. If not, then we'll be on our way to further growth. Yes, things can change overnight. We've had planes headed our way that never materialized in full force once before... pre Ch11. Many know how that turned out.

jayray2

I hear that. Is this normal? Lines with 13/14 days off and not even breaking guarantee.

bored

Re schedules - this happens every fall. Remember NWA controls where/when we fly. There is always a capasity reduction mid August going into Sept, Oct and most of November and then before Thanksgiving flying picks up again. What you're seeing is the flying being spread around, resulting in low credits, but it usually yields more days off. 13/14 is still better than straight reserve and 11... count your blessings.

FurloughedAgain

To Recent Mesaba Newhires:

What type of enforcement does Mesaba have in regards to their requirement of one "surrendering" their seniority with other carriers?

I am aware that they ask if you are willing to do it during the application process, and it is also part of the "Pilot Agreement" that you sign and turn in at the interview... but... come class date, is there any enforcement or verification?

Anyone with first-hand experience who wants to chime in, please do so.

Oh and I'm looking for some detailed information if anyone has it.. not just Yes they do, or No they don't.

Thanks!


-FA

bored

Yes they do... and they're taking it seriously. The new hire has to send a letter to their former HR and XJ will follow up.

DeltaPaySoon

Cybourg,

There are many rational answers to your questions but I'm not sure any will make you feel better. The one big one for me is the Anderson factor. It is no secret that R. Anderson knows Mesaba and probably has personal financial interest in Mesaba or knows people VERY close to him that does. He is much closer to the people at Mesaba with regard to relationships than he ever will be with Comair. I can't answer why Comair got the planes and lost them outside of the fact that they did.

The Pinnacle deal makes total sense. You already have airplanes dressed in Delta colors. Why make them wait for brand new ones over the next "x" months when you can wait until the deal is done and deliver the new birds appropriately.

You have fair questions while simply retreating from the past beatings but what we are seeing is FAR from past practices. If all of what they are doing and what we know so far is just for more lines on current aircraft, it's the biggest unnecessary snow job in recent memory and that goes back pretty far.

Also, what we are seeing right now in terms of hiring is NOT general staffing; it's preparing. There is a big difference. I know the situation you speak of well but this is not the same.

__________________
"Wait....Wait....Wait..and boom goes the dynamite."

bored

Comair "had" the Freedom planes for a short time because Comair decided they didn't want to spend the $$$ to operate planes on a temporary basis. Perhaps it was Comairs fault for announcing something that wasn't fully disclosed or thought out.