Gordon C

Mesaba running low on cash
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal - 9:42 AM CDT Tuesday

Mesaba Airlines could deplete its $21 million cash balance by Sept. 1, a top official of the Minneapolis-based carrier warned a bankruptcy judge yesterday, according to media reports.

The feeder carrier for Northwest Airlines Corp. appeared in federal bankruptcy court to ask the judge to throw out its labor contracts. The hearing is expected to continue Tuesday.

Mesaba filed for bankruptcy protection last fall after Northwest (Pink Sheets: NWACQ) did the same. Mesaba, owned by Minneapolis-based Mair Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MAIR), has not been able to negotiate a labor contract with its flight attendants, pilots or mechanics.

Browntail

Now there's a big surprise for you!

RJ85FO

Due to the fact that they pipelined Millions up to MAIR prior to filing backruptcy so it looked like they were worse off financially than they actually were.

The SLT at Mesaba is a joke. They couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag yet be expected to save a company from absolute financial destruction.

Latest crew room rumor is that NWA is going to shift 50 CRJ's from Pinnacle to Mesaba to replace the Avro's that are retiring. This will likely happen post Aug 1 after Mesaba imposes it's terms and the files injunctions to prevent union strikes. Mesaba will then be operating CRJ's at less cost than any other regional including Mesa. Just the way NWA wants it. (F/O year 1 pay will be 18.97/hr) How's that for a liveable wage?!

Expect mass exodus from here if that happens.

Browntail

To be replaced by mass influx of flight school academy and CFI wannabe's who will glady fly the RJ for $18.97/hr! Result is no reason to raise the pay!

RJ85FO

Sad but more than likely true.

The next step down the ladder at regionals will be the fact that airlines like Mesaba will pair up with flight schools and hire only Private/Instrument rated pilots. Their Commercial/Multi checkride will be integrated with the SIC type rating in the CRJ or ERJ. Since they will have only 100 hours total time and 0 multi time, the pay can further drop to say MINIMUM F-ING WAGE per block hour. No need for per-diem, and hotels will be replaced by a pop up camper owned by the airline and parked just outside airport property. You will walk to it. Personal grooming will be done at the airport bathroom, showers obviously will be optional.

Then the trend will be that the pilots will be responsible for subscribing to and carrying their own appropriate charts and manuals. Why not? Mechanics are required to buy their own tools.

Browntail

You are right. Where does it stop?

RJ85FO

It stops in about 15-20 more years when the pilots are no longer necessary and the aircraft fly themselves. This is what airlines want, this is what the manufacturers want. Even the FAR's support it. Currently they say that "no person may act as...."

Dispatch will control all the aircraft movements from their armchairs in an office building. Labor will be out of the question and profits will be restored. The technology exists.

Browntail

Then you will have people paying to fly the planes remotely!

RJ85FO

HA! We're doomed.

Brav989

I personally would never step foot in an aircraft remotely controlled. If control was lost for some reason then who the hell could be inside the aircraft and land it? Oh wait..