Originally Posted by
wt932051
Mesa also did not anticipate this to happen with the EJets, but it is still possible in a way for a CLT Captain to get displaced in Oct/Nov etc, and instead of going to DFW they downgrade to FO in CLT and wait until they get to the end to go to DFW/IAD/PHX or wherever and then rebid/upgrade to the EJET. So unless Mesa issues one massive displacement with dates from OCT to June, you can expect some Captains to downgrade to get over to the EJet. Its just another flaw in the contract Mesa will try to avoid and I don't think has really thought much about. It is possible with displacements and downgrades to get and upgrade in the Ejet now. Good Luck Guys/Gals!
That's a fantasy--Mesa isn't that dumb, and they are wayyyyy too cost conscious to allow senior CLT CAs to downgrade for even a day, knowing that it'll create two training events down the road (an EJet upgrade and a CRJ upgrade to backfill).
They know very well that CLT CAs might try to involuntarily downgrade to do exactly what you're saying, which is why they'll either:
a) Run a huge all-pilot/all-base system standing bid, ensuring that IAH/EJet is blocked from any existing CRJ CA (and that no involuntary displacements to FO occur).
and/or
b) Close CLT all at once, and if they need a short draw-down period, TDY CAs & FOs back to CLT from DFW/IAD/ORD/PHX for up to 112 days as they gradually wind down CLT operations (alternatively, they could easily cover any remaining CLT flying with IAD reserves)
What I'm saying is there is no way Mesa will fuddle up the CLT and ORD drawdowns in a way that allows any CLT/ORD captains to be involuntarily displaced to FO--they know better.
Do you see a single ORD captain being involuntarily displaced to ORD FO? Nope. They aren't gonna close it in a way that lets that happen.