How about more than 10 years as a captain!

Regarding this ASAP situation, I spoke with our MEC Chair, and he brought up a few good points. The Delta pilots lost their ASAP program for the same reasons we did. Parallel investigations. American is in the same boat. Why should we submit ASAP reports when we can just submit an ASRS report and not risk getting disciplined by the company and still get the same certificate protection? If the company wants to have a true safety culture then they will get ASAP back. Also, Delta is getting thier ASAP back according to our MEC chair with a side letter that will prohibit "parallel investigations". This is how ASAP was intended to operate. When they get their ASAP program back, Delta will require all the connection carriers to have an ASAP program. The only way we will be able to fly for Delta will be to get it back. Unless they liquidate us, I think we will be getting it back.

He also said our fleet is right where our agreement says it should be. The new Mesaba aircraft were already slated to be "awarded" from a northwest deal 16 months ago. It wasn't a surprise. We haven't lost any more aircraft than was planned more than a year ago. They are letting the leases expire on the 50's and even one 70 is set to expire, but we'll see if they return it.

As far as a merger, there are no plans for one now with Mesaba. A merger with Compass is not likely as they are considered Northwest pilots and are represented by the Northwest MEC. A merger with Mesaba could happen, but management will fight it for the benefit of whipsaw. It may be forced if three conditions are met. I can't remember all three, but the first two are like equipment, and commonality of dispatch, maintenance, scheduling, etc... They are already heading in that direction as we had a Pinnacle 900 in the hangar today and we will surely be working on Mesaba equipment in the future. It doesn't make sense to have separate scheduling, dispatch, and maintenance from a cost perspective, which is what management is all about.

The flex line value saves the company 3-4 million a year. This is because when the lines go over 72 hours, the sick calls go up and they start paying out that money for people not working. When you call in sick, they now pay 2 people to do that trip - one at home and one in the seat. I guess when the lines get up into the 80's, people start making adjustments to their schedules using sick time. Either that, or they get sick a lot more from all that flying and exposure to passengers!

I for one wouldn't mind at all having a 76 hour line if I had 16 days off every month, but my 76 hour line gives me exactly 0 additional days off compared to my 84 hour lines of the past and sometimes less - unless you consider 29-34 hours in ALB or PWM a day off.

Remember, I'm just repeating what the MEC chair told me in our 15 minute conversation. He dispelled rumors, told ALPA's side of the ASAP story and was willing to answer any questions I had. They will be in ops all this week. I suggest if you see one to sit down with them and get ALPA's side. They may not be communicating that well, but it was good to get to talk with them and hear something besides the company's twisted version of the story.