Originally Posted by
bradeku1008
Chuck was saying that we are all going to be a Sabb class in February. Unless something has changed and a lot of people didn't want to upgrade to the Q400. Hopefully we will be able to pick our own base if in the first class, but it looks like they need pilots out of IAD.
Very few Saab FOs want to "upgrade" (really this would be a transition) to the Q unless it means also upgrading to captain, as the FO pay is the same in either aircraft. I'm not sure why anyone would put themselves through training just to come out the other side making the same amount of money, and now possibly seat-locked, although I suppose if you lived in NY area, you may want the EWR base. Some also just want to mix it up a bit and do something different. Otherwise, for me, when given the choice of remaining an IAH based Saab FO or a IAH based DH4 FO, I'm staying put. But that's just me, and most everyone I know.
As for the "new" Saab flying out of IAD for United, those are just the airplanes we already have on hand that are no longer doing US Airways flying out of LGA. We didn't get any more Saabs that I'm aware of.