I completely agree with you. It sounds to me like IF they take the options on the 30 Q400s this could be a really great spot to be in. You can talk all you want then about an ORD or DEN base (the Mesaba check airman in my interview even mentioned is as a possibility, but then again, it's a possibility for a meteor to drop out of the sky and into my house right now too). If the options don't come, well I'm looking to sit on the bottom of this newly formed master seniority list for quite a while, though there's going to be movement everywhere in the next few years. I think this new contract makes the decision a lot easier. I haven't read the whole thing, but I've seen the highlights and it seems like you're not going to find a better deal at any regional (though that statement reeks of Comair circa 2000, sooooo...). Bottom line, for me, and what I'm doing at this point in my life I think this is a good place for me to be. That might not always be the case, but I'm excited and I think the potential exists to be in a good position if things work out well. If not, well, maybe I'll go be a truck driver. Honestly I'm most curious how it's going to shake out when all these Mesaba guys start being able to bid the Q. Am I going to get halfway through ground school or two months on the line and have to start over in the Saab? Not that the Saab is some horrible scenario (it beats the Van I'm flying now), but just something I wonder about. Also, regarding upgrade times, the line captain in my interview upgraded in 4 years (could have done it in 3.5 in the Saab but held out for the Q). They were saying this pie in the sky stuff about it being 12-18 months, though I can't see any reason to believe it'd be less than 4, especially now that it's a list of 2000+ pilots instead of 500. But is there any place upgrading consistently in less than 4 years with a contract this good? Like I said, just because I'm realistic doesn't mean I'm not excited.

Anyone else starting on the 11th?