morerightrudder

Had a buddy just get picked up by Mesa. Can you opt for paper charts if you don't want to fork out for an iPad?

And are there plans to try and amend the contract, or is the 2008-2010 one staying as is?

sulkair

Yes, you can opt for paper Jepps.

We are in section 6 negotiations as we speak for a better contract. I don't expect we will reach a tenative agreement easily or soon, but the process is underway.

prior121

I came from Republic and I can tell you this place is WAY better. I got in at the beginning of this wave, and I'm able to hold a line out east. Some senior FOs here are all doom and gloom but I can tell you the grass isn't any greener at other Regionals. (aside from maybe skywest)

The chief pilots are on your side which is a nice change after being at the nightmare known as RAH.

The training department goes above and beyond. They wan't you to succeed.

If and when the 30 EJETS come there will be some serious movement at this place. Currently this airline only has something like 70 airplanes another 30 plus 9 more 900s on top of the 9 that came this summer is a lot of new flying for a relatively small pilot group. (750 or so on the seniority list) I predict guys hired this spring will be able to upgrade if they have the time.

Of course none of these airplanes could come and everything could continue being mostly stagnant here. I expect the worst and hope for the best.

Mesa does hub basing so most of the stuff is commutable. Not too many deadheads in the parings. (Again I'm comparing these trips to RAH where a 3 day would have 3-4 deadheads, start and end in an outstation 4:30am shows and 11pm releases on the last day, these kinda trips don't exist for the most part at Mesa)

The EFB is nice. No jepp revisions, no carrying around a big bag full of charts. Ya you have to buy it but then you can use it for whatever else you want. Obviously no restriction like FedEx and the sort. I know some of those guys are carrying around 2 IPADS one for personal use and one for flying. That seems like more of a hassle than its worth. You can buy a used one thats refurbished for $200 or $300.

sulkair

9 more CRJ 900's on top of the new 9 already online? Hadn't heard about that. Details?

I appreciate the post prior121, it is good to get some perspective, and to be honest, it helps my attitude to hear those things because after having two airframes parked out from under me, being bounced out of 3 bases, and suffering a downgrade with its 40% pay cut, it is easy to become discouraged.

I'm hoping desperately things continue in the right direction.

prior121

I know guys that were around during bankruptcy went through a lot. It sucks what happened here 08-10. But, I think Mesa is in a good position. Aside from Hawaii they don't have any 50 seaters left. Mainline doesn't want 50 seaters, they don't make money. Period. They want these 700/900s because they make money. Skywest, ExpressJet, TSA, those guys all have a lot of 50 seaters flying around.

Slats

Ah, but we at OO also have a lot of 700/900s and 300 175 and MRJ orders inked and unlike many other carriers, OO financed their own airplanes. Gotta remember if Unjted does give you the 30 THEY financed, they can shuffle them around however they see fit... Look at the big picture.

prior121

I totally get this argument. But I think that's why the company isn't requiring it. Just like you said, to each their own. For me it's how do I value my time? That 4-5 hours I would spend a month doing Jepp revisions I get back with having an ipad makes the one time purchase worth it to me.

I agree that KCM should be paid for by the company. But, when it comes to $2.50 a month, I'll give in. I paid for it by skipping my coffee one morning during the entire month. Again I don't blame the guys for holding out but I don't think JO cares if all of the pilots partake or none of the pilots partake. If everyone holds out I don't see him changing his mind about paying for it. He is a business man, and we (mesa) are contractors, nothing more, its about the bottom line at the regional airline level.

prior121

I left the industry for a bit and worked on wall street. You need to also look at the big picture. Which airline is consistently the #1 or #2 on time performer for UAX for the past 2-3 years? I don't see that changing. UAL would never want to put all their regional feed into one basket. Are you saying that it would be a wise business move to award 30 more aircraft to a regional feed that is about to operate 100 of that type already for UAL? You guys do have a lot of 700/900s plus EJET orders. But how many 200's do you guys have to shed?

Forgive the grammatical errors as I'm typing from my Ipad.

Slats

The shedding of 50's will occur yes, but the 175s and MRJs also replace those airframes. I promise the 50s will no go away entirely as OO operates many of them and the Bro on "at Risk" contracts and makes $$$ doing it... Now you want to talk on time performance? Here's last quarters ontime performance ranked by the DOT

1. Hawaiian
2. Frontier
3. Alaska
4. SkyWest

Ect...


Now the shear capacity we operate in ie United, Delta, Airways, Alaska and Eagle is pretty impressive. I think Mesa was #16.

prior121

I'm uninterested in on time performance as far as Mesa goes as a whole. Go! lacks and Us Air Express side has not done well lately due to implementing new aircraft with no ACARS.

I'm specifically looking at the United Express feed and which regional carrier is consistently the #1 performer. The answer is Mesa. I guarantee management at UAL pays some serious attention to that when awarding new flying.

These aircraft cannot be awarded to OO because OO is not an ALPA airline. I completely forgot about that. These 30 can only be awarded to an ALPA airline.

I'd rather not go back and forth on this subject any longer. We are both only line pilots and it's shaking a crystal ball debating new flying or loss of flying to either Skywest of Mesa.