How many crews per A/C does Mesaba have? 20?

 

9-10 PILOTS (5 crews) per jet. 10-12 pilots (6 crews) per Saab. Roughly.

Our current seniority list ends at roughly 600. It will be in the neighborhood of 975-1000 by the end of 2008 to staff 49 Saabs and 36 CR9's at current utilization rates.

 

If Mesaba hires 400 people this year (like they said when I interviewed), that equates to 200 crews, which means they have pilots for 40 new airplanes...something doesn't add up...

 

Did you miss the part where they also talked about attrition and increased utilization on the Saabs?

 

The 400 is inflated in my personal opinion. I am sure that number included an attrition cushion and planning for furlough returns. Mesaba was planning for 60 or less furloughs to return, Ends up being just shy of 100. Attrition has been holding at about 15 per month, but that has slowed some now that we are in growth mode again. They will always staff well ahead of the deliveries and pay pilots to sit reserve so as not to be in a bind when the airplanes are coming. Lots of factors can delay training, so they will staff ahead for the CR9. All of that adds into the 400 number they were/are adverting for this year, which really probably means in the next 12 months.

Remember, part of the interview process is to sell you the company. Don't read too much into what you may have been told at the interview. They will always paint the most optimistic outlook they can.

 

if MES gets 15 RJ's this year, that equates to 75 crews. you have at least 250 people left. The first new hire class starts April 23, so they won't be ready until June. in 7 months to lose 250 pilots seems excessive (35+ a month)

Maybe they'll just run more routes or more crews. Hey if the 900 picks up some slack for the DC-9, that'd make sense.

 

Start off on the right foot,don't say this around the mainline guys.

 

I said it to see if any of the mainline guys were reading the thread...Like dumping water into a grease fire...

 

Don't you know it!!!

 

XJ, what are you flying?