New Compass news?
 

Alright, I haven't heard anything for a while about Compass so I was wondering if anyone has heard anymore news about the airline. Are they calling for interviews. If so any of you guys want to let us know what they are saying.
What are you NWA guys thinking about this whole deal now...good...bad?

When are they going to start taking delivery of aircraft?
Any other news would be nice too :D

They are now operating out of the mesaba training center.

Huh? What's operating out of the Mesaba training center?

hmmm, my crystal ball says mesaba and compass become one,, and then are sold to the highest bidder in,, ohh,,, 3 years

Compass is still headquartered in Chantilly VA (at least as of two days ago when I talked on the phone with somebody there...). I didn't get any indication that they were going to up and move their offices over the last two days, especially given the fact that they fall under the scope of the IAD FSDO and are right in the final stages of certification...

They might be setting up to do interviews in Eagan since it will be easier/cheaper to fly people on NWA to that location than to IAD. Especially given the changes that I have heard about their interview process.

Interviews in MSP. We just set up our first 727 simulator prep. Details as they emerge....

OK, I got a call to do an interview on the 10th or 13th but don't have off so I won't be interviewing till the 23rd now. Anybody have any help or tips on what to look over. I assume a standard SIM ride, maybe a 50 question ATP written, and some HR stuff. Anyone?
Anybody else heard any other news?

Oh and what would they be doing with a 727 SIM?

Ah lowering the bar even further by having Compass taking over DC-9 flying.

What's unfortunate is that NWA pilots gave it away...

Compass will not fly the DC-9. The 727 sim is to eval pilot skill in the case of a flow up situation. NWA is parking 9's. haveshavenots first post...do some recearch before you post your second.

I believe his point was they are parking the nines because of Compass.

I am not b1tching mind you, I have just had my 6th ride in a row on a soldout CRJ and would love to see something bigger with a 1st class cabin on the route.

They may be parking the nines. And some of the 170's will most likely be flying on the routes currently flown by the nines, at least until the 190 comes to NWA.

However keep in mind, that Compass isn't a managment created alter-ego/union busting airline like Big Sky, Go-Jets or Freedom, designed to put mainline pilots out of work. It was designed through a negotiated side letter with the NWA MEC.

In the end, it's the NWA pilots that cut their nose off and created Compass.

I've got answers. NWA is parking the 9's because of their high cycles. They're just running out of time. AND Mesaba will begin CRJ 900 service soon 64/12 seating, you'll get your wish.

i don't think that he meant that nwa was giving away the dc-9's......just there flying(i.e. to rj's at rj rates)

I thought NWA spent millions a few years ago refurbishing much of their DC-9 fleet. I heard it was new engines and avionics. They decided to that rather than buy new planes. This was before thngs went crashing down for them. If they park the 9s, it may be for other reasons other than they're hitting high time. I could be wrong...

New engines and avionics don't erase all the hours on the airframe.

They shouldn't have conceded it then. Don't sell the farm and then later whine that it's no longer yours.

While others parked 727's and dc-9 nwa flew them on they convinced the faa they would upgrade them and they would get another 5 years outta them. Times coming due. They leased engines instead of building them. Thats running thin. Cycles.

Xtreme, how long did it take to get the call since you submitted the app ???
What are the competitive mins??? As I understand are they pretty much looking for captains (FO's that can upgrade in 2-6 months).

Their website still says online app available in the next two weeks. Like it has said since late Jan.

Might want to refresh your screen. The link to the online app for Compass has been up and running since March 12.

who does mesaba lease their sims from?

Yep. Did it last week. Took two tries to attach a resume.doc though.

How many seats on their version of the E-175?

I think it was a little over 4 weeks. I don't really know what times are competitve as I haven't made it to the interview yet or offered a job :D

Have done my research enough to know that the DC-9 that I'm sitting in right now is going to get parked in favour of RJ's. If people wouldn't buy into to flying shiny new jets for poverty wages, management would be forced to raise the working conditions and pay.
Evidence the charter comapany I was working for during my second furlough. We were leaving so fast, the President finally raised wages and fixed the scheduling.
How much research have you done FXJ1?
I feel bad for these guys that are at crappy regionals thinking that they are going to get on with a major and have been forced to sit at their company for years and years. Does anyone honestly think Compass is going to be a great place to work with quick advancement?
Ha!

New Compass News
 

Have done my research enough to know that the DC-9 that I'm sitting in right now is going to get parked in favour of RJ's. If people wouldn't buy into to flying shiny new jets for poverty wages, management would be forced to raise the working conditions and pay.
Evidence the charter comapany I was working for during my second furlough. We were leaving so fast, the President finally raised wages and fixed the scheduling.
How much research have you done?
I feel bad for these guys that are at crappy regionals thinking that they are going to get on with a major and have been forced to sit at their company for years and years. Does anyone honestly think Compass is going to be a great place to work with quick advancement?
Ha!

I don't think this way and I'm not at a crappy regional. We (I) want to fly jets, I fly a SAAB. Someday I will fly jets and I will like it our I will find another job. I'm NOT at poverty wages and I do just fine. If I don't take the job someone else will. To say "If people wouldn't buy into to flying shiny new jets for poverty wages, management would be forced to raise the working conditions and pay." is crazy talk.

Upgrade to the A320 and get on with life. Not to be mean but if you don't want to fly your A320 for $140,000 a year...I will.

If you're flying a Saab and are happy with your pay, I'd like to know where you work. The only two in the contiguous US flying Saab's are Mesaba & Colgan. Working for either one, you sure aren't too far above the poverty line so don't kid yourself. To say you're doing fine sounds like you've accepted the terrible pay and workrules that so many have been forced to take in the a** these past few years.

The only "crazy talk" I'm seeing here is your sounds of contentment working at insulting pay rates. I doubt we'll ever be seeing you on a picket line, but rather, one of the first to accept flying a bigger airplane for less money than a Greyhound bus driver.

Well, he's obviously at Mesaba... I'm not sure how you could miss that one since you're so in tune with everything. You don't even know what seat/experience he holds, so I'm not sure how you have any idea what the pay is. I encourage you to compare XJ (Mesaba, since you apparently didn't know) rates to other SAAB rates, and report back to us about how much below (or just barely above) the poverty level it is.

I guess in all this I have learned that there are a FEW out there that don't care what choice you make....as long as it benifits them. I think I have done more than my share to help out the industry. I can listen to everyone's sad story of how bad they had it, but that doesn't change my choices about living at home. I am the kind of person that can value sitting at home on RSV. I am the person that bids Call Me Last and is happy to receive that check for working around the house :D . I wish I could fix the industry, but unfortunately I am over-qualified as I have more actual instrument time than most new hires to the CJR have today. So I dont want to here you wimpering cries about me taking a jet job because the several thousand hours of T-prop time aren't helping me pay the student loans. I hardly think anyone qualified to apply at Compass has "SJS" as they must first have 1000 multi time and from I can see most ppl getting interviews are vastly exceeding this. Name one other regional that is picking up such qualified applicants. I don't even work for them and I am tired of ppl bad mouthing them.

It sounds like you are well qualified. I guess I don't understand why well qualified people like you wouldn't hold out for a job that meets their qualifications instead of accepting something lower.
You won't be sitting at home on reserve. You'll be calling in fatique because the company is running at redline. That's how NWA (Compass)runs. Talk to a few guys on reserve who bid reserve on purpose because they think they will be sitting at home.
You are right, there are few out there that don't care what choice you make as long as it benefits them. NWA Management is benefitting richly because people are willing to lower the bar instead of holding fast and demanding that they do the right thing and pay the right wages.
On another subject, the DC-9's have plenty of cycles on them. The scab mechanics are spreading the word that the reason we are having so many mechanicals is that we have old airplanes. This is simply false. As long as the DC-9's are maintained correctly by experienced mechanics, they are bullet proof. Wait the experienced mechanics got fired.:mad:
In any event, whatever career path you choose I wish you the best.

Wrong...
Wrong...
MESABA has a fleet of SAAB's and it is a GOOD place to work. I AM far from the poverty line.
If your intent was to upset me...you didn't, however I WILL PICKET and I would take a job flying larger planes.

Go cry on your wife/grilfriends shoulder and get over yourself. Times have changed and will most likely change again.

So I took the time to research the facts for the benefit of everyone. ALPA is responsible for the "poverty line" comparisons. It simply is not true.

When you look at Federal Register Vol. 72 No.15 dated January 24, 2007 (pages 3147-3148) you will find that the 2007 Federal poverty level for a household of 1 is: $10,210 in the lower 48. For a family of 2 it is: $13,690.

The average line in MEM on the Saab at Mesaba credits 89.04 hours with 270.50 hours away from base. At starting F/O pay of $22.81, that equates to:

$2031.00/month flight pay
$419.28/month per-diem
Per Diem is reimbursement for expenses, so when we are talking about poverty, it must be included since you are using it to buy food, dry cleaning, movies, etc.

So we have $2450.28/month or $29,403.36 per year

Even using fuzzy math, that is 288% of the poverty line for 1 or 215% of the poverty line for two.

Okay, even worst case (reserve in base and don't fly) 75 hour guarantee. no per-diem, puts you at $20,529 per year. That is still well above "poverty."

I am not arguing that it is enough, or fair, or a "decent living" but it is certainly not poverty wages.

Incidentally, federal minimum wage is $10,712 per year.

Don't mean to jack your thread, but I wish AWAC's parings and lines were that efficient...

REALLY? WOW. I think you confused 'was' and 'is'. Well I hope thats the case anyway.

No kidding, I just did the math. 270 hrs/24 = 11 days 6 hours "on the road". That's 18+ days off in a month, and about 7:54 mins of block EACH DAY. Damn, ya'll need to talk to our schedulers.

Many of you in this forum actually believe it's over for this industry. Times change. Some times are good some times are bad. I believe we are about to see an upswing! So all of you who think people like me are doomed, get another job that makes YOU happy. Then when the time comes when new contract raise the scale, I'll be here plugging along. You, on the other hand, wiil be complaining on THAT industrys forum on how you're getting scr*ewed.;)

Well, I wish it was that good. Those numbers also average 11.8 days off per month.

Found this nibble in the 'Upstart' forum.

Compass ...They are also "guaranteeing" a NWA job after 2.5 years.

That's nice of them.

I would think that as NWA removes the 9 in favor of the 175, the success of NWA would depend on keeping you out of the mainline and at compass.