Just got the call today as well! Does Mesaba allow jumpseating throughout training... it seems that Pinnacle does not, but I know some other regionals do.

congrats souix. I just got the call today with an offer of employment also. Very excited to be a part of mesaba. Im also curious as to the jump seat policy in training. Also are there any good tips for preparing for training?

technically once you get you ID you can jumpseat all you want. The company wont be tracking which new hire is jumpseating. You just better make sure you are back in class ontime. CASS wont say new hire or anything like that and most gate agents wont care.. As long as your picture shows up and you have a passort you can go wherever the hell you want

Hey Sioux what are your times?

Hey p1kraft what are your times?

You can travel if you wish. It takes a few days for your information to be loaded into the NWA system.

If this is your first 121 training experience, I would strongly urge you to stay here the entire time up to completing the systems exam. Sometimes individuals will have 3-5 days off between systems exam and the start of SSI (Integration training). You may also have a break between the completion of your oral and the start of sim training.

There is an enourmous amount of information in the first 5 weeks. Even with every intention of studying when you go home, it is easy to put it off and that could effect your performance in class.

You are an adult and Mesaba will treat you like one. Free to make your own decisions about travelling while in training. Your responsibility is only to be on time for class, score 80% or above on exams, memorize the required material and learn your flows, calls and profiles. If you have been through 121 training before, you know what it takes. If you have not, consider my advice and plan to NOT travel during your initial training.

Good Luck and Welcome to Mesaba.

Hey thanks for the advice RJ85FO, I plan on staying there throughout training, just thought it might be good to observe some crews in action sometime during training... see how it actually flows in the cockpit.

Get on one of the flights from MSP-GFK-DVL. You should be back no problem with one of those. Oh, wait we all have a burning desire to get out of this lousy town. Who would want to come back?

During training I jumpseated on the MSP-LSE-MSP. Its about the right length flight and just a quick turn and you're back home. Doesn't have to be LSE specifically, just look for an out and back with about an hour block time. I wouldn't recommend any of the two legger flights out.

Ah yes...that is what we call a Fam-flight (familiarization). You can coordinate that through dispatch actually. It has some merit. I think it has the most benefit after a couple of sim sessions though. When you get out to the line, there are some subtle differences and some not so subtle ones. So when you go on the flight, just remember that you may see some stuff that is a bit different than how you will be expected to do it in the sim...airspeed control is a big one that comes to mind!! It'll be a learning experience no matter what though.

Enjoy, the Saab is a fun little airplane to fly actually.

Award was just posted. Most Junior Captain is around 477 (Jul 2003 hire date) on the list. Current list is sitting right around 660 total.

New hire in April 23rd class was most junior to be awarded MSP on the SF3 with Aug 1 move date.

The June 11 class will have 8 DTW Saab and 11 MEM Saab.
The June 18 class will have 6 MSP CRJ.

The first "new hire" in the April 23rd class is roughly 100 seniority numbers away from the most junior captain. Right now we are running about 20-30 upgrades per month. I'll leave the math to you.

Once again, welcome to Mesaba.

Any news on July classes?

Thanks for the good advice RJ Thats some good insight i could definetly use.

I counted 57 upgrades in August. I'm also expecting they'll revise it since they didn't include any MEM CA upgrades. The math is getting pretty damn easy around here. :cool:

so. the new hires that are eligible for upgrading could see a rapid upgrade, in 8-12 months.

Those of us that started this week haven't been able to log onto mymesaba and input our permanent bids yet... once we do, will that be reflected in the next vacancy? (what I'm getting at is, will we be able to be awarded DTW before the 6/11 new hires who are currently listed on the vacancy?)

No, you will have to bid a new base on the next vacancy, which I am quite sure will be posted in the next two weeks. The current move date is Aug 1. If another vacancy comes out with a move date of Aug 1, then you will all move together, otherwise it will be Sept 1 or later.

I cant remeber the commute policy. If say you are given Memphis or Minnie but still live in Detroit and are holding out for it can you do the commute? I know that keeps you away from home a bit longer and all. If so whats the word on finding crash pads in these cities?

July 2 - 13 Saab FO, 5 CR9 FO

DTW is very commutable, especially from MSP. The MEM commute is getting to be quite difficult due to loads. I have been using FedEx most of the time and always getting home.

Crash pads are everywhere. Just check the boards in the crew rooms and talk to other commuters. You'll find something easily.

Some additional news:

ALL CRJ200 equipment will be MSP based. So, if you take a CRJ200 class, you will be MSP based, period.

CR9 allocation is 11 MSP, 18 DTW, 7 MEM

Saabs will remain as they are now with 20 MSP, 19 DTW and 10 MEM.

Crew planning is forcasting 35 Saab Upgrade's per month, 15 CRJ200 Updgrades per month and 10 CRJ900 Upgrades per month.

Things are moving at about Mach .99 around here.

That is great news. Any idea how pilots will be on the roster when the last CRJ's come on the property?

I have heard somewhere around 1300...probably a little less than that.

Does that include those "options for 36 more" that everyone likes to throw out there as icing on the cake? Whats the deal with those options? I've heard some people say to ignore them and others say "NW doesn't ever NOT excercise options!" help a newbie...

RJ85, are they going to keep the same utilization of the SAAB's? I think the told us when I was up in MSP interviewing they they would start "utilizing" them more.

By the way, how is the SAAB out of MEM? That is what I am planning on at this point.

Thanx

Utilization is already up on the Saab. It is planned to stay as it is now.

Saab in MEM is tough in the summer. Flightdeck is very hot. There isn't a lot of variety of trips down here either. Only 12 outstations to choose from, so it gets a little repetative. You have fairly long breaks between stops at MEM, sometimes 2 hours. This is fine if you like to take a break, eat and make some calls etc. It isn't so good from a commuter standpoint when you just want to come, work and go home.

DTW has the most variety of destinations and trips. MSP is like MEM in terms of variety, but it is a lot cooler, and long breaks are few.

There has been no talk whatsoever of whether or not NWA will convert it's options to orders. They have options on the CRJ and the EMB170.

I have a feeling some of those CR9 options will be converted to Q400 orders to begin phase out of the Saabs in late 2009/2010 timeframe. That is just my perception.

Thanks. Going to school at LA Tech right now. It seems that I can never get way from MLU...

By the way, how many hours/month can one expect in MEM?

Is there a known projection for CRJ and SAAB hiring spots through the rest of the year and the likely hood of getting the CRJ.

50/50 chance of either the way it is playing out.

Average line in MEM is 86 hours. There is always open flying that you can pick up so long as you don't go below 10 days off. So if you bid and are awarded a 83 hour line with 14 days off, you can pick up a 4 day (or two, two days or a three day and a out and back or whatever combo you can come up with) in open time and get premium pay (time and a half) for that trip. That is when you make the $$.

That hump in the middle of 14 at MLU is quite fun in the Saab!

HAHAHA. I actually rode into MLU on the SAAB the other day while sitting in 3A. I heard the FA upfront giggling about it when we were backtaxiing in.

Is that the XJ crew room over at A19 in MEM? I guess that will be my new home if it is...

That is the Saab crew room (The Fishbowl). We have another location in MEM as well in C concourse.