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.