Mesaba Vacancy
 

Vacancy out this afternoon adds 40 more new hires. Welcome aboard.

Yeah, looks like May 28th will be Saab's and June 4th both jets. So if I understand this correctly (which I may not), all the Saab grunts will have be ahead of the jet jocks on the seniority list? If so, just one more reason you better be crossing your fingers you get the Saab.

I interviewed with Mesaba yesterday. I felt it went well, and was VERY impressed with the whole operation. Everybody was upbeat and they went the extra mile to make us all feel welcome. I left at the end of the day knowing I definitely wanted the job. Hope I don't have to wait too long to find out!

Depending on how many lateral moves are made, not all of the 15 seats on the jet will go to new hires.

System seniority only really counts for upgrades. Even though these jet pilots will be "junior" overall, they will be more "senior" on their equipment, consequently having a better overall choice of line/days off.

Glad to hear it went well. As you are probably aware, we are buried in hiring. Also spooling up to interview/hire flight attendants now as well. HR is approaching critical mass in terms of resource management, so bare with us!

Thanks for the info...I understand that HR is swamped and that it may take some time. I'll be waiting patiently.

So which eqpt do you think a new-hire in the July class will be on?

I wish I had crew planning's majic ball to know exactly.

I think your chances are 40% Saab and 60% jet. For the July classes, we are going to have to build numbers in the CRJ and CR9. First CR9 shows up on the 25th of May and we'll have 4 by mid July. CJR's from 9E are coming in September. CRJ coming back from Compass as soon as their ERJ gets here in late August.

With the new jets arriving, we also have to backfill the upgrades, so there will be a close to equal amount of Saab vacancies as well.

RJFO,
Any idea why there are gonna be 5 more Captains for the CRJ200? With the 200's not coming til Aug/Sept why have 13 captains for one airplane? Intresting decision to make - take the 200 now (get seatlocked out of the 900 when it comes and you can hold it, but quality of life is probably better, pay is almost the same) or holdout until the 900 arrives (seat aircraft, big cities, and an oven!). What to do?

Hey rj, not to hijack your thread or anything, but how is QOL in MEM for you? Ive got a job offer from Mesaba, contingent upon passing the written exam and sim check, but from what ive read on the boards theyre not terribly difficult for anyone thats been instructing lately. How hard would it be to get Minneapolis right out of training? The recruiter I interviewed with 2 weeks ago basically said the same thing other people have said on this thread about mist new hires being equally split between the SAAB and the jet(s). Thanks for the info.

Just staffing ahead. With having to travel to Montreal for simulator training, and trying to staff up the training department, we need to get those crews in training and completed with IOE by the August date. It will take 6-8 weeks to get there with only one airplane to use for IOE/Green lines.

MEM is fine, just not my favortite. Things are kind of laid back there, great chief pilot and lots of "productivity breaks" between flights at the hub. It is warm though, very warm and humid!

Getting MSP out of training on the Saab is probably not likely. With all the growth however, you should be able to bid to MSP in 6-8 months (maybe sooner) depending on how the upgrades go. If you get the jet, you will be based in MSP more than likely.

I've been told to expect a class date in mid June or early July. What are the chances of getting DTW out of training on either the jet or the SAAB?

Everyone has there own take... I look at it as you may be relatively more senior on the jet, but your choices for some time will be which inefficient and poorly structured line of flying you want.

Plus, the little bit of added seniority for on the Saab can make a substantial difference (just ask the guys at XJ who've been upgraded/downgraded too many times to count).

To each, his own.

I think your chances are good to see DTW in short order on the Saab. May be a few months wait on the jet. I have no idea where the 200's are going to be placed initially (MSP for the current one) and the 900's are coming to MSP for the first 4 at least. NWA dictates where those airplanes operate from based on the lift they need on certain routes. Once the jets start going to DTW and MEM, you will be able to bid there since you will be relatively senior on that equipment coming in June/July.

Definately. I wasn't trying to say they would be good lines, only that being "senior" on your equipment gives you a better choice from the pickings. Overall seniority is the name of the game for upgrade and overall health of the airline. Certainly being senior overall is better in troubled times, but with all the growth coming in the next year or two, these new hires will enjoy more flexibility than I/we have had in the last few years.

Well, I'm another one in the 5/28 class. I've been waiting since mid-March... and I'm just trying to get through the next few weeks of instructing without getting killed/violated! (sorry... I just had a reallllly close call with a Tri-Pacer while doing S-turns today... and the FAA is coming to do ramp checks in a few days, yay!!!)

I'm lookin' forward to the Saab, and hopefully I can get DTW as soon as possible. See all y'all around.

Funny...I had a close-call with a 733 doing S-Turns on final today too LoL

(It was the CA's leg, of course hehe)

I am in the exact same place! Two more weeks of instructing and then Saab training! I love the little 152s but will be so happy to be sitting in something with a big cockpit and lots and lots of power. I have heard the systems on the 340 are pretty complicated but it is a blast to fly.

Yeah, mine was the more the ground reference "*ding ding* TRAFFIC TRAFFIC" sort... first place I looked, "oh ****!!!" Sometimes you don't see everything while scanning... and apparently sometimes TCAS waits until a plane is within a few hundred feet to let you know. :)

Disclaimer: most of our planes don't have traffic info, so no... I wasn't relying on it, I had actually forgotten our plane was equipped as such.

Same here. Two more weeks of work and instructing, then a hiatus at the beach, then off to meet up with you guys. I can't wait for the beach, but I really can't wait for the SAAB training!

Maybe just one "lots" on the power!

You guys will be fine in systems class. They really are not that complicated. The panel can make it look worse than it really is. Electrical is a bit cumbersome, due mainly to the fact that the overhead panel does a dismal job of mapping it out for you. Engine and prop can be a lot to digest, but if you can spend some time at the hotel or home after class reviewing notes and slides, it will gel with no problem for the Oral.

Thanks for the info

Well, more than the 110hp of the 152 :D

it will probably feel like a rocket to you.

Got the phone call from Mesaba this morning. I was told to plan on a late June/early July class. I should be getting the new-hire packet in the mail later this week.

congrats man, hopefully ill be seeing you around there soon. did you get the saab or jet?

Thanks..can't wait for training! As far as equipment I'm not sure..they didn't say and I didn't ask. I was actually hoping for the Saab, but I'll happily take whatever I'm given.

Can anyone going to Mesaba tell me how long it took to get your new hire packet in the mail? It's been a week or so and I'm still waiting. Thanks.

I think mine took about a week from the day they told me on the phone that they would send it out (not necessarily the day it was actually sent out).

Also, when I got the offer over the phone, all I got was a letter w/o a class date. When I got my class date, I received an identical letter, except it had the class date. It wasn't until they called to ask if I was going to fly or drive that they sent out the actual new hire packet. With as busy as they probably are, who knows exactly when you'll get it...

Looking through it, there's no reason to stress over not having it right away. It's not like PDT where you need to have everything about the plane memorized before day one... in fact, there wasn't anything aircraft specific. If you have the Turbine Pilot's Flight Manual, there is nothing more complex in the new hire packet.

Thanks...when I got the phone call on Monday, they asked me the same; flying or driving, etc. I was told that I should see the packet in the mail by the end of the week. No class date for me yet.

The training department said they will be taking the list to 1300 pilots by fall next year. Anyone to get 600-700 seniority should be upgraded by then.

do they allow you to delay your class dates for prior commitments? or do you have to take the first one avail.?

I interviewed on 4/18 (Wed.) and had my packet and job offer on 4/24 (Mon.) Told to expect a July class date. I didn't get told what aircraft either. Rumor has it you find out first day of class. I could be wrong though.

I wouldn't even think twice about taking the first available class date! It's all about seniority, right?

Yes sir.

As far as when you find out about the equipment you'll fly, in the past they've told new hires within the first week or two. It really doesn't matter until systems class.

Future planning
 

I know this is still 3 years away, but I'm currently a FE in the AF and riding the fence right now to either A) Finish another 10 years and have retirement at 40 or B) Get out and try again at the airline career. Mind you all I have right now is a private and multi with about 120 hours so I'd have to finish up somewhere back in the motherland of MN, which is why Mesaba is so attractive to me. Now my real question is, would having a FE ticket have any more push when it comes to putting in the application? The systems thing doesn't really bother me as I fly on a powerplant in the sky with a mere 8 gens. Any insights would be great.

Personally, I'd say retire with the AF and find a nice little corporate gig when you get out. That being said, if you're interested in Mesaba, now is certainly the time to get in. However you will not be ready in time for the front half of the growth, so it may or may not be so great by the time you get here. With NWA recently purchasing us, the long-term future of Mesaba is uncertain at best.

BTW, its not so much your FE ticket than your military training/experience that would be impressive. Best of luck.

How long is upgrade projected now at mesaba? i got the call today offering me a job for a late july class date!

As of now, I would speculate 18 months for a late July date. Maybe sooner depending on attrition in that time. Tomorrow there is an an award for 25 upgrades...we'll see how junior the Saab Captain goes and I will update the thread.