Mesaba is hiring and training to staff the airline. If there wasn't a need, they wouldn't be doing it. Training costs aren't exactly cheap. At the moment, the saab program is the only one that is run in house. The 200 and 900 are contracted out to Bombardier in YUL and CAE in Denver. These contracts will likely end right around the same time the major hiring stops. At that point the 900 sim will join the 200 sim in MSP and our own instructors will be doing the training.

During our last down turn after 9/11, Ch11 and the subsequent lack of hiring for so many years, most the instructors went back to fly the line. That's why they have phantom positions. There will always be activity in the training department for recurrent ground schools, PCs and RFTs.

With only 17 200s, the numbers are pretty much there for staffing, much like the saab. The 900 is the biggest fleet and requires the most pilots, therefore that fleet will still get staffed. I wouldn't expect huge classes for much longer though, we've got to be nearing the end. Classes are projected into the future and their sizes depend on the staffing needs of the company. There are many classes that are already filled through the summer, so these vacancies that are coming out now are for newhires that have interviewed already, and probably have been sitting for a bit waiting for class.

As more people leave the saab to go to the jets, the saab numbers will come down, since they're not backfilling. At some point they'll have to start putting people back in the saab to maintain the numbers for that fleet.

 

I dont know how much truth there is to it but recently heard in montreal that mesaba has excersized thier option for some additional 900s.

 

i have heard that since november, also heard that compass is getting 18 more 175 heavies

isn't there some sort of 90 maximum 76 seaters to be flown for nwa?

 

I've heard 18 more 900's, I've heard 18 more 175's, I've heard both, I've heard a lot just like everyone else has.... hearing doesn't count. Actually SEEING it - then it's true. Until then all bets are off.

 

NWA can only acquire 18 more 76 seat a/c. Either company could get them all, a split or they could even go to another airline... like Pinnacle. Only NWA can take these options... Mesaba or Compass don't make these decisions. While it would be nice to get all of them, I won't believe any rumors until I see them.

 

Just a thought...why would Mesaba purchase a 20+ million dollar -200 sim for only 17 CRJ-200s?

 

It seems like a sim is less of a risk than buying an airplane. Unless all of the 200's in the world stop flying, they should be able to keep it fairly busy. I also believe that the margins on renting a CRJ-200 sim out are better than flying passengers. Just my opinion.

 

From a while ago...

 

Mesaba didn't pay 20 million for the 200 sim. When I was in Montreal for training I was told that it was a sim Bombardier had in storage for quite some time. I don't know that it was a particularly good one from the sessions that I have had in it. Completely different feeling than the ones I flew in Montreal.

Now the 900 sim, thats brand new. I am sure there is going to be a hefty check written for that one.

 

So can we be quick to assume that we will not be getting any more -200s after this delivery?
Of course with oil prices, I think it would be tough.