Spanjers didn't give a specific number in the ground class today. So nope. No exact numbers YET. However, Half time lines were approved by management. Hopefully with that finally done and TOWP happening it will make that furlough list shorter.

 

Thats only if enough people take it and well how many HTL the company is offering. Also you can only take Two ETOWOP's in a row or else there is insurance issues. The list of possible furloughs at least at the LEC meeting was something of 220. It maybe more or could be less. We will see what the fall has in store. But the union brought up a good point last night. HTL could bring some people breaking gurrantee on there buildup or reserve spot so the company may limit how many of them there are. Also this is all good till the first of the year. thats when the LOA is set to expire.

 

I have been taking a look at our repaints as they happen and I have noticed that only our older ones have been repainted and we have about 12 or 13 re painted. None of the AY tails or 89 tails have been repainted and i know that you guys also fly those tail numbers for your 200's. I am wondering what Delta's plans are for those CRJ 200's as we fly a big chunk and thats your whole 200 fleet. I would like to see some of them repainted to put me at ease. Have you heard of any of your 200's being repainted?

 

They said early on that all our fleet will get repainted. They're painting the oldest 900s first and the newest saabs first and no 200s are in paint at the moment. Painting the PCL 200s from oldest to newest only make sense. Why would you paint the ones that have the newest paint?

Now it's clear why they started painting the newest saabs first... we're parking 10 starting in September and I would imagine we'll be parking the oldest ones first. So... painting from oldest to newest wouldn't make sense here.

I think people are stretching a bit with the speculation that we must be parking 200s because they're not going for paint. Uh... we're already sending 900s and saabs. NWA, Pinnacle AND Compass are also sending planes to the same paint facility. There's only room for so much work. Plus, the 200s are flying their butts off to cover for the planes in mx AND paint.

 

I know I saw a 200 in front of us in MSP with a Comair tail number and older Delta paint calling itself Mesaba...so I was under the impression you guys were painting 200s, hence that loaner 200 from comair...

 

We do have 2 200's from Comair. The management says they are operational spares. Hence no training for more pilots. Between SAABs and 900's the 200's may take a while to get to the paint process.

 

Nicholas... we are indeed operating 2, ex comair -200s, as I believe Pinnacle is as well. As XJcaptain said, they were brought on because we had virtually no spares systemwide for any a/c. The 200 does a lot of upgage flights for full saabs and downgage flights for empty 900s where the 900 can be swapped over for a full 200. Or if a saab or 900 has broke down.

Basically they do a lot of shuffling to make the airline run better since the 200 is versatile being the "middle" fleet in capacity. The 200 also has covered Compass and Pinnacle flights in the past where those respective airlines canceled due to mx or didn't have the staffing to operate their flights.

Even though they were initially brought into the fleet for use as "spares" they seem to be seeing a lot of flying. I think the whole 200 fleet is working hard, therefore XJ can't afford to lose them to the paint shop.

 

In other words: Yes, the Comair birds are spares. They are spares to cover painting and Mx for the whole fleet (Saabs, 900s, 200s), not just the 200 fleet.

I don't think anyone believes the 200s will be around forever. They will go someday. Soon? Late? At contract negotiations? Who knows? We don't know.

 

Guess Nobody else has seen this yet so I'll post it.

XJ MEMO #09-40
TO: All pilots
FROM: Joe Restifo, Director of Flight Operations
SUBJECT: Upcoming staffing changes
As we announced earlier this month, Delta Air Lines has decided to reduce our Saab fleet by ten aircraft beginning this September. This reduction, along with Delta’s plans for diminished capacity this fall, will significantly impact Mesaba’s operation, and we must adjust our business plan.
As a result, Mesaba will be furloughing approximately 100 to 110 pilots. The first furloughs will start in August and continue into the fall. Mesaba will also displace approximately 65 to 75 Saab captains. Displaced pilots will be able to bid for a new position based on their seniority. These staffing reductions are based on our current fleet plan and projected aircraft utilization. If further changes occur, the staffing plan will be revised. The staffing reductions did assume the use of Time Off Without Pay (TOWOP) as well as Half-Time Lines (HTL), based on the recent Letter Of Agreement (LOA).
Today’s announcement is not an easy one to make, but it is a reality of our industry’s current economic challenges. A voluntary furlough notice will be posted today. If you have any questions, please contact your Chief Pilot or myself.
Joe Restifo
Director Flight Operations
Mesaba Airlines

 

Damn you beat me to it. Polish up the resumes.