flyguy1

[ . Oh and we had a weak "flowthrough", (ask the furloughed dc9 captains here all about that) which was really a flow back since no one went up.

Furlouged Captains??? NWa never furloughed anyone close to Captain?

ebl14

Just ask those American Eagle guys who were captains before 9/11. Top of the list to move up...? No wait, now you are moving way way way down. Sure, its great if you work for NWA, cause just in case they have to furlough more ppl (not that a class act airline like NWA would ever have to do that) at least you have a safety net. But the guys as Mesaba are getting screwed.

premier159

I couldn't agree with you more. By far one of the worst airlines to fly on. It’s hard to blame the crews though after management sucked the life out of them. It will be interesting to see what happens to the DC9 crews in the future. But from NWA’s history, I can guarantee it will be more a$$ raping!

Ftrooppilot

Flowup / down makes for good controversy - but not in the current context where we have an expanding industry with a pilot shortage. (I know the pundits will say "qualified" pilot shortage.) Airlines have restructured and instituted changes that save money. Like it or not the old $300,000 "brass ring" prize Captain slot in twenty years is gone. Lower cost per seat mile is the name of the game.

Northwest will keep the seat mile cost low enough to compete with other carriers. In doing so profits and stock value will increase. They know that crew costs will gradually rise because of supply and demand. More efficient aircraft being flown by wholely owned regionals can offset these increases. The expanding industry also makes the sale of a regional / operating certificate attractive.

As I have said before, I don't have a "dog in this fight" (never been an airline employee) but enjoy discussion and analysis. The following is strictly speculation.

1. NWA will sell Compass and its E175 fleet (including options) when it has ten aircraft. Pilots will be given the option of being NWA new hires of going to the new operator.

2. NWA will exercise its CRJ900 options buying additional aircraft for Mesaba (a name that will be quietly dropped).

3. NWA will use the proceeds of the Compass sale (and other funds) to start purchasing Q400s to replace the "aging" SAABS.

Tinpusher007

Everyone keeps saying Compass will be sold and the Mesaba name will go away. So what then will we be called? Are you suggesting Mesaba will become NWA mainline? Furthermore, I would say NWA would probably like to get theirs hands on more E-jets, not less. So how would selling Compass and their a/c accomplish that?

JoeyMeatballs

You kidding, their posting the pics of the CRJ 900's on their myspace pages right now, they got the BIG SHINY JET

Tinpusher007

SAAB...I don't think many newhires are flocking to Mesaba because of the upflow to NWA or the fact that they fly CR9's. I think it has more to do with the fact that Mesaba is growing by 51 a/c and they have low mins. I got the -900 but don't have a big head about...the pay is the same for all F/O's regardless of type.

Ftrooppilot

Mesaba will continue to exist as an organization, just the name will be changed. Maybe we need a naming contest (I can't wait to see what PinnacleFO suggests). The NWA relationship will become closer (ie: flow up/down, etc.) NWA wants the regional/legacy line to be transparent to the customer.

I know it's company propaganda but you might read http://www.bombardier.com/en/0_0/0_0...ay_16_2006.pdf
pages 23 and 26. (the whole document is interesting). It claims that a CRJ 700 is much cheaper to operate then an E170. The cost per seat mile in the CRJ900 is even more efficient.

Standardization of the fleet (Bombardier CRJ and Q400 aircraft) is both effective and efficient. Many operators have gone in this direction. The proximity of parts and service helps.

XJPILOT1

I'll buy that. Looks like it might go this way.

XJPILOT1

Let me ask those other regional guys out there, does your CR9 have first class and do you serve hot meals in first class? We do. NWA spared no expense on these planes. One of which will be on display at the Paris Airshow. It's the finest CR9 Bombardier has ever built (this comes from Bombardier).

I think the future is bright for MESABA. That's why people should come here. We have really great people here. Many changes are coming our way but sometimes change is good.