I don't undertsnd how they think they are saving money by paying many of us to sit home, then fly us to DEN or YUL (AGAIN), pay for hotels (AGAIN) and pay for more sim time (AGAIN). Funny also that we have a -200 sim for 15 planes and no sim for the 'new' -900 for which we are taking 36 with options for many more. But, I digress...my sim partner told me not question such things...no point in racking one's brain...I have enough to learn, he reasons.

Yeah, I hear ya, it's the whole trip-over-a-dollar-to save-a-penny management mindset. I'm just trying to convey that the problems come from poor decisions made by the corporate managers, and the training dept. is left trying to pick up the pieces. Furthermore, the training is good when it's IN-HOUSE (done by Mesaba seniority list pilots or Mesaba instructors). It typically suffers significantly when it's outsourced (YUL or STL).

I agree...in fact Im told one problem with guys on the CRJ is that the way CAE in Denver teaches is different from the way XJ wants it. And its to the point that guys are busting their rides because of it.

what about XJET? From everyone I talk to over there they are all happy with the contract/pay/schedules ect, but they seem to be on thin ice right now with the branded flying and the possibility of CAL pulling more a/c. Is it possible they could be out of work in the near future? That sounds more risky than anywhere else right now. Still everyone I know over there seems to think its the best.

not even close, I think we will end up signing a long term deal with CAL, I guess more wishful thinking than anything (at this point), but also our branded loads for the quarter was around 61%, and only a few routes are like 10 people and once those are revised to lets say two flights a day instead of three, or one a day instead of two our Load Factors will improve. These things take time to figure out which markets to bail on or reduce.

I know Toilet will come on here and say we are going to lose our flying to CAL, but Larry Kellner is not stupid, he knows he cant find a carrier that is staffed both a/c and pilot wise to just completely cut us loose. I think we will have our CPA canceled and a longer pro-rate deal signed, and if that was the case I will be very happy, becuase I would have made thousands by buying a whole bunch of stock at $2.86.share

I hope so man like I said everyone I know loves it over there. I just don't understand why they would explore flying in other countries if the branded stuff is set to improve. And whats this I've been hearing about RAH set to do all the flying in CLE? If that happens and XJT shrinks in EWR, where will those a/c go? My friend at Express says by June 2008 XJT will only have 13 gates in EWR.

Yeah EWR is shrinking by almost50-80 lines by the end of the summer, but thats because a lot of the regional flying is shifting to CLE, and CAL wants the gates here in EWR. Also XJT in Australia if it was ever done ( I dont see it anytime soon) would be done with newly purchased airframes from what I understand.

Look, its really simple, more people are flying now then ever before, airlines are making money hand over fist and could fill up mainline a/c, where as 2-3 years ago they had to rely on the RJ. As the regional world shrinks, the Major world will grow, but dont forget they will always need feed...........

Weeeelllll your friend at XJT is a moron because XJT does not have any gates at EWR. There are 15 CONTINENTAL gates that we use (the C101-C115) plus 1 or 2 over in Terminal A for DCA/IAD flights. Ever check out the "XJT gates" at EWR after about 530pm? Lots of 757s and 767s getting ready to go to Europe.

According to the pilot conference call with management, 14 aircraft are being replaced by Colgan in EWR and moving to CLE. CLE departures by ExpressJet aircraft are to increase by 50/day. So tell whoever you're talking to at RAH to step away from the kool-aid dispenser.

ok thanks a lot i didn't realize that. It seems ridiculous then that a lot of ppl on here are preaching doom and gloom about XJT. Friends of mine got offers from both XJT and RAH and went to Republic because they said they wanted to have a job in 5 years. Seems like they too were drinking too much kool-aid when I look at the FO pay rate difference.

nice bro, I love it, and yeah seems like more and more RAH guys are dogging on XJT, maybe its just Toiletduck