dunlaf05

Always consider your source....the last 3 of us to post actually WORK HERE at Mesaba!

Good luck!

RedGuy

I 120 days some sort of bid limit or something? I'm not real familiar with the way you guys run things.

BTW What you stated was kinda my thinking, just don't want to get stuck for too long as an FO, 120 days isn't too bad though.

IHateMgmt

Red Guy, here's some reality straight from a Mesaba guy. Neither you or your friend will get hired at XJ as a CA anytime soon. They have been very clear about wanting street CA's to have previous 121 experience. I don't mean that to sound demeaning on your 135 experience (I was a former freighter myself) just the reality of the situation.

If I were you, I would apply for a FO position at XJ as soon as possible and cross your fingers for the Saab. You'll then be paid and trained as an FO which will last a couple of months.

I would strongly consider flying the line as an FO for at least a couple more months before taking the upgrade. 121 is very different from 135. During your first year at XJ you are on probation which means they can fire you for basically any reason. Like you said, you have a long career ahead of you, and I'd hate to see it get ruined so early. But that's just me, do as you like.

CA training in the Saab is about the same length as your FO training would be. You don't receive CA pay until you are completely finished with CA training (your fed ride compete).

Hope this helps!

-IHM

submachXJ

Either way things go ca or fo you'll show up for the same class and seniority is awarded by age in any class so the oldest fo in the class would have a higher seniority the a younger street captain. One other thing there is a chance that if you were highered as a street ca that you may not go in the first available class as there may or may not be ca in line ahead of you. I don't know if their is a pool for ca but fo seem to go to class right away a few weeks after interview. Get in get your feet wet as an fo for a few months ask questions and then upgrade. Yeah there are a bunch of fo's on property that can't or don't want to upgrade due to atp mins, getting a full year's weather experience, or waiting for msp sf3 ca or 900 dtw mem ca. Dtw and mem saab ca are availabe to steet ca most of the time right now. New deliveries till sept at least, 2 per month on the 900 and still recieving the 200s till up to 17 we have 3 online. but the 200 are basically mostly staffed just backed up in training there. And as deliveries stop in sept the flow to northwest kicks in from 3 per month to 9 per month. So even if the fo's start upgrading there should still be plenty of movement for new fo's to upgrade in dtw of mem as saab ca. Flow agreement finalized by arbitrator yesturday.

XJPILOT1

Not a limit, many guys found themselves on the upgrade award and they bypassed for 120 days. But whatever you could do the same or take it. But it gives you the best of both worlds experience, knowledge and your quick upgrade.

After the holidays more guys will take the upgrade on the 900 as we get more delivered.

RedGuy

Then why are they interviewing us for street CA's?
If 121 is a requirement they should tell us!

I know they interviewed my friend with no 121 time, and one of my co-workers has an interview with them next week for street CA and he has no 121 time.

What are the CA requirements BTW? Just ATP mins? I thought I'd heard they wanted 2,500hrs.

Lighteningspeed

Here's the bottom line. Your hours exceed the street CA requirement. I am assuming you already have your ATP. Apply now. Why, because Mesaba is hiring like crazy and you want to be on the front wave of the hiring wave. Even if you get hired as an FO, you will upgrade in less than 30 to 60 days for the Saab. Guys right now are being awarded even before they finish their ground school even though they were initially hired as an FO. If fast upgrade is your goal, tell them at the interview you would like to be assigned the Saab and they will try to accomodate, especially with your hours.

QOL at Mesaba is better than most regionals because I have friends at all those mentioned by others including Pinnacle and Compass and I have compared them all before I decided on XJ.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is flowthrough with NWA is being finalized as we write so if you are willing to wait a few years, you can flow up to NWA without even interviewing.

starvin marvin

For street CA: 2000TT/500ME as posted on the website

Internal (FO upgrade): ATP mins

NJGov

A little advice...if you are taking NWA into consideration for the future that's all fine and dandy. However, please do not let that be a deciding factor in your decision for XJ (let it be a bonus). Things can and do change quite often..

Lighteningspeed

I agree. I am already committed to XJ but that was not a deciding factor because for me flowthrough was not even being discussed when I got hired.