A question for Mesaba Pilots
 

Why does it takes so long after pushback before you guys can taxi? I wasn't around when 9E had the Saab, but from a number of captains that flew that aircraft, it didn't take nearly as long when we had them. Just curious.

Probably was the first flight of the day checks. They take a while to complete but we are paid by the minute anyways.

Maybe we're more thorough with our checklists.

I don't think thorough has anything to do with it. I am just unfamiliar with the Saab and curious why it takes so much longer, I am sure that sometimes it is the first flight of the day. But it seems pretty consistant with the Saabs that it is going to take longer to get rolling. One more question, but this is for the 900 guys at Mesaba. I noticed the other day in the de-ice pad that one of your 900's kept its APU running while getting sprayed and he advised the iceman to make sure and not spray near it. Is that your normal operating policy to leave your APU on during de-ice? We just shut ours off. That way there is no need to worry about fluid getting into they APU intake and smelling up the cabin.

i know what the deal is. i think pinnacle ground crews handle mesaba in memphis and we are just paying them back for being so slow in dtw and msp to park us, load bags, and push back... :)

because we get paid by the minute

Normally turn it off... Atleast with engines running. They might have been leaving it on for a short flight, to save on cycles. Not sure. It doesn't seem like it would make sense to leave it on.

Pinnacle does not handle the ground in MEM (For XJ SAABs) They most likely will for the jets.

Because we like to make money. same reason why we fly into the arrival area at 180 knots.....block or better baby

Oh yeah and also because I can make minimum guarantee sitting on reserve at home, I come to work to make money.