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-   -   Mesa pilots both asleep, allegedly (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/22551-mesa-pilots-both-asleep-allegedly.html)

WIFlyer 02-20-2008 07:03 AM

That would be my last night of work at that airline.

We have decent CDOs at Mesaba--always get a hotel and sometimes even 5 full hours of sleep. Doing 4 in a row is a little tiring though and I don't know how people do it who don't go back to sleep when they get home.

NJGov 02-20-2008 07:21 AM


Originally Posted by paxhauler85 (Post 323744)
An airbus did it in Denver less than a year ago, I think. I know it happened, but can't remember the date.

It was either United or Frontier in a bus.

They woke up to ATC yelling at them b/c they reached DEN and the FMS was flying circles over the last fix in the box.

FWIW, Frontier does a fair amount of stand ups, as does SKW. We all do the damn things.

I think you might be referring to this incident.. The report came out a year ago on the news but the incident occurred in March 2004.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...68/detail.html
FWIW the airbus box on a 320 series won't fly circles around the last point unless the box was programmed to do so by a database arrival procedure.

Normally, the aircraft would fly into a discontinuity at the "end" of the flight plan and continue on present heading indefinitely

ExperimentalAB 02-20-2008 08:54 AM


Originally Posted by NJGov (Post 323940)
I think you might be referring to this incident.. The report came out a year ago on the news but the incident occurred in March 2004.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...68/detail.html
FWIW the airbus box on a 320 series won't fly circles around the last point unless the box was programmed to do so by a database arrival procedure.

Normally, the aircraft would fly into a discontinuity at the "end" of the flight plan and continue on present heading indefinitely

Yep...like our RJ's - "Roll MODE" - theyd' just keep going and going and going...

paxhauler85 02-20-2008 09:52 AM


Originally Posted by CloudSailor (Post 323913)
Frontier's standups also involve hotel time. Some are actually really nice standups, for example ABQ and OMA, pilots get paid 6Hrs for 2Hrs of flying, 7 hours in a hotel bed, and back in DEN early next morning. Not for everyone though... as several in a row can certainly lead to fatigue.

At Mesa.... well, let's just say that pilots and flight attendants become experts at making beds out of passenger seats. I even recall, some time ago, a Mesa crew (2 pilots, 2 FA's) on a red-eye/standup combo schedule (red-eye flight to YVR, sit for 3 hours, then fly back), having to sleep on the floor of the baggage claim area in Vancouver (they were not allowed to stay on the plane and sleep because of it being an international flight). Just the kind of thing that helps our profession: passengers seeing a crew, in uniform, sleeping on the floor with plane blankets and pillows... :(

After all of the publicity, we got hotels and still do.

I fly one tomorrow night. We arrive at 10:30 and leave the next morning at 6:15. Pretty do-able, unless your a b****.

It was a nice attempt to inform the uninformed why they should dislike Mesa. In the spirit of brotherhood, here are some suggestions to keep this anti-Mesa thread alive:

1) Our contract.
2) The name, Mesa.
3) JO.
4) N2, and how awesome he is now that he left Mesa.

paxhauler85 02-20-2008 09:57 AM


Originally Posted by CloudSailor (Post 323913)
Frontier's standups also involve hotel time. Some are actually really nice standups, for example ABQ and OMA, pilots get paid 6Hrs for 2Hrs of flying, 7 hours in a hotel bed, and back in DEN early next morning.

Sounds like the Frontier stand ups are "really nice;" so nice that you dream your in the middle of the "7 hours in bed," when in fact your cruising through the STAR in DEN at FL350.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...68/detail.html

Or wait, was that before the stand ups were so nice?

Funny, b/c that story you told about Mesa stand ups was before things changed (for the better) as well.

Again, a beautiful attempt, but no dice.

CloudSailor 02-20-2008 11:24 AM

Paxhauler,

If you read carefully, I stated that some standups are nice. Some can be brutal when done several nights in a row. There's guys/gals who can, and guys/gals who can't do it. Some pilots will even do it with no sleep when they are home, which is difficult for most. And you are absolutely right, F9 had some scheduling rules before that were changed when evidence of fatigue started to make itself clear. The schedules were changed though and that speaks to the intention of management to improve safety...

Anyway, I did not intend to offend you or any pilot of Mesa. Having once flown there, I am actually very grateful for all the opportunities it provided me and for a great several years of flying. I flew with many, many great guys/gals and had a great time. However, I do remember the scheduling that took place. I still have friends flying there who keep me up to date as to what is taking place, which in many cases is down right criminal, particularly for reserves. The problem at Mesa, is that even though there are some serious concerns about scheduling, that have existed for YEARS now, there are no changes made... I would not be saying any of this had I not personally experienced it. I don't think you should attempt to compare Mesa's scheduling system to Frontier's or any other "major" for that matter... unless you've experienced both. It is night and day difference.

I wish you the best and to everyone at Mesa and all our sister airlines. What affects you, at some point will affect me, and viceversa. With all that said, perspective is important. You have a great job, you get to fly modern jet aircraft for a living, and the contract might have some great improvements in the near future. Good luck and don't take it personally.

N2rotation 02-20-2008 01:12 PM

paxhauler, do you suffer from Mesa pride. Do you think that the grass is not greener? Are you in JO's fan club?

Just wait until you go to a major some day, then you will realize that you shouldn't have been treated how you are at Mesa.

exp96 02-21-2008 11:33 AM


Originally Posted by CloudSailor (Post 323913)
Just the kind of thing that helps our profession: passengers seeing a crew, in uniform, sleeping on the floor with plane blankets and pillows... :(

You think that's bad, I used to know a guy who, on a sunny day, would take a nap in the grass outside the Greenville, Miss airport.;)

sigep_nm 02-21-2008 01:36 PM


Originally Posted by starvin marvin (Post 323636)
I hope it was a highspeed/CDO/standup, to outline the problem... but even if it was, I expect no rule changes to come from the FAA

Not unless one of these planes crashes, and a senators son happens to be on board

rickair7777 02-22-2008 07:25 AM

Mesa standups?
 
I ran into a PHX mesa crew on a hotel van this week. I knew the CA, and he said they were getting rid of the LAS plywood-board camping trip standups. Any truth to this?


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