Mesaba Questions
 

I just recently applied to Mesaba on 2/25/08. My times are 1000/300 with ATP written. I was just wondering, if anyone has also recently applied, how long did it take to get called for an interview? Also, I graduate from college in early in May 2008 and listed that on the application. Do you guys think that will affect my chances of being called for an interview in the next 2 weeks?

Probably not, Mesaba just came to UND last week, and they are hiring people who dont graduate until may and only have 350hrs and around 50 multi.

Dayummnn! :eek:

SpaceShipOne I think you are over-qualified... Sorry :D

Can you say, "pilot shortage?"

Hiring has slowed at Mesaba, mostly hiring into the 900 and they are offering TOWOP for March. A CRJ class is a big plus .

TOWOP?

What factors determine whether or not you get the Saab or jet?

Great! All the UND new-hires just got a hard-on :D

You guys still hiring street captains for the Saab?

[quote=cfii2007;328360]TOWOP?

TOWOP= time off without pay they offered only for the saab, 20 capt's and something like 25 fo's. As to what plane you get it's all up to what they need at that time.

:D
You guys still hiring street captains for the Saab?[/quote]

They haven't been for a while, but I'm sure it will pick again this summer

its totally random

hope you're being sarcastic :P its not totally random, high time types generally go to the saab due to the quick upgrade, at least lately....

If you are hired, you are hired and go to where they need you. Upgrade times have slowed a bit but should pick up again soon.

There were two people in my class that were hired with around 1400 hrs into the CRJ. Can't get much closer to upgrade.

Mesaba does not only hire guys from UND. The numbers of pilots below 600/50 is small and the the pilots hired actually span a wide range of ages and hours. Classes are filled through May, so if that's any indication, we aren't having a hard time attracting, hiring and filling classes. In fact, we turn down more people than we actually hire. No pilot shortage here. Sorry.

As for a/c, it isn't exactly random, but put it this way... it has nothing to do with skill. The hot shots don't go to the jet and the rejects go to the saab. It's not like that way at all. It has to do with company needs as well as many other factors nobody except the folks doing the hiring know about.

Hiring isn't exactly slowing down... they're just trying to catch up with training. We're still on track to do a lot of hiring for the rest of the year. TOWOP isn't anything to be alarmed about. We're just a little overstaffed on the saab right now, but as the jets continue to come online things will start to even out. With the seat locks being lifted for saab captains, you're seeing more movement off the saab, which will naturally clean things up.

I don't think there have been any classes lately for street captains. They were a stop gap measure for a short time and new ones don't seem to be needed right now. I have heard they're building a pool however and if you look at the website, the job posting is still there.

There was a class of street captains around the center in early February.

Actually the only reason that they are interviewing at those hours at UND is because those people have been through the UND program (Along with CRJ training) and Mesaba knows what kind of pilot their getting. UND Grads have had a 98% first time pass rate during training, where the industry average is somewhere between 50-60% from what I'm told.

Also I know for a fact that no one that interviewed with Mesaba last week at UND has heard if they got a job or not.

The last street captains started class on Jan 14. There have been none since then.

Any of you know how close to the minimums street captains are being hired at? Lots can change between now and the end of my Army commitment but I'd expect to have around 2300 TT and 1000 ME PIC Turbine. That puts me just over the mins for captain in the Saab.

I don't know of any that did not have prior 121 experience. Street CA hiring has stopped for now. Mesaba is in a bit of a different situation than we were 6 months ago. Many of the new hires from April-July now have a good amount of experience in their aircraft and have logged significant flight time towards upgrade. While we may continue to supplement with street CA's this late spring/summer, I don't think it will be at the rate we saw the last several months. There are already several in the CA pool waiting.

Of course, all of this is subject to change IF we get additinional aircraft. Certainly doesn't hurt to apply.

This is true. In my class last year, we had 4 or 5 UND graduates and the rest were from another regional, 1 military, 2 corporate, and 2 or 3 CFIs.
They all had 1000 hours or over. 2 had close to 4000 hours. Everyone finished but 1 UND was asked to resign. 1 FSI was also asked to resign.

Whether you get assigned RJs or Saabs is completely dependent on the needs of the Crew Planning and the logistics of the Training Department.
If you have never flown a turboprop, don't be so quick to dismiss it. You will regret not flying a turboprop later on in your career. First of all, quick upgrades are into the Saab, so you definitely want to upgrade in the same type of AC you have been flying. Secondly, I know a lot of guys missing their days flying turboprops after they have transitioned into jets. I have flown turboprops not at mesaba but elsewhere, and it is a lot of fun flying them. At Mesaba, Saab drivers get to do some really fun stuff into small airports and at lower altitudes. Some older Flight attendants only want to fly in the Saabs.

UND does produce good results, but at Mesaba, everyone including people from other places also finish around 98% mark. This is because, Mesaba has been training airline pilots for over 40 years and they have one of the best training department I have ever seen. One thing to note is that your attitude really matters. 1 UND graduate though he finished training on time including his IOE, he was asked to resign due to his attitudes.

Concentrated training such as the ones at UND are great but you are also missing out a lot if you jump straight from that to airline flying. You miss out on the exhilaration you can only get from flying GA airplanes to different places over a period of time on your own outside the school curriculum. Once you start flying at airlines, you really don't have the time, or the money to fly small airplanes all over the country. If you have less than 400 hours and you got lucky enough to get hired at Mesaba, pray that you get the Saabs, because you will get a chance to fly like they did in the old days when airliners flew props. New UND graduates with less than 400 hours TT are fewer in number than suggested on this thread.

I second the fact that attitude is everything. Even more important than test scores. As long as you have a great attitude they will do everything possible to get you through.

I also second the fact that the saab is amazing.:D

^^^^ Best post I've read by Lightningspeed. Well said, sir.

come on guys, this should be posted in the mesaba new hires! jk

if it were would would be at 234 pages instead of 231

maybe this will be the next 200 plus page thread

I highly recommend that any prospective new hire or new hire at Mesaba read what this wise person just said. If you are a young person at the regional level trying to break in on an airline career there are 4 things that matter.
1. Pay
2. days off
3. quality of experience (if interested in moving up to the majors one day)
4. Respect. (For senior pilots to you. they have a wealth of knowledge and we know little in comparison. Ask questions and keep the ears open, you will learn a ton.

People complaining about assigned turboprop flying are ignorant of the opportunity granted to them and might as well go somewhere else.

log books rj or turbo prop : SIC time turbine time

Not much of a difference in the books either

Part of me wishes I would have gotten the Saab because my Capt. told me some stories and it sounded like fun.
I also agree with attitude is everything. I came from UND and we were told how one of the past grads went on the internet during ground school at Mesaba which just helps UND’s image. I think it is important that you are glad you have a “descent” regional airline job and not worry about if it is a prop.

I'd be VERY happy flying a turboprop...looking forward to it, actually.

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I was just wondering if anyone on this forum has an upcoming interview scheduled with Mesaba and what times did you have when you applied.

I was a little disapointed I didn't get the saab. Excited for the RJ though :)

i over heard some guys in the crew room, they must have been former class mates, one asked "are you in the 900?" the other responded "no, i fly the saab" the first guy responded "oh that sucks!"

The rest of the crewmembers (FA CA FO) in the crew room were not impressed by his arrogant attitude

You no what sucks is the guy that flies the 900 is getting payed the same as the guy that's flying the SAAB.....more people same pay, yea that does suck

Haha, yeah regretfully so....

my point being no one likes an arrogant pilot who thinks he is top dawg jet pilot simply because he flies "the 9"

it is not "the 9" say that around an NWA guy and you will get slapped

More ice on the wings, same ICE on my wrist, bling bling

THAT IS AWESOME

I too think this thread should be merged with the mega Mesaba thread where it belongs but I would like to add my .02 on this new hire saab vs rj issue. I am a former navy P-3 guy with almost 1000 multi prop, and 1500TT ALL PROP, and even I feel I am better off getting my feet wet in the 121 world on the Saab. I realize everyone is in a diff situation coming in, and everyone is certainly entitled to thier opinion, but no one should say "that sux" to someone else being on the saab, you are still a professional airline pilot and working your way (hopefully) toward bigger and better things, its not like anyone is forced to fly the Saab thier whole life, be happy that you were hired, and are getting the experience needed to someday fly a Big Shiney Jet.

Again, from a guy who has flown every hour of his career in a turboprop, I would have chosen the Saab if given a choice of the two for a multitude of reasons.

Im sure all of us can say we love flying, thats why we are here. For someone to say that sucks about flying the saab needs to look at why hes in this profession. First off from my understanding all of us will fly the saab at one point? At least my new hire paper work has the upgrade order (crj fo- saab ca- crj ca) and (saab fo- saab ca - crj ca). I may be wrong on that, but if so why apply at a company when you know there is a possibiltiy of flying the saab. All i know is iv never flown a plane i didnt like!

I dont know about that. That "other" thread has too many senior mesaba pilots that dont want to be merged....;)

touche....

Ever heard of deiceing for dollars? I made more on the SAAB then I could on the RJ. This CRJ is not as fun as the SAAB!