HaHa,

There's a story behind that...CRJ's can't make it to HI in stock configuration.

The ORIGINAL plan to get them there was to go around the pacific rim...

Alaska, Kamchatka Pennensula, Sakhalin Island, Japan, Midway, HI.

Mesa had it all figured out, alternates and fuel stops. Right before they were going to start the repos, some genius realized that the airfield on Midway Island is "special"...it's in the middle of a bird sanctuary or something. Refueling-stop operations are extremely limited or forbidden. Basically the field is kept open by Boeing soley as a diversion site for trans-pacific ETOPS.

End result, without Midway as an option, mesa had to jury-rig large fuel tanks into the rear of the pax compartment. The tanks were not permanently connected to the fuel system, a mechanic had to go along to manually switch the plumbing around. All crew members had to wear water-survival ditching suits fo the whole flight.

I was on reserve, and had the opportunity to participate. I declined when they started talking about the water-survival training. I don't have a problem with water, but the combination of mesa and jury-rigged fuel plumbing set off the 'ol survival-instinct alarm bells. :eek:


37,000 Feet Over the Pacific, 1900 NM from Nowhere...
CA: What's the problem?
Mech: I'm trying to unscrew this fuel fitting...
CA: Is it Stuck?
Mech: Well, no. It's a 19mm fitting, but they only gave me a 17mm wrench...

They're going to let them go, I've heard from a friend of mine they aren't going to transfer to the jet, Mesa is already reducing flying.

They can't let us go, we are all on the same sr. list. They already have a class in june and one in july to start getting us through.

Sad, I flew to Merced a couple of days ago and was talking to the crew, great flight and awesome crew, we flew with 2 passengers, picked up no passengers at visalia and 2 left at merced, were they picked up 3. I was wondering if those flights would last.

Hope these guys get re trained in the jet, I was one of the I hope Mesa dies crowd, now I just wish they survive so people dont loose their jobs.

In that case good luck.

I'm sorry to hear that AMW is closing. I have many friends there and I wish them all the best of luck. I heard rumor that JO is trying to furlough out of senority so they won't have to train these pilots on the jet. I hope that isn't true and I wish everyone at AMW well.

Word is that the leases are up on the origional GO! birds and they are being repoed to CAE for hvy chck and lease return preperation.

Mesa apparently got a good short term lease deal on those old Fly I birds, but it was cost prohibitive to lease them long term.

Off topic, but I believe CHQ got there CRJ 200s for the COEX operation from the same source. They were all ex Fly I and on short term leases which expire this year.

We have some old Comair birds as well..