Thanks. It is very unfortunate the they are in the position they are in. It has been a favorite regional for a lot of people. Our seniority list is very senior, and that is one of the big issues when it comes down to talking pay cuts and fleet downsizing. It has been a career for many pilots. A company that used to treat its employees well, pay better than average, good wook rules and the small company feel, where you could know everyone you work with. In my opinion, Mesaba will come out of this, it is only a matter of when and for how little pay. My personal question is can I hold out that long, should I hold out that long and can I live on that pay. 146 of us on furlough now, looks like another 40ish to come by Aug-Sep.

I 100% agree with RJ85 about Mesaba. The people there were cool and eveyone knew everyone. After getting kicked to the street so swiftly though, there is no way I'll make a career at a regional. I just want to get my time in and move on to other things. I hope XJ turns things around. I personally can't wait around much longer to see what happens and the sounds of it, its going to be a while before they go into recall/hiring mode again.

I have an interview coming up soon at CHQ. I wonder how long the pool will be? Do people with prior 121 experience doing the sim or is it pretty random on whose doing it? I know people that interviewed there in May and a class day 6 days later. It sounds like Shuttle is taking 1 a/c per month.

Buddy of mine at CHQ says they took the last midatlantic 170 already and are behind on training for it. From what I understand, the 170 is what they're trying to fill right now so you should be made in the shade. If you're prior 121, it's a pretty safe bet that you won't be doing the sim as long as your current. If you're really worried, hit a Frasca 142 and just practice putzing around with some turns, climbs, and descents ILS and a hold. It is sensitive if you try to fly it too much, just let it do it's thing. I know people that crashed on the ILS at GS intercept because they pulled the power out and tried to descend. I just dropped the gear and it flew fine. Profile's easy so you won't have any trouble with that. Just remember, treat her like a lady and she'll take you home everytime. Good luck, they're nice people there.

I wouldn't sweat the interview too much. I really felt like the XJ training was excellent in terms of knkowledge needed for their exam. I would recommend getting the study guide off of aviationinterviews.com and at least getting a feel for what might be asked. I did find that I needed to review the DME/60*the number of radials to find the distance along the arc. Some other minor points like descent rates on the glideslope and approach light types and distance from the runway.

I have been in the pool for almost 3 weeks now. They did run a class on May 30, but no info from HR about when the next class might be. She only said the pool was "very shallow" it may be just "shallow" by now as there have been several additional interview groups since mine.

I did not do the sim.

Good Luck. Just be sure that $125/wk for 6 weeks of training, buying a new uniform (you will need new jacket-their stripes go all the way around the sleeve) and a 2 year 15,000 dollar training contract are something you can live with. A lot can change in 2 years. There are lots of other regionals that will pay you during training like XJ and not lock you into a nasty contract again. Be informed, and go get what you want. You'll be fine!

Let us know where to go once you get your time in. Only 1500 of us here looking for the same place.

Later and good luck.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Interviewed end of May, in pool too. Have a good friend there, in training right now, says that the grapevine news is that there are around 9 Shuttle and Rep classes planned for the rest on the year.

If the group that interviewed mid May got a class date of end May, then the rest of us should have too long to wait (I hope).

I know though that the simi at STL is pretty full till August, so next class of ground school maybe beginning July?

RJ85FO there were two ex-Mesaba guys in my interview, you one of them?

etops777 was wondering where you are from since you wrote 'telefoon' like my people do, and not telephone ...

Possibly. A lot of X-XJ or about to be X-XJ have been interviewing there lately. The door at XJ is revolving with so many people leaving. My seniority there continues to improve with each passing day!

oh, youre still there, no wasnt you then, these blokes were ex-xj

oh for the love of all that is good and holy!!!!!!!!!!!!! why havent they phoned yet, my dumb*ss bu11sh1t deadend retail job is driving me insane!