Word on this had been going around. Theres a whole thread about it on another message board. I really don't know much about the validity to it, but the problem is that nobody else does either. Prior to this TA, Mesaba's future was not certain. And yes, Comair does have some striking similarities.

What would be cheaper for Pinnacle?

1) Shut down Colgan, divide assets among 9E/XJ and pay former cheap Colgan pilots XJ pay rates... or...

2) Shut down Mesaba, divide assets among 9E/9L, replace expensive XJ contract with cheap 9L labor? Then rebrand Colgan as Mesaba and call it done.

Not saying it was going to happen, I don't really have any clue as to whats going to, or what could've happened for all you guys under the Pinnacle umbrella. Just saying that from an outsider's perspective, Mesaba could've very easily ended up on the losing end of a whipsaw game. You guys were a costly, shrinking airline. You're getting just as much, or more, out of this as 9E/9L. Instead of being potentially on the chopping block, your future and a lot more options have just been secured.

Not trying to say anything bad about the Mesaba guys, I've heard you're a great pilot group. Just trying to say that you were in a potentially precarious situation. Congrats to everyone, it sounds like all of you, 9E, 9L, AND XJ, have all done better for yourselves than you could've each done alone.

There are even 1 year FO seat locks from upgrade (yea, I know, not cool) but if there are no fences there will be a good bit of movement with vacancies (and only through vacancies by seniority) and then it will slow. Many guys are looking to bid the -900 FO or -200 FO and there will be a need for that (from the 9E side we are extremely short on pilots) but FO's will need to figure out if they will be able to upgrade in a year or they may cut themselves short. I see the -200 and -900 FO going relatively junior as guys (like myself) are close to upgrade anyway. On the CA side it's also 1 year after new equip but 2 years if you go to a lower paying CA position. So if a -200 MEM CA wants to go to the Q there will be a 2 year lock. I think it will come down to QOL for many, the idea of commuting across bases for an upgrade when you live in base will be something to think about. The opportunity for those who want a CA slot in anything will still exist. The Sli is all speculation. I am good friends with all of our merger guys and can say that NOTHING has even begun to be discussed across all 3 groups as far as lists and fences, so it's all speculation. The TA though DOES have locks so the company can minimize training expenses, the downfall is that someone can't just go -200 FO, -900 FO, then -200 CA in a year. This upgrade lock is new at 9E, but I understand it as a standard practice elsewhere.

At this point that can't and won't happen with this TA, now if it gets blown up over a few Colgan rates I have no doubt in my mind that it will get ugly. The company WILL do what they want. Right now both mgmt and ALPA are working together to accomplish work stability and good strides forward TOGETHER. That's a first for those who have been under the PNCL umbrella for quite some time.

Higney85, what's the most junior captain base and hire date on the Pinnacle side right now? We should have an update on the Mesaba side on 1/3 on how junior LGA goes....

I don't agree with you.

The Colgan name has been trashed, they want it gone at all costs.

XJ has great scope and protections (keep in mind, not as good as the TA brings), Colgan has nothing.

I feel Colgan has the most to lose if it doesnt pass, and the most to gain if it does.

To my knowledge without the official list in front of me... Sept 06 class date for JFK -200. That was the last vacancy award.

It's called scope that prevents that. Mesaba has it in a contract. Something 9L doesn't have. That is the important part of the JCBA and not the 60 cent difference in saab pay.