Mesaba
 

Anyone interviwed with Mesaba recently?
Is it the same interview as Colgan, Pinnacle etc...
What are the real mins for Mesaba? Are they the same for the other airlines of the group?
Thanks!

its basically the same company now, but if they are "seperate" then mesaba won't be hiring any time soon due to so many displacments (b/c of parking their saabs)

thanks for adding, I wasn't completely sure, yes, I'm in the Sept. 12th colgan class but interview in minneapolis at mesaba.

what they said there is and i quote " mesaba has no plans in the future for new hire classes only colgan and pinnacle"

So if the "new" Mesaba is going to an all turbo-prop fleet according to their APC page, does that imply that Pinnacle plans to combine Mesaba & Colgan? If so, will the "new" Mesaba operate only the Q400 and/or will the name of the "new" Mesaba be Colgan? :confused:



atp

At the end of this year ALL Mesaba Saabs will be gone and they will simply change the name of the Colgan certificate to "Mesaba" The Colgan name will then be retired and the new "Mesaba" will operate Q400's and the original Colgan Saabs as we see now.

You got most of it correct. Mesaba saabs will be sent to Colgan after Mesaba loses their saab flying from Delta and US Airways. As it stands that is all set to happen by the end of the year. At that point, the older Colgan saabs will be retired and Colgan will keep the Mesaba saabs. Colgan will be renamed Mesaba, and this "new" Mesaba will operate Q400s and Saabs.

Also, keep in mind that if you get hired at Pinnacle, because of our ISL, most new hires will probably be going into the Saab from now on instead of the jets. Eventually when you gain seniority you will be able to bid any equipment between Pinnacle or Colgan as there are no fences for FO just for CA

Just for my information:

a) Do you think the "new" Mesaba will keep their minimums at 600/50 or go with the 1000/100?

b) Will upgrades for FO's be determined by number of hours flown with the company or do you think that it will just depend upon movement? Btw, what's the average time for upgrades now, if any at all?

c) Once all of the consolidations and base closings take place, where do you think new hires will be going whether they get the Q4 or SB340?


Thanks.


atp

Couldn't tell you about the change in minimums but if I were a betting man they would keep Mesaba's minimums. We're keeping the Mesaba certificate and they've taken over most of the training from what I hear. Your best bet is to keep flying and get as many hours as you can. Don't put it on cruise control when you meet one company's minimums.

We do have internal minimums to be met, but you're joining a decent sized seniority list, you won't be seeing an upgrade just because you hit the minimums. Assuming you meet the minimums, when your spot can hold a CA seat, you can upgrade. Upgrade time for new hires is probably 4-5 years right now, based on the DOH of junior Captains. I've heard as low as 3 and as high as 7 from different people though so again, your guess is as good as mine. For pre-merger guys its different because of the SLI fences put in place. Of course this can all change rapidly.

As far as which airplane, your guess is as good as mine. We just had a new guy doing his observation rides last week that said he started class thinking they would be on the Q and at somepoint before indoc was done they were told they would be a Saab class. My point is I don't think the company even knows until your class gets there and until you start systems don't get your hopes up either way.

They are keeping Colgans certificate and then changing the name Colgan to Mesaba.

I would expect Colgan Minimums until the FAA says differently.

Upgrades?

hahahahahahahaha! not anytime soon.

Bartok is probably right about the minimums now that I read that.

Upgrade mins are 2500TT/1000 with the company per the contract

The Mesaba certifcate will be retired once all the DTW/MSP/LGA Saabs are retired. There are no "Mesaba Saabs" since they're all leased from Saab Leasing by Delta. There's also no guarantee that they will replace any former Colgan Saab.

All new hires with 9L, 9E, will go to the Saab( so i've been told). I know IAH and IAD need Saab FO's. The displaced Saab FO's in Boston and LGA will probably go for the Jet since the last "Q" class was in April which means the Q has very limited openings right now.

If you are displaced, you can go anywhere your seniority will hold.

All new hires go to whatever positions are left after a vacancy is bid on by pilots that are on property. The saab is the lowest paying equipement with the new rates and will probably stay junior for that reason.

Anyone displaced from a position (LGA, BOS, MEM, DTW, MSP Saab for example) can hold whatever their seniority allows and they will subsequently "bump" another pilot out of that position. In the most recent realignment a number of junior 9E FOs were displaced from the rj to the Saab.

I know you haven't been around all that long yet rotate, but make sure you're feeding the new guys accurate info because it will spread like a wild fire whether it's right or wrong. Rule #76, no excuses play like a champion.

What's interesting is many of the NH's for 9E that are now displaced to the Saab don't have the time requirements to fly it. Joys of the bridge program....

So they gonna get canned?

Noted. :D

Regarding the Saab FO's in BOS, they can't bump any "Q" guy/gal because they were hired after the "Q" wave. So, I would think their seniority will be much lower than a "Q" guy, right?

Also, I was told that 9E can't get enough pilots. So, from a pure $ standpoint, I would think many would bid the RJs.

No plans have been made yet. Hopefully we can come to an agreement without sending them packing. The hardest part is that they've already left their old jobs, so presumably it would be quite difficult to go back and build more time.

The bottom half of the BOS FOs are planning on going to the jet because you are right none of us can hold the Q. The last Q class was 6 of ours class but the pilots SR to us got the Q. It will be interesting to see what happens. The few top guys I have talked to said they will go to the Q.

If anyone loses their job because they're sent to the saab and don't have the time for it I think we should strike... period...

BTW all new hires are going to IAD SF3 for the forseeable future...

Wrong, it's being dumped so we can dump the blowhards in the MSP FSDO. We are now keeping the Colgan cert and changing the name so we can deal with the somewhat more reasonable Dulles FSDO.

Yeah, Bartok already mentioned that, I said he was right. Thanks for reading ;)

Thats probably a good choice. If I wasn't seat locked in the "Q" I'd probably bid the CRJ. Will you guys be able to hold hard lines?

I certainly agree that its stupid that someone who is hired to fly a jet for Pinnacle wouldn't be qualified to fly a Saab for Colgan and be fired as a result. You should let your reps know how you feel.

I was told this issue if an FAA minimums mandate on the Colgan certificate. 9E doesn't have a minimum, neither does Mesaba. That's where the issue lies. If it was between the union and company it would be a simple (and immediate) LOA.

many don't have the time, and some don't even have enough hands.....hear about that one? oh the joys of no interview.....:rolleyes:

What do you mean? Can you elaborate? Are you talking about no interviews for some college grads?

That's going to make it rough on the overnight, lol

only you......:o We now have 2 "spanky's" at Pinnacle.....

yeah there's like 4 schools that have an agreement with 9e that if you have a certain GPA and less than a certain number of failed checks you get on with 9e with no interview.....

I've heard this before, unbelievable, not even an interview!
I've graduated from a French Engeneering school. I am not even sure they will recognize it (to be equivalent to a college degree) and consider me for interview with my low time 830/51, LOL.

Be patient, your times will probably get you in the door. Those 9E pilots from bridge programs with 300 hrs are about to have a rude awakening, that cutting corners can actually get you left behind. ;)

Lol, are you the first?

So what can we do Higney? I wouldn't like to see someone get canned because they were displaced to the colgan side and they are under the mins. I suppose with new hire classes they can up pinnacle's mins but what about someone who is already through class but hasnt hit 1000/100 yet? Regardless of their lower time I think that person just proved their ability to hack it and shouldnt be dropped. Like you said we may not be able to change what the FAA wants but maybe we can figure out something between the company and union. My idea would be to offer the FO's that were awarded or currently hold jet seats the same pay rate on the colgan side if they will give up that seat for someone without the mins to keep it.

The solution is really easy... you give super-seniority to the pinnacle guys who are under 1000/100... they can't be displaced... then when they get over 1000/100 they go down to where they would've been displaced to... I can't imagine too many pilots being more than a couple months from meeting the time requirements... as much as I disagree with pinnacle's criminal hiring practices, I disagree more with pilots being kicked to the street after being guaranteed a job....

Even easier solution...mandate the ATP/1500 hour minumum rule. Certain GPA and selected school with no interview...what a joke!!

and have no applicants and be severely understaffed, yup great solution there.

I could really care less about "no applicants", quality vs quantity. I care more about safety than numbers dude. And more low time in-experienced guys hired equates to a higher workload for the left seat when the **** hits the fan.

Exactly......

I am sure there will be some who wouldnt think anything about letting them go, minimums are minimums and cutting corners is not cool. With that said they shouldnt be fired because they already have the job but this crappy bridge program needs to go. I do believe they should figure out a way to let them fly the Saab so the people who are here and flying already who have the time can get the higher pay rate. You dont wanna pay your dues before coming here you should get the lowest pay rate but also keep your job.