Are pilots still bailing from Mesaba? Is attrition high? If (Hypothetically) Mesaba is awarded the flying of the 36 CRJs are they going to have to hire heavily?

 

Attrition is still "high" for us, but has slowed noticeably the last couple of weeks. I suspect that will be the status quo through the holidays. I believe it will pick up again slightly in the new year. We have lost 200ish pilots so far. Mid-November seniority list shows 784 total pilots with 220 on furlough. That is down from 980 at our high September of 2005. I have heard that in the neighborhood of 90 of the furloughs are gone but names still remain on the list...bookeeping hasn't caught up yet.

So, yes, if we do get 36 additional aircraft coming next year, there will be the need to hire in the neighborhood of 200-250 pilots to staff back to the required levels in my estimation. (We will be a little leaner due to the implementation of PBS in 2008.)

 

Gee, maybe that's why he SAID THE SAME THING ALREADY: The perfect situation would be that mainline would do all of that flying for good rates, but we know that can't happen....


See, I think he was trying to say something like this, "Yes, mainline flying only would be the ideal, but we are stuck with our present situation for the time being. Therefore, l would like to discuss this other issue [aircraft allotments] without re-opening that oh-so-tired debate about who should fly what. Unfortunately, there is always some idiot like you, Hotmama [a dubious claim if I ever heard one], who can't grasp the topic's thread and make a meaningful contribution. I would draw you a picture, too, but I don't have my crayons handy. Moron.

 

Lol. you used the word dubious. LOl. You are the moron. I bet you went to riddle, didn't you. Flight instructed for a while and ended up in a shiny RJ. Who are you flying for? WHo's the idiot? lol

 

I don't blame you guys( I was one of you at one time). I just get sick of these lifers at regionals getting excited about "bigger planes".

 

Lifers are lifers because there is no other job right now. Trust me. But there is finally some movement. Do you guys really think that we want to spend our lives at companies which constantly say that survival is dependent upon our taking concessions? (Well, I guess the majors do the same thing.....) I want to go to a legacy carrier too, but right now the road is very narrow and lots of pilots are trying to get there.

If the legacy carrier pilots don't want the constant aircraft expansion at the so-called 'regional' level then it is up to you to stop it, not us.

 

Good post. However, there are PLENTY of peops who are staying at regionals because they want to. i.e. want to be BIG fish in little pond.

 

Some stay at regionals because it is closer to home, or they have the seniority to bid well, or they are 45 or so and don't want to start over again. There are LOTS of reasons they stay, some better than others. I know a guy who, when AWAC was bought by United a number of years ago was a captain on the 146. He was offered an interview at United and didn't get the job (only 1 AWAC pilot did IIRC) but others did because of United's system of preferential hiring at the time.

He is a lifer now. Bids well and is about 48 years old and doesn't want to commute across the country to a reserve spot.

I have said before that if so-called 'regional' jets were capped at 50 seats I would support that 100%. I think most pilots would too, since it might mean getting a seniority number at a legacy or mainline carrier sooner rather than later. But right now that is not the case and the carriers' managements has successfully been able to chip away at the scope clauses. Whose fault is that? Continental has successfully kept it at 50 seats I think. Good for them. They are hiring. Coincidence? I think not.

 

well put dude.....I wish everyone GOT IT like you do(no, i'm not patronizing). KUDOS to you and all who think as you do.

 

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