RJ85FO

Since we will be operating both aircraft types you can expect to see new hires go to both. The odds are stacked in favor of the jet, but some will be on the Saab no doubt about it.

Be aware of the following to help you understand how it works here:
All new hires are subject to a 3 year equipment freeze. However the freeze shall not prevent you from upgrading before the 3 year limit. If, after 3 years, you have NOT had the opportunity to upgrade, you can switch equipment (if you so desire) and then will be subject to a Seat (status) lock of 24 months.

Since upgrade time will be dropping with the addition of these new aircraft, very few existing Saab FO's will make the bid to the Jet so as to avoid being seat locked for 24 months. This is why the new hires will see a majority of the jet slots. However, as people continue to leave for greener pastures, there will be Saab openings as well.

During any interview, especially in tight markets like pilots, they will try and sell you on the company by hyping up the jet and how it is "likely" to get that aircraft when hired. You should be armed with the facts and know that since we have 2 aircraft types, you could get either.

The Saab is less glamorous, but the pay is the same and you will fly more. It is all turbine 121 experience. The size of the fan really doesn't matter.

Latex_semi_glos

I have talked to a couple of pilots at Mesaba and they say the Saab is a fun aircraft. Which aircraft usually upgrades to captain sooner?

RJ85FO

The Saab is junior equipment for captains. When you upgrade, it will most likely be to the Saab. When we had the Avro, several people waited to upgrade until they could hold the jet (six years) and then got the short stick when the fleet went away.

The truth is this. The jet will spoil you. I know the Avro did to me. Now imagine being spoiled for 2 years on the jet, upgrade comes and you have to take your first command, learn a new airplane entirely, and learn to fly again with VORs and crossing radials and NDB and non-towered airports. We have had more than one fail to upgrade for those very reasons. Coming from the right seat of the Saab to the left seat is a breeze from what I have heard.

And hey, they are turning on the FMS's in the Saab now. It even displays the hold on the screen!! For the Saab, that is close to miraculous.

Falconguy

OK, I appreciate the input....especially from RJ85FO! Here's the short and skinny....I am a corporate pilot; I am a Captain on a Lear 45 and a Falcon 2000. They are great airplanes and it is a great job with great pay...but....I feel the pull to the airline side of the business. Let's face it, none of us (generalization) went through school thinking we were gonna be corporate pilots. I wanted to fly the airlines and I know this will be a MAJOR financial hit for me. I have a wife who has a good paying job and I've been called for an interview with Mesaba, SkyWest, and Horizon. I guess, I am looking for advice from the "other" side of the fence. I know, I know, the grass is always greener...but just think, if you were on your death bed one day...will you ask yourself if you did what you wanted to with your life?

SaltyDog

I've trained guys like you at UPS who were corporate Captains. Have you considered the cargo dog side of the airline business?
Best of luck in your decisions.

Falconguy

Thanks....I've looked at that too but UPS and FedEx require an FE cert (or at least written) which is no problem except that they also require an "inside" recommendation (from what I"ve heard).

RJ85FO

[QUOTE=Falconguy;117422]OK, I appreciate the input....especially from RJ85FO! Here's the short and skinny....I am a corporate pilot; I am a Captain on a Lear 45 and a Falcon 2000. They are great airplanes and it is a great job with great pay...but....I feel the pull to the airline side of the business.
QUOTE]

Remember free advice is worth as much as you pay for it. So with that, here is my opinion.

If you have Turbine PIC and especially in aircraft like the Falcon, I would be setting my sights on the LLCs or majors. Regionals are tough and if 121 flying is truly your goal, I would hate to see you get the wrong impression by starting at a regional. You certainly must have the qualifications to apply at Jet Blue, AirTran, SWA, Delta, Continental, UPS, FedEx, Alaska, Frontier, Champion, Sun Country and probably some others that are hiring that I am missing. At these carriers, your 2nd year pay is at least livable.

If you are in regional mode for personal reasons then also consider Compass. They are looking for Captains, so with your qualifications they might be a good opportunity to make the leap and upgrade in months to the EMB-175 left seat. www.compassairline.com

Mesaba has a 1 year training contract and our upgrade time is not going to be close to that of Skywest or Republic or some of the others. I'd hate to see you get stuck in the right seat if you find out it is not what you are looking for.

Good Luck to you whatever you choose.

Ftrooppilot

The Mesaba profile page on Airline Pilot Central REALLY needs to be updated. Don't know who is authorized to do so.

warriordriver

Thats great that Mesaba is hiring again and things are looking up for the guys already there, but what kind of problems does NWA's purchase of Mesaba and the possibility of that purchase violating NWA's scope clause create? I was thinking about applying for Mesaba when I read they were hiring again, but the possiblity of legal action because of a violation really dampens my enthusiam.......
Plus, does that mean that Compass and Mesaba will be merged together and NWA will form a holding company similiar to AMR having both American and American Eagle?

Ftrooppilot

The following is from RJ85FO in an earlier thread dealing with the same question.

"Today we were informed that NWA MEC is NOT trying to, in any way, prevent or dissolve the deal that is place. They are not opposed to the NWA purchase of Mesaba, and are comfortable with us operating the 900's. It is true that the CURRENT language in the contract does not work for this situation. NWA MEC is willing to change the language to allow all of this sale/new jets however, they want something in return...a requital of some sort. Right now they seem to be pushing for a flow-through between Mesaba and NWA, which would allow more protection to NWA mainline pilots in the event that downsizing occurs in the future.

This came out on our MEC conference call earlier today. We'll see what happens, but it appears that our operation of the 900's is not headed for derailment."

RJ85FO: Didn't mean to steal your thunder. Figured you were out flying. I'm just sitting on a sailboat in Key West.

Ftrooppilot