WMU2006

I interviewed at Mesaba recentley. I have not heard back from them yet. I got an interview with Commutair. Just wondering what airline to go with. Mesaba seems like the better choice. Any suggestions or input. Should I be wondering about the future of NWA.

Thanks

rsliman

i was at commutair for 6 months, not a bad place to be, the people are awesome, besides the dash 8 is cooler then the saab!

jamiestrat

I have heard that the pilot group at Commutair is good, but the same can be said of the XJ group. The Dash may be "cooler" than the Saab, but please don't go to the airline based on the type of plane they fly. Go to the place that is easier for you to commute. Anyway, if you came to Mesaba, you would more than likely get the CRJ-900. Overstaffed on the Saabs right now.

Tinpusher007

Not that you will get rich off of our payrates, but they are higher than Commutair and we are growing. I would say come to XJ.

Lone Palm

Another thing to think about.


Current temp in MSP -12 F feels like -34


I think we may all be just a little crazy living up here......

Tinpusher007

Doesn't commutair do most of their flying out of CLE for CO? Can't imagine hats too much warmer.

RedGuy

Not much warmer in DTW either. Currently about 12F.

HoboPilot

there's a big difference between 12F and -12F with a -34F windchill

12F is warm

WMU2006

I live in FL right now so any where in the North is going to be a change. Right now it is sunny and 70's just like the last few days. But I have family up in MI so I can get used to it again if I have to. Don't get me wrong I don't want to but someone has to do it right? And to the XJ people I applied to them but I have not gotten a call back so I guess my time is to low or they are just not hiring. CLE is where I want to be but DTW isn't to far away!

E1Out

I flew for CommutAir several years ago, so this information is a little old, but I've heard not a whole lot has changed since I left, so hopefully it will be of some use to you...

The pilots at CommutAir are awesome. It's a tight-knit work group that interacts more like a family than a group of employees. They are top notch aviators and a lot of fun to work with. I learned more about flying at CommutAir on the B1900 than I had in all of my flight training. New hires at other companies that go straight into jets have a tendency to knock the turboprops, but the majority of ex-turboprop drivers will tell you it was the most fun they've had in their careers. In my opinion, you'll be flying jets for the next 30-some-odd years... You'll never have another opportunity to fly a turboprop. Get it in while you can - I'm glad I did.

The relationship that management has with the pilots is remarkably good. They are non-union (voted down ALPA a few years ago), simply because the pilots there do not feel like they need protection from a management group that takes such good care of them. (Every company has its issues, but their management team is not "out to get" them.)

When I worked there (you should try to verify this info, as it's a few years old)... The company paid for 100% of our medical insurance, and everyone was guaranteed 13 days off a month. You bid for pairings on your choice of days - not hard lines or PBS (so you could buddy-bid with your friends, and if you were senior enough, get your choice of days off). They spread reserve out amongst the pilots so you didn't sit any more than 1 week of reserve each month. And I don't think you were allowed to be assigned more than 1 week of stand-ups in a month. I thoroughly enjoyed it there, and would go back and do it again in a heartbeat. Truly, some of my fondest memories of my career come from CommutAir.

I can't comment on Mesaba. I know they had some issues a few years ago in the whole whip-sawing movement between them and Pinnacle. I will say that with the CRJ-900 on property, if you wait it out there long enough for an upgrade, you'll be able to get PIC Jet (versus PIC turboprop) which you won't get at CommutAir.

My best advice, if I were in your shoes... I would be asking:

1. What's the current and projected upgrade time on each of the aircraft at each company?

2. What's the future viability of each company? (Will Mesaba be affected by a DAL/NWA merger, or when does CommutAir's contract with CAL expire, for instance.)

3. Are either of the companies projecting growth or shrinking?

4. What is management's relationship with their respective pilot group?

Good luck to you. I hope this helped.