DGFlyer03

Hey thanks for your help man, I'm very excited to be a part of the experience, I enjoy working where I'm out now, but I'm ready for a change. When I interviewed everyone was so positive about the company and optimistic about the future. It seems like Mesaba has come a long way over the past few years and I'm happy to see someone prospering. The union/management relationship is horrible, and the pilot group/management relationship is the same.

A few more questions....
I start class on Nov. 17th and would like the 900 out of MSP, if not then the Saab will be fine. Can you give me an insight on training? I'm coming from the CRJ-200. Also, I have a question about the seat lock stuff. Are you seat locked and domicile locked? Could you bid over to another base if you stay in the same aircraft? Also are you guys seeing a block increase in flight hours?

djrogs03

Welcome to Mesaba...tis a great place to work...

It's too hard to say right now what aircraft you'll be on since an award hasn't come out yet for the 17th...

As far as training goes I only know what the 900 is...

First week is a study of the FOM and basic indoc into the company...Second week you'll meet your captains and go over the FOM, do doors and emergencies, and dive a little bit into the Pilot Operating Manual...Last week and a half is systems....CRJ is all Computer based...Saab from what I've heard is all lecture

depending on how caught up they are you'll go to sims anywhere from 3 days to a month after your done with ground...I'm not sure if they are doing initial training in MSP now with the sim there or in DEN or YUL...
The 900 has 4 days in a fixed base sim learning FMS and other associated items... after that there are 9 full flights in the sim with an oral after lesson 5...type ride for Capt and you after lesson 9...then OE soon to follow

You are Seat locked on Aircraft for 3 years...company can release those locks for upgrade (which they have done in the past)..you are not base locked but you can only bid a base in which your seniority can hold...MSP is pretty senior...and if you don't mind sitting reserve for awhile...then thats a choice you'll have to make

I'm a MSP FO on the 900 and been on the line since April...I've flown 250 hours and I don't think anyone in my class has flown over 325 yet...and thats at all the bases...the guys who are not on reserve and holding lines have been flying anywhere between 600 - 800 hours so far this year...

some food for thought if your thinking MSP...out of 61 lines 14 are reserve lines...the #1 reserve line is being awarded to people that have been at Mesaba almost a year...that will change because as of Feb 1, 09 which will be a little before you come on the line...we will have 81 FO's in MSP on the 900

LoudFastRules

Grievances have gone through the roof. The overall management position seems to be "We'll follow the contract when it suits us to, otherwise we'll break it, and you can grieve it. See you in a year...."

tcraft

Welcome! If the pattern continues, the 17th class will be either all Saab, or Saab and CRJ-200. Unless they stray from the way they have been doing classes for the last 4 or 5 vacancies, I can't see any newhires getting the 900 on this class start date. Sorry, but on the bright side... if you get the 200 you'd be guaranteed MSP as it is the only 200 base.

submachXJ

Just a clarification. You are seat locked as an FO for 3 years if you have not had the opportunity to upgrade. This means after 3 years you can bid to FO in another airplane. There are no seat locks for upgrade as long as you meat the minimum of experience which are ATP minimums. Also I believe a year with the company which can be reduced to avoid hiring street captains. There may be a XJ flight time requirement but it is low and can be reduced. So to summarize you can upgrade when your seniority holds it and move to whatever base your aircraft is in and your seniority can bid to that base.

Colnago

Anyone in the Nov. 3rd class going on the 900? I found out today I was assigned to it.

djrogs03

thanks for clearing it up...

Mesabah

I have my coffee to drink and a newspaper to read, this is really cutting into that time........

spank

Haven't heard anything yet...how'd you find out colnago? Congrats!

Colnago

It may have been more of a coincidence in me finding out, but I had to ask so I could start the TSA process (non-citizen). (You can't apply for TSA clearance without knowing aircraft type.)