Avroman

Because those of us that have been here a while have seen these games before. The signs for all the Saabs to go by 2012 is CLEARLY there. It's foolish to not plan for those repercussions in where you may fall as that happens. If it doesn't, bonus, you will not fall as far backward as if they all do go. If replacements come as the Saabs go, bonus you will not fall as far backward. IF you bury your head and buy that new car anyway and we end up as a 60ish jet airline and you are furloughed or maybe just a reserve FO don't say we didn't try to warn you.

typical41

The world certainly does not revolve around Mesaba pilots, that is for sure. I am certain we are losing ALL the Saabs. I promise you that will happen withinin the next couple years. Delta has already made up their minds on the future of the saab. They just refuse to tell their employees about it up front, that way they don't lower the morale and decrease operational effeciency. They won't inform their employees of their decision about each group of saabs, until they actually have to start making pilot reductions, preparing the planes for return to saab, etc.

As for the 200's, I used to assume that we would be the first to drop 200's; i really don't believe that anymore however. I do think they will keep are 200's and possibly even add some of the parked 200's to Mesaba's fleet. Maybe Delta will give us some of the parked 200's just sitting around being paid for to, so that they can fly to a few of the destinations no longer served by the saab, once the saabs go away.

I dunno, i am just guessing that Mesaba's 200's will not be the first to be eliminated from the DCI airplane mix. Painting/not painting a plane really means nothing as to the future of an airplane; I am not saying that i know the 200's will stay at Mesaba; i just don't think anyone should immediately assume the 200's are goners.

Once Mesaba shrinks down to a 600 pilot airline, I really just hope it stays that way. It would probably do everyone a lot of good. A lot better than hiring another 400-500 pilots, again and again and again, only to lay them off again and again and again. That way no one has to leave there current job, to come to Mesaba, only to lose there job at Mesaba a year later. Probably a blessing in disguise when I get my furlough letter, which is most likely, not very far off. Hopefully everyone that gets axed will move on to better jobs/companies. Good Luck to all!

bored

Avroman... I've seen the games before, trust me. I could smell this as soon as we were told how long the leases were renegotiated for. None of this is a surprise, by any stretch of the imagination. Good contingency planning is important, I agree. However they're going away incredibly slowly. There is nothing I can do today, to prepare for the eventuality in 2012 or beyond when all the saabs will be gone.

It's funny... for good news everyone is so cautious and it's "I'll see it when I believe it." But not with bad news. Everyone is talking as if the saabs are already gone. Last time I checked, we're not even done with 2009. The 23rd plane to leave the fleet will happen in December of 2010. Lots of time...

Colnago

I think it's funny how a lot of people here on APC preach their word as gospel. Even those who "have been here very long" don't know what the hell is gonna happen. People are getting furloughed, including myself. That's the only fact. To say that all the Saabs are gonna go is only an informed assumption / educated guess. Yes, things may point in that direction, but let's stop talking to each other condescendingly as if one really has the truth over another. Let's stop bringing up this whole "I've been here for a while so I know what's gonna happen" BS.

Avroman

Because for many of us the downgrades/furloughs will come LONG before December 2010. Just ask the people that just were named on the lists posted last night how they feel about their jobs related to the first 10 being gone in December 2009. I couldn't care less about December 2010 because I will likely be downgraded with the first batch in early 2010 along with many others...

Colnago

New ALPA e-mail stating the company is interested in a MCB due to the further loss of Saabs. I've contacted our reps before and will do so again to express my interest in at LEAST negotiating extended flight benefits for us furloughees, among other issues. It would be great if others could get involved again.

ConnectionPilot

Ditto...something needs to be done with the benefits

SkiboyOO7

Already emailed my Rep....

1. Extended FURLOUGHED PILOT FLIGHT BENEFITS (just like Comair would be nice).

2. Unemployment benefits for pilots that take a voluntary furlough, LOA or ETOWOP without fear that the company will fight your unemployment claim.

3. Longevity and seniority continue to accrue for all furloughed pilots.

4. Some type of long call reserve

Lighteningspeed

++1!! I agree. Flight benefits should continue for the entire duration of the furlough for all XJ pilots. Technically furloughed XJ pilots are still employee of the XJ. For this reason the longevity and seniority should continue to accrue for all furloughed pilots also. At DAL your longevity and seniority accrues during your furlough, so this policy should apply to XJ which is a subsidiary of DAL operating under their management control.
This should be negotiated in strong terms by the Union rep. Another reason why you need a professional negotiator other than part time union pilots arguing for you at the table with the management.

Avroman

The flight benefits have to come from Delta. They were asked before and came back with a solid NO. The only reason Comair has 5 years is because they were able to get it in thier contract somehow. As for unemployment, you should be able to collect while furloughed either way (vol/invol). Seniority does continue to build while furloughed, but I fully agree longevity should as well (I'd love to get the year back I lost while furloughed too). Long call reserve would be nice but you'd have to really do a good job with the rules to make it useful. The end of ready reserve would be nice too.
The problem with all these are that they are all helping the junior guys with basically nothing for the senior guys. Unfortunately as such, I am not holding my breath any of these will happen, at least not until the overall contract opens up.