Mesaba new hires
10-03-2007, 02:15 PM
#921
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: Body at sea level; heart at 70,000+
Posts: 1,349
Ftrooppilot, can you explain what you mean by that. I am curious what you mean by that. On Compass thread, I am seeing a fast deterioration of Compass pilot morale primarily due to management not carrying through with their promises. A lot of them are flying very little. As little as 5 days total for the month.
On the other side is Mesaba with lots of aircraft, more coming and too few pilots - especially those qualifed for Captain upgrade. They are established, have a reputation for treating people well (especially since leaving MAIR) and appear to have a bright future. Morale is high. Employees, especially the pilot group, have a great sense of IDENTITY. There is a well established infastructure (HRO, Training, OPS) and Mesaba has "been around the block for a long time."
Getting back to the problem: crunch time is approaching. NWA owns one regional with too many aircraft and too few pilots (especially Captain qualified) and one with too many highly qualified pilots and too few aircraft. The solution seems too simple and probably is.
One regional has to be kept fully staffed and operating. Aircraft delivery rates are fixed. Bringing Compass "up to speed" will be a long process and time is running out on Mesaba pilot staffing. IMHO (which changes each day based on new events) the following "should" occur.
Compass has outlived its usefulness as a "whipsaw."
1. Qualified Compass pilots should be offered "Mesaba street Captain" SAAB positions when the need becomes apparent. Mesaba must maintain full pilot staffing with more CRJs (200 and 900) on the way. Those not qualified for Captain should be offered FO positions (starting at the bottom).
2. Compass should be merged with Mesaba and the Management, HRO, Training, Ops, etc. redundancy eliminated.
3. Now here is the really controversial one. Existing Compass aircraft and future delivery positions (including the E simulator about to be installed in the Mesaba training center) should be sold.
4. Mesaba should exercise their option and order more CRJ900s. NWA has to keep one regional alive and standardize the fleet.
But then this is only my humble opinion; I have no influence on the process. What would an "old timer" living on a sailboat in Key West know ? Life is good - except it's hurricane season.
BTW: In case any of you are there, my wife and I will be attending the 12th Air Commando Squadron reunion at the AF Museum in Dayton this weekend.
Last edited by Ftrooppilot; 10-03-2007 at 02:35 PM.
10-03-2007, 02:30 PM
#922
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: G550 Captain
Posts: 1,206
Put youself in the place of NWA management (I know it's hard to do.) HAHA this is really too funny. who needs to keep feeding the hubs with pax. One one side there is a Compass with too many highly qualified pilots (good people) and too few aircraft. It's costing a fortune to keep it operating. Costs , especially wages, are being kept to a minimum ignoring promises made. Morale is in the pits. There is indecision on the future corporate status because of ALPA, Scope, legal agreements, etc. They are a "house of cards" waiting to collapse. Based in VA , all their training, HRO, operations "infrastructure" is in a Mesaba MSP HQ facility. They have no sense of IDENTITY.
On the other side is Mesaba with lots of aircraft, more coming and too few pilots - especially those qualifed for Captain upgrade. They are established, have a reputation for treating people well (especially since leaving MAIR) and appear to have a bright future. Morale is high. Employees, especially the pilot group, has a great sense of IDENTITY. There is a well established infastructure (HRO, Training, OPS) and Mesaba has "been around the block for a long time."
Getting back to the problem: crunch time is approaching. NWA owns one regional with too many aircraft and too few pilots (especially Captain qualified) and one with too many highly qualified pilots and too few aircraft. The solution seems too simple and probably is.
One regional has to be kept fully staffed and operating. Aircraft delivery rates are fixed. Bringing Compass "up to speed" will be a long process and time is running out on Mesaba pilot staffing. IMHO (which changes each day based on new events) the following "should" occur.
Compass has outlived its usefulness as a "whipsaw."
1. Qualified Compass pilots should be offered "Mesaba street Captain" SAAB positions when the need becomes apparent. Mesaba must maintain full pilot staffing with more CRJs (200 and 900) on the way. Those not qualified for Captain should be offered FO positions (starting at the bottom).
2. Compass should be merged with Mesaba and the Management, HRO, Training, Ops, etc. redundancy eliminated.
3. Now here is the really controversial one. Existing Compass aircraft and future delivery positions (including the E simulator about to be installed in the Mesaba training center) should be sold.
4. Mesaba should exercise their option and order more CRJ900s. NWA has to keep one regional alive and standardize the fleet.
But then this is only my humble opinion; I have no influence on the process. What would an "old timer" living on a sailboat in Key West know ? Life is good - except it's hurricane season.
BTW: In case any of you are there, my wife and I will be attending the 12th Air Commando Squadron reunion at the AF Museum in Dayton this weekend.
On the other side is Mesaba with lots of aircraft, more coming and too few pilots - especially those qualifed for Captain upgrade. They are established, have a reputation for treating people well (especially since leaving MAIR) and appear to have a bright future. Morale is high. Employees, especially the pilot group, has a great sense of IDENTITY. There is a well established infastructure (HRO, Training, OPS) and Mesaba has "been around the block for a long time."
Getting back to the problem: crunch time is approaching. NWA owns one regional with too many aircraft and too few pilots (especially Captain qualified) and one with too many highly qualified pilots and too few aircraft. The solution seems too simple and probably is.
One regional has to be kept fully staffed and operating. Aircraft delivery rates are fixed. Bringing Compass "up to speed" will be a long process and time is running out on Mesaba pilot staffing. IMHO (which changes each day based on new events) the following "should" occur.
Compass has outlived its usefulness as a "whipsaw."
1. Qualified Compass pilots should be offered "Mesaba street Captain" SAAB positions when the need becomes apparent. Mesaba must maintain full pilot staffing with more CRJs (200 and 900) on the way. Those not qualified for Captain should be offered FO positions (starting at the bottom).
2. Compass should be merged with Mesaba and the Management, HRO, Training, Ops, etc. redundancy eliminated.
3. Now here is the really controversial one. Existing Compass aircraft and future delivery positions (including the E simulator about to be installed in the Mesaba training center) should be sold.
4. Mesaba should exercise their option and order more CRJ900s. NWA has to keep one regional alive and standardize the fleet.
But then this is only my humble opinion; I have no influence on the process. What would an "old timer" living on a sailboat in Key West know ? Life is good - except it's hurricane season.
BTW: In case any of you are there, my wife and I will be attending the 12th Air Commando Squadron reunion at the AF Museum in Dayton this weekend.
I've flown into Key West amd Marathon this February. Beautiful place.
Sounds like you've got it made living on a sailboat. Sounds like a lot of fun without the stress of living in the Big City.
Last edited by Lighteningspeed; 10-03-2007 at 02:42 PM.
10-03-2007, 03:30 PM
#925
Saab Saab Phooey!
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Set Hundo
Posts: 479
Ftrooppilot:
You give all of us inspiration to stick with it through the ups and downs.
If I keep it up, I might end up lucky enough to retire to a tropical sailboat, too!
Thanks for your input to our mega-thread.
You give all of us inspiration to stick with it through the ups and downs.
If I keep it up, I might end up lucky enough to retire to a tropical sailboat, too!
Thanks for your input to our mega-thread.
10-03-2007, 04:59 PM
#926
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: "I love the smell of Napalm in the Morning."
Posts: 288
Thanks for the history lesson. Everybody's heard a different version of your same old story. Seems like most of your comments on this are usually negative. Negative thoughts invite negative comments. Don't be so quick to generalize a group of people without getting all the facts. Food for thought.
Call it what you like. It's not a game. Many people choose to wait for whatever reason and they have the right to do so. Whether it works out or not, it's their choice and they don't need you to point out the obvious.
Call it what you like. It's not a game. Many people choose to wait for whatever reason and they have the right to do so. Whether it works out or not, it's their choice and they don't need you to point out the obvious.
10-03-2007, 05:24 PM
#927
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: "I love the smell of Napalm in the Morning."
Posts: 288
Nice post Ftrooppilot. I'd be surprised if they dropped the E175 completely, but I've been surprised before. Maybe transition it up to mainline? ...maybe wishful thinking on my part 
If any of this were to occur, I hope the good people currently at Compass don't get the usual red tail treatment.
All of what you posted makes good logical sense, however NWA Mgmt doesn't always follow suit. They do always seem to follow the almighty dollar... you might be right, old man.
If any of this were to occur, I hope the good people currently at Compass don't get the usual red tail treatment.
All of what you posted makes good logical sense, however NWA Mgmt doesn't always follow suit. They do always seem to follow the almighty dollar... you might be right, old man.
10-04-2007, 05:01 AM
#928
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Lav
Posts: 992
To the recently hired guys (sim or IOE completed) - Any of you able to get MSP while still in training? Just curious if anyone knows the wait for MSP SF3 FO. Didn't get it on this last award.....
10-04-2007, 05:54 AM
#929
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Port of Indecision and Southwest of Disorder
Posts: 587
10-04-2007, 06:04 AM
#930
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: 7ER
Posts: 106
Keep in mind that a lot of new hires are from the east and are wanting to be based out of DTW, so that may speed things up.
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