Cessnadriver

I知 Mesaba new hire who is a two weeks away from finishing up training and am starting to wonder about schedules. For the past six months some friends and I have been planning a 4-5 day backpacking/ camping trip this fall. With my old instructing job it would have been no problem, but with my low seniority at Mesaba, I知 wondering if I should bother continuing to plan the trip or just put it off for a year. I will be finishing training in approx two of weeks and then waiting for IOE. It is tempting to plan the trip for the gap between sim and IOE, but there are some people who are only getting a gap of 4 days off. On the other hand some have several weeks and unfortunately I won稚 find out till the last minute. I知 thinking it might be safer to plan the trip for November.

What I知 wondering is this. What are the odds of a brand new guy getting a string of five days off in a row during any one of the last 3 weeks of November?

Also, anyone know what the average time off is between Sim and IOE these days? It might be kind of a risk to plan it during the time as I may have to cancel last minute.

FlyerJosh

Nothing is certain, especially as the low guy on the totem pole. If I was you, I'd try to schedule the trip during the first part of November. Assuming that you finish IOE and are eligible to bid for a (reserve) line, you're more likely to get a longer stretch of time off then since most senior folks want the time around Thanksgiving off.

Airsupport

you will miss the trip, or you will get missed trip.. those are the only 2 choices you have..

what you are asking for is crazy..let me put your request the way management will hear it.

"Hi, i just started here and have some stuff i want to do in november that will require i be gone from work for 5 days straight during the holidays,, hope you guys understand.."

see how that isn't going to work.

in all seriousness though i don't work at mesaba, but you are probably on reserve and i don't think they have reserve lines that have 5 days off in a row.. i hope you get the time you want.

Cessnadriver

Sounds like it's not going to happen. It never ceases to amaze me just how quick I can get a reply on this site!! What do you think the odds are that I could do it in a year?

dashdriver22

easily within a year, you shouldn't be on reserve very long. There are alot of lines that give you blocks of days off and then you pay for it later in the month.

xjsaab

Be honest and let crew scheduling and CP know. I believe they build you a line after you finish IOE if you didn't finish in time to bid a line. Reserve days can be traded with other guys on Reserve. If you put in the effort and have a good attitude with Crew Sched, I'd say you have a good chance. Can't make promises but I would be optomistic. What other job can you have a week of vacation, bid it right and get three weeks off. It's all what you make of it. Congrats and welcome to the family C-yaa on the the line.

RJ85FO

You might be able to use your moving days to get the time off. I don't know how far you "live" as compared to where you got based. You have 1 packing day and 1 unpacking day plus 1 additional day for each 350 miles. With some creativity, you might be able to sqeak a stretch of 5 or 6 in a row depending on your reserve schedule or green line.

Moving ahead, the best deal in town is to bid a highspeed line and burn a sick call for a stretch of 4. Highspeed lines are usually always 4 on, 2 or 3 off. One sick call will take out a stretch of 4 highspeeds and you only burn 16 hours of sick time. So by calling in sick on a highspeed line, you are guaranteed to have 8 days off in a row. A little trick to put in your toolbox for later use!

gbntpilot

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I'm also a Mesaba new hire, starting class on October 8th in the CRJ-900. I was wondering about how that works for people who have to move between completing IOE and starting their line. So, since I'm moving 1100 miles, that's five days to drive 1100 miles back home (bringing my car to training), pack, and then drive another 1100 miles back to MSP? Do they count each way in that 350 mile rule, because if they don't, five days is cutting it pretty close.

FlyerJosh

I'm not an expert on Mesaba's contract, but I'd guess that you're probably going to be time crunched. You might end up driving home, commuting back to do a trip, then flying back home and driving back to MSP.

RJ85FO

Sorry, but no. In your case you will get 5 days to move.

Keep in mind as well that you must submit your request for moving days by the 15th of the month PRIOR to the month you wish to use them.