PSA 900's Dead

[the turtle]

Yeah...it really chaps my ___ when I hear Mesa call for a push in CLT. The ramp controllers always ask the crew what their "out" time is. The reply is usually 5-8 minutes earlier than actual time.

For US Airways, this is a good thing. However for those of us that are competing against Mesa for regional flying, it's a no win situation. Those of us with ACARS are at a big disadvantage.

"actual" what, exactly? The time they call for push? Or the time the door is closed? How do you know when that is? Are you watching them?

The way I hear it, they finnaly got their act together. In CLT, at least.

 

[LGA777]

well Mesa's been doing quite well with the CR9's out of CLT... posting ontime #s and completion #s that *no one* will believe... but they're doing a great job... even better #s than Republic, AWAC, and Chautauqua.

I wonder if Mesa's surprising CR9 CLT performance is partially do to them being worked by "experianced" Mainline Cust Svc and Ramp as apposed (no disrepect intended, only facts) a high turnover Express operation ?

Regards

LGA777

 

[BoeingBoy]

"actual" what, exactly?

What I've heard on the radio is Mesa calling in their out time, ramp tower asking if they could just show "on time", and Mesa revising their time to show earlier than they had originally called in.

Not every time by any stretch, but enough to make one wonder what their real O/T performance is.

Jim

 

[flynomore]

What I've heard on the radio is Mesa calling in their out time, ramp tower asking if they could just show "on time", and Mesa revising their time to show earlier than they had originally called in.

Not every time by any stretch, but enough to make one wonder what their real O/T performance is.

Jim

======================================================

Whoever is scheduling the gates knows the true answer since late is his problem.

Isn't Mesa paid by trip instead of hourly? If so, what is the point of calling early? More Jet Pilot in Command time?

 

[Harry Callahan]

What I've heard on the radio is Mesa calling in their out time, ramp tower asking if they could just show "on time", and Mesa revising their time to show earlier than they had originally called in.

Not every time by any stretch, but enough to make one wonder what their real O/T performance is.

Jim

Last year I was on a Mesa flt ATL CLT we left apprx 25 min late. Next day I went to work & guess what the times showed out on time.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Whoever is scheduling the gates knows the true answer since late is his problem.

Maybe that's why it's been ramp tower that asked to show an O/T departure. Just pulling times out of thin air, the conversation would go like this:

Mesa - "Air Shuttle XXXX out at 34"

Ramp Tower - "Shuttle XXXX, how about showing on time?"

Mesa - "Ok, out at 24"

Other than exchanges like this, I have no idea whether the times Mesa crews call in is O/T or not.

Jim

 

[ItsJustAJob]

"actual" what, exactly? The time they call for push? Or the time the door is closed? How do you know when that is? Are you watching them?

The way I hear it, they finnaly got their act together. In CLT, at least.

Okay...sorry, I was using the PSA criteria for an on time departure. For us it's when the wheels actually move. Not when the door closes. That's the way our ACARS are programmed. I guess we are at an even bigger disadvantage than I thought, especially if everyone else is using "door closed" as their out time.

I wonder if Mesa's surprising CR9 CLT performance is partially do to them being worked by "experianced" Mainline Cust Svc and Ramp as apposed (no disrepect intended, only facts) a high turnover Express operation ?

Regards

LGA777

The Mesa CR9's have always been worked by mainline agents and ramp. So even when their numbers were really bad, it was the same people working the flights.

 

[the turtle]

Okay...sorry, I was using the PSA criteria for an on time departure. For us it's when the wheels actually move. Not when the door closes. That's the way our ACARS are programmed. I guess we are at an even bigger disadvantage than I thought, especially if everyone else is using "door closed" as their out time.

Yep. Door closed brakes released.

Mesa's CRJ's have the ability to send ACARS, however it's only installed on the uax fleet. I guess US dosen't want it on this side...I wonder why?

 

[gabby]

Yep. Door closed brakes released.

Mesa's CRJ's have the ability to send ACARS, however it's only installed on the uax fleet. I guess US dosen't want it on this side...I wonder why?

Is it just me or are the ACARS at PSA screwing us?
Last 4 day i did 19legs. All 19 legs the time didn't start when we were pushed back. It only started when we moved forward at a steady pace. Not once but all 19 legs. And we all know that when we arrive we can sit outside a gate waiting for ground crew for a couple of minutes, and the clock stops.

Figure 3 minutes a leg that is over an hour that the company is ripping us off. Company is saving over $45,000 a year/airplane by doing this. It's wrong that we get paid this way anyway. We are all working 30min prior to the flight and that is when we should start to get paid. Better yet, have us clock in and out at the end of a day. Pay us less/hour but see how scheduling shapes up fast.

 

[ItsJustAJob]

Is it just me or are the ACARS at PSA screwing us?
Last 4 day i did 19legs. All 19 legs the time didn't start when we were pushed back. It only started when we moved forward at a steady pace. Not once but all 19 legs. And we all know that when we arrive we can sit outside a gate waiting for ground crew for a couple of minutes, and the clock stops.

Figure 3 minutes a leg that is over an hour that the company is ripping us off. Company is saving over $45,000 a year/airplane by doing this. It's wrong that we get paid this way anyway. We are all working 30min prior to the flight and that is when we should start to get paid. Better yet, have us clock in and out at the end of a day. Pay us less/hour but see how scheduling shapes up fast.

Gabby...you were obviously on the -700. You are supposed to send a msg to dispatch if the time doesn't register. Don't set the parking brake if a marshaller isn't there. Simple fixes. If you are getting screwed, you're doing it to yourself.

 

[SegmentKing]

Gabby...you were obviously on the -700. You are supposed to send a msg to dispatch if the time doesn't register. Don't set the parking brake if a marshaller isn't there. Simple fixes. If you are getting screwed, you're doing it to yourself.

When we were down in EYW, we had a variety of Express planes come in.

With PSA, I believe ACARS starts once the plane is moving at least 3 MPH.

MDA - it was 9 or 10 feet of movement.

Republic - when the door is shut.

Air Midwest - none.

But with the 3 airlines, the captain can "disengage" ACARS.

And add to Mesa's credit, they aren't doing BTV-LGA-ORF-DCA-ROC-PHL-ILM-CLT-ATL legs anymore.. AWAC is, and you can see their stellar on time data.

 

[optimator]

Boeingboy,
What are your thoughts on
fourth quarter profits?
And cogratulations on
your retirement.

 

[BoeingBoy]

I have no idea what the 4th quarter numbers will look like. FWIW, First Call's consensus (last updated just over a month ago) is for $1.01/share, or about $90 million before special items. The high estimate included in First Call's consensus is for $1.50/share or $135 million (Lehman Brothers as discussed below) while the low is $0.75/share or $67 million.

Lehman Brothers, generally among the more bullish on US, revised their estimate downward this morning - to $1.10/share (about $100 million) from $1.50/share (or about $135 million, with both before special items).

As I said before the 3rd quarter numbers came out, any special items could have a big effect on the net income.

Jim

 

[optimator]

I have no idea what the 4th quarter numbers will look like. FWIW, First Call's consensus (last updated just over a month ago) is for $1.01/share, or about $90 million before special items. The high estimate included in First Call's consensus is for $1.50/share or $135 million (Lehman Brothers as discussed below) while the low is $0.75/share or $67 million.

Lehman Brothers, generally among the more bullish on US, revised their estimate downward this morning - to $1.10/share (about $100 million) from $1.50/share (or about $135 million, with both before special items).

As I said before the 3rd quarter numbers came out, any special items could have a big effect on the net income.

Jim

OK, Thank you

 

[ItsJustAJob]

But with the 3 airlines, the captain can "disengage" ACARS.

I knew this would come up. I've been flying the a/c since we got it...and I have yet to hear of any way to "disengage" the ACARS. If anyone knows how to do it, I'd be interested in finding out how it is done. I honestly don't think there is a way to do it.
If you pull the circuit breaker, it will just show the out time as the time that you push it back in. That would be counter productive.