Going to Mesa interview 11/4, 11/5?

[texanpilot]

Wow, I guess completing the ATP Written makes you an expert. Nice job.

 

[Tatoosh65]

How quickly we all learned that we wanted to be fighter pilots and 747 drivers, how great it would be and is. Checked the correct boxes, passed all the checkrides, excited of the great future ahead. But no one ever told us about the real industry, stock holders, margins, labor, work rules, negotiations. Flying airplanes is one of the greatest jobs in the world, but there is a history and a legacy of those flyers that came before us and made it what it is. There may have been a day when management looked out for the intrests of its pilots, but that day was short lived and has passed. Believe me, moral of labor groups is not mentioned in the archaic Harvard business model.
So like PIGS LED TO THE SLAUGHTER , our young brothers and sisters head off into the great future. I did it and I'm sure the majority of of you reading this did it. Just out of college, 24yrs old and the industry on the climb. "Just get me in the seat".. Wrong? Well, yes. But hard to sell it to a CFI. There are answers to these problems, and I don't pretend to have them all. Maybe the 747 Captains need to include the Saab FO's and CE152 CFI's in the club..? Flightschool, most of us learned nothing more than how to keep the blue side up. One of the best jobs in the world, indeed, but there were many before us that worked hard to make it just that.
MESA AIRLINES IS A BIG THUMBS DOWN.
LIKE PIGS LED TO THE SLAUGHTER.
Think it over.

 

[a-v-8er]

Well... it's obviously supply and demand and as it stands right now whomever turns down any aviation job better than your current one is just giving it up for someone else to take. There are too many pilots looking for work and frankly (even though it seems things are slowly improving) if YOU say no to a job offered because YOU think it degrades the rest of the industry I WILL accept that job as long as it furthers my career from my present position regardless of if I sincerely like the company or not. The only smart thing to do is accept the job and get the experience as long as it's a stepping stone in the right direction for yourself!

My two cents...

 

[CitationLover]

hey mesabashers,

should all the j4j pilots have turned down mesa?

 

[RUhiring?]

FYI....

The Mesa J4J positions are about to be finished. Everyone who expressed an interest in Mesa (FO) has been called. They still can't get enough pilots to take the job. What they do now is to call everyone back, in reverse seniority order, to offer them the slot again. When they get to the top of the list, they go back down one more time. I'm guessing that if someone passed the first time, they are going to pass again. So therefore, the list should be exhausted soon. At that point Mesa is free to hire off the street for all remaining FO positions (flying under U code).
Currently, they are filling the captain slots, so I can't speak to how long it will be before all of the Mesa jobs are filled from within, or from the street.

 

[Tatoosh65]

"A-V-8TER"
Stepping Stone? There are no more stepping stones. What's happening at our "Regionals" is affecting that position that you think your going to step to someday. Bud, its alittle bit more than just supply and demand. Thats just your way of simplifying the larger issues that need to be addressed to those that entering this industry. Your defense is weak and overplayed, and sorry but lacks foresight. Why will you lower yourself and your brothers and sisters. Why? because someone else will do it. And twelve months later I would like to talk to you when your stuck at Mesa, a comany you thought was just a stepping stone, and now you see that it never supported you, just exploited you, like you thought you'd exploit it. But the only diffrence is now you see that your going to be a Mesa RJ Captain for the rest of your career. And in order to keep your job at your stepping stone you will have maintain your industry bottom wages and work rules. Ask youself why you want to get into this profession. And go to work for company that you think has some glimmer of integrity and will allow you to attain those career objectives. There is nothing progressive about Mesa Airlines. Yesterday I flew a three hour leg, hub to hub, in my "regional jet", does anybody see where this is going.
PIGS LED TO THE SLAUGHTER.
STEPPING STONE?

 

[ERJdca]

Tatoosh65,


"Brothers and Sisters" ? Eh? The same "brothers and sisters" that continue to degrade mesa pilots? Id like apologize that we mesa pilots are not as good and professional as you are.

These guys have 1000hours. Your going to tell them to hold out??? Easy for you to say sitting in your cushy seat. Last i checked, aca isn't hiring, how many on furlough? (and how long and how worse will that get?) Comair, unless you have 121 experiance you ain't going nowhere, alg, piedmont, coex???? How long should these guys hold out? Is mesa the only "bottom feeder" out there??? I don't think so, and you know what, i treat everyone with the same amount of respect no matter what their badge says.

And please explain how we are all stuck at mesa for the rest of our lives???

 

[WmuBronco]

Slow-tationlover, what intelligence you have. I did not bash anyone but Ornstein, and all you have is insults. I suggest you do a little more research, and learn about the labor issues involving pilots and management.

I think my resume covers just a little bit more than yours.
CFI, Cargo pilot, furloughed co-ex, Skywest, and back to Coex.

Oh please won't you tell me something intelligent again, how about, " my daddy could beat up your daddy, go back to michigan", spare me. You must be one of those guys that will take any job condition to fly a jet. Too bad ya'll just don't get it.
There are cargo jobs out there. I suggest you get some experience there, then apply for the, non-J.O. type ran companies.

Oh, to you Mesaba guys/gals out there that was not a bash on you, it was on your management, hang in there!

 

[CitationLover]

experienced in cargo bronco-billy and i cfi'd. care to have more of a pissing contest. on top of that I was in business for 7 years and understand economics unlike you. was your major english?

keep blindly following your labor leaders as they lead you down the dead end road.

i bet ornstein could kick your a$$. if not, he'll run you over with one of his 15 motorcycles. he may be a prick, but he is building a growing airline that provides jobs.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

I will have to agree. Mesa is a hole. No bash to anybody flying there, but when you move on and look back at it you will see.


I have never met a single pilot that worked there that would return.

In a related fact, USAir has gone through the entire list of 1800+ furloughees for the J4J and could not get more than a 150 or so to take a position at Mesa. That should give you a feel for the working conditions there. Of the 1800 I would say that at least half are ex regional pilots, many from mesa.

From personal experience I can tell you that not only is Mesa bad compared to a Major (No secret there) , they are sludge compared to other regionals.


If you have a choice, go elsewhere.

 

[CitationLover]

all im saying is why the inherent hostility toward those going and those already there.

if you think it is that bad, don't goto mesa.

 

[Tatoosh65]

ERJdca,
Yes Mesa pilots are taking alot of heat and probably will continue to due to the fact that they are gobbling up market share with a CEO who states to a national newspaper that he intends to gain that market share with the "cheapest labor in the industry." Hey man, there are a lot of good people at Mesa, I know some personally, thats not what this is about. I realize that the whole Freedom thing was out of control and you guys had to do what you had to get the reigns on that one, but the job is far from done. I fully support your efforts to improve your working conditions, and as long as your not on that Freedom list your welcome to ride my jumpseat anytime. As far as someone who is thinking about going to Mesa, well this is the reality, and a little investigation into what one is getting themselves into is in order. There are alot of things I wish someone had told me before I took the leap. Would it have changed my decisions, maybe maybe not, that was some time ago. ERJdca, would it have changed yours??????? How good is it?

 

[AirBoard]

Wow, Mesa good for you. Tell JO we're not intersted on your way out the door (he's right by the table of eX-tasy and KY). You've think you've seen poor performance Mesa stats, wait till you've see ACA pilots included in this incestuous, sell-out family. We'll have to make JO regret he ever launched this takeover. ACA pilots won't work for sub standard wages.

 

[ChinaClipper]

Have a nice cup of STFU.......

If you are interested in learning your craft, go to Mesa. Fly the Beech on the East coast, soon you will be pretty good. Upgrade to the jet, then you'll forget all the great hand flying skills you learned and have some fun. Mesa folks (NOT MANGERS!) are some of the nicest people around. Get experience, be as mean as a snake to the Freedumb Air folks and volunteer for your union. Fight JO like the evil that he is and move on. Half the people that are doggin' this post PAID FOR THEIR JOBS. Don't let anyone who PFT'd lecture you about ANYTHING concerning "professionalism" or "selling out" Paying for you job is like being a pedophile, once the deed is done, they can't stop. PSA took paycuts to get jets, ALG and PDT at least stood their ground and that counts for a lot. The list of "Sellouts" is LONG. The other winers here have no problem replacing MAINLINE flying with their RJ's etc, they to should sit down and have a nice cup of STFU!. I say if you are a CFI and wanna go fly, go to Mesa. Your chance to fly all over the country with some great pilots is invaluable. But work just as hard on the professional development side, as your flying skills, and you'll do fine. Good luck.

 

[a-v-8er]

"Tatoosh65"

I know what you're saying and you're probably correct. I was generalizing and I know that a regional might turn into a lifer for many of us starting out now.

I'm wouldn't try to exploit an employer for my own career, just like I'd like to think that the employer isn't doing the same to me. However, given the circumstances and choices at the table for my self and many others in my situation (just getting out of flight instructing very soon hopefully) with limited options, I will take whatever job I can get. I'm burned out flying pistons, making less money than the lowest paid FO's for these "plague" companies everybody keeps referring them as. So, compared to my own set of choices I would leave my current job for a position with Mesa, Chautauqua, CommutAir or any other of the ones that always seem to get a good bashing on this forum.

Is it my dreamjob? No, but a step in the right direction for myself and I understand what you meant by saying that I'm only selling myself short in the long run by accepting to work for a company like these airlines. Like everybody else, I too would like some quality of life, but compared to the current situation for many of us CFI's it starts with just getting any FO job. I'm not going to "hold out" and wait for better times or better contracts with a company that would be my first choice. If someone wants me, I'll take it and make the best of it for the time being and if it turn out to be a career, oh well, at least I made it somewhere instead of "holding out" for an opportunity that never came along within reasonable time.