Mesa #1 Regional for Third Consecutive Year

[zymotic]

All I am saying. Lets not make a legacy look like its winning the lotto... It's all a presonal choice. Will I apply ? Sure, and I have. Let the chips fall where they may..

Yes, I know this is an old thread. Just wanted to say I've worked at Mesa and I now work at Airways. I would say it is like winning the lottery- especially now that the merger is announced. In a few years my hourly rate as a narrow body F/O will be double what my CRJ900 Captain 12 year rate at Mesa was (about $145/hr).

BTW, why am I lurking on a regional message board? Because I only average about 5 days of work per month on reserve and I've gone as long as 31 days without being used on reserve and I've got gobs of time on my hands. Beats the 950 hour hard time per year I was flying at Mesa.

 

[CLARKGRSWOLD]

Yes, I know this is an old thread. Just wanted to say I've worked at Mesa and I now work at Airways. I would say it is like winning the lottery- especially now that the merger is announced. In a few years my hourly rate as a narrow body F/O will be double what my CRJ900 Captain 12 year rate at Mesa was (about $145/hr).

BTW, why am I lurking on a regional message board? Because I only average about 5 days of work per month on reserve and I've gone as long as 31 days without being used on reserve and I've got gobs of time on my hands. Beats the 950 hour hard time per year I was flying at Mesa.

Mesa 12 year CA is 87.50 an hour (2) = $175

A legacy airline job isn't " like winning the lottery" like decades before. With the continued outsourcing & economic issues, the airlines face today.

Like I said, I'll apply, and go from there.

I did like your "in a few years" ah the illusion of " in a few years" in the airlines, seem to never happen. Just like that upgrade, pilot shortage, and new contract.

Best of luck to you !

 

[zymotic]

Mesa 12 year CA is 87.50 an hour (2) = $175

A legacy airline job isn't " like winning the lottery" like decades before. With the continued outsourcing & economic issues, the airlines face today.

Like I said, I'll apply, and go from there.

I did like your "in a few years" ah the illusion of " in a few years" in the airlines, seem to never happen. Just like that upgrade, pilot shortage, and new contract.

Best of luck to you !

I was going by my pay-rate when I left Mesa.

In a few years means that will be my pay rate using our current contract, not some wishful thinking.

I wasn't comparing the current situation with "the good old days". I was saying that I've worked at both companies and I can't begin to describe how much happier I am with US Airways at the bottom of the list vs. being in 13% from the top at Mesa.

If someone is of the opinion that they would be just as satisfied at a regional vs. moving on them more power to them. I just get kind of tired hearing that it's all the same.

 

[khsgt]

And "real money" is over seas, or out of this biz... Pulling gear on an airbus doesn't seem to be the path to riches...

If you think real money is in any way associated with the front seat of any airplane, you are sadly mistaken. As long as you are working for someone else, you are making them rich, not yourself.

 

[IBNAV8R]

Jerry: "We're not even including Mesa in the industry average for pay negotiations."

Chip: "Mesa (and Pinnacle) are the new industry standard."

 

[intooclose]

Left Mesa in 2006 and people gave me sh^t about leaving to an airline that "has ready reserve just like us". I am in the middle of 5 weeks off by using 2 weeks of vacation and my pay rate will be 140ish/hr next year. Please leave if you can no matter the pain of first year pay...or whatever the excuse.

 

[zymotic]

If you think real money is in any way associated with the front seat of any airplane, you are sadly mistaken. As long as you are working for someone else, you are making them rich, not yourself.

So the average median household income in the US is about 51K per year. If someone is making 275K(5.4 times 51K) per year as a widebody Captain am I to understand that that person is unlikely to "make themselves rich"? Just how much annual income would you say is necessary to be rich?

BTW, the average income worldwide is 7K per year.

 

[CLARKGRSWOLD]

So the average median household income in the US is about 51K per year. If someone is making 275K(5.4 times 51K) per year as a widebody Captain am I to understand that that person is unlikely to "make themselves rich"? Just how much annual income would you say is necessary to be rich?

BTW, the average income worldwide is 7K per year.

Thank you.

 

[rene]

Nothing to do with the UAL 175's. Good accomplishment, dont get me wrong but with only 370 flights / day its a-lot easier to achieve high numbers.

And statistically a lot easier to achieve poor numbers

 

[Ops check good]

Yay Mesa, you get the privlage of flying United owned A/C.

 

[rene]

Yay Mesa, you get the privlage of flying United owned A/C.

If you think about it for a few minutes, its not actually a bad thing, no aircraft risk? What ruined the industry for the past five years is CRJ 200 aircraft risk out of sinc with contract term?

 

[Nevets]

Yay Mesa, you get the privlage of flying United owned A/C.

Funny how you didn't say the same thing with the DAL owner CRJ700/900s. Haters gotta hate?

 

[rene]

Funny how you didn't say the same thing with the DAL owner CRJ700/900s. Haters gotta hate?

Just enjoy the moment, like a fine wine. It could be all over but it isn't. Mesa is back and a lot of people are happy about that.

 

[Ops check good]

.......Yep

 

[amcnd]

If you think about it for a few minutes, its not actually a bad thing, no aircraft risk? What ruined the industry for the past five years is CRJ 200 aircraft risk out of sinc with contract term?

Guess you learned that trick from SkyWest.. They went after "tail risk"... I agree Mesa is in a better spot. No 200's,1900's, DCH8's. But don't think Mesa wont screw up again..

 

[khsgt]

So the average median household income in the US is about 51K per year. If someone is making 275K(5.4 times 51K) per year as a widebody Captain am I to understand that that person is unlikely to "make themselves rich"? Just how much annual income would you say is necessary to be rich?

BTW, the average income worldwide is 7K per year.

(You just opened a can of worms.....so be it.)

Sorry, don't get on flight info much. As a point, the average income almost qualifies for food stamps.

Disclaimer: I am a former Mesa Guy with no formal business or investment training or school...just a guy trying to make it for him an his family with a wife that is truly a partner in the quest for real freedom.

To answer your question... A $275k W2 paycheck is not making yourself rich or even wealthy for that matter.

Wealthy = Enough residual income to cover your ordinary expenses without a paycheck.

Rich = Enough residual income to do whatever you want without having to work.

Out if a $275k gross pay, you are losing 35% to Uncle Sam with no real tax deductions to speak of so you are taking home less the $193k before state income taxes, property taxes, alimony, child support, etc that the old captains usually have. Out of whatever number is left you will buy the big house on a 30 year mortgage, be making car payments on that corvette that you "deserve" and whatever amount of money you manage to stick in retirement/savings will grow just slightly faster then the rate of inflation....and you need at least $1million in today's dollars for retirement plus $100k per kid for college (fun fact, a dollar in 1988 = $1.98 today). Not only that, but whatever money you have in the stock market is taxed at 50%+ with no credit for losses....that's a suckers bet. I own a C Corp and I won't take dividends to save my life because it is the dumbest way in the world to get money out of a company...yet public companies have no choice.

Now fun questions for you to consider: When was the last time you completed a personal financial statement? What is your net worth? How does it compare to what it was 5 years ago? Let me guess...growing at less then $25k/year? Good luck having that $1.2m (today's dollars) when you fly your last 5 day trip when you are 65. You will find that no matter what people make, folks manage to spend most of it on sh!t(houses/cars/vacations/etc). As an example, my family and I live strictly on my flying salary, even though that counts as less then half of our income, and next year may be only a quarter. My net worth increase after our living expenses will be $380k next year, 70% of that after tax CASH.

There are a whole bunch of ways to make money without a paycheck, and some of them you can do and keep your flying job. You must develop multiple income streams to have any chance at making it. Small business ownership, operation and investment and real estate investment are a few ways to proceed...but this requires folks spend their money on something other then sh!t and work their butts off. I see my pilot friends buying big houses and shiney new cars with no down and low interest, while I concentrate on growing assets while driving crappy cars and living in small houses. With 50 hours of work this month, I have set in motion events that over the next 7 years will add $2.6 million AFTER tax to my net worth...and that's assuming no other actions on my part which we both know I am already formulating and planning. This is while I keep a full time flying job paying over $120k/year. This is probably my last flying job, and I don't intend to be flying in 5 years (I'm 32 now). In going to retire from flying when I have an EBITDA of $1 million a year. We started from scratch with a $70k investment 2 years ago with one company...I am starting my 3rd next week.

Flying is fun, it's a sh!tty way to make a living. I realized this when the thought hit me: I can work my entire life as a successful airline pilot and when I retire, I can't walk into the factory at Cirrus and buy a new 4 seat piston airplane...and that fact is pathetic. I choose financial freedom.

I once heard this and it makes perfect sense now regarding America: 90% of the population is completely financially illiterate and doesn't care. 10% of the population has some understanding of how to make money work for them...but only 2% actually have the balls to sign on the dotted line and really try. Try www.mint.com and see where you really stand. Most folks on this board will not be even positive.

You have any other questions, PM me.

And you may resume the Mesa discussion. I am proud to be a LAMA!