Mesa and the Majors?

[dvtpilot]

Can anyone out there in the majors tell me what the opinion of mesa is as far as going from mesa to a major? I've heard all the bad stuff about mesa, but I was curious if it really makes a difference in the long run when applying for a major job.....

 

[Stinkbug]

I was curious if it really makes a difference in the long run when applying for a major job.....

No.

 

[Fly-n-high]

The Freedom guys aren't, that's for sure.

 

[Flycatcher99]

Well, I can tell you that I work for Mesa (Air Midwest) and am blessed to be in the SWA pool.

I have had many friends at Mesa who have also gone on to fly at SWA, as well as American, Delta, Continental, US, America West, Northwest, Alaska, ATA, Air Tran, Midwest, and just about every fractional and a few corporate. I'm not aware of any disadvantage of coming from Mesa, as opposed to any other carrier. As good a place to gain experience as any other, IMHO.

 

[CF34-3B1]

I don't think working for Mesa will be counted against you at a major (Freedumb might) but the thing to ask yourself is this: What if I never get called by a major, or it takes years longer than I expected? Pick a regional with the expectation you're gonna get stuck there for a long time.

 

[Nandu]

Pick a regional with the expectation you're gonna get stuck there for a long time.

I think that making your decision based on getting stuck for a long time may actually get you stuck for a long time. I would look at the carriers with the most growth, and quickest upgrade time. PIC turbine (preferably PIC jet) is the only thing that is going to get you out of the commuters.

 

[Stinkbug]

I think that making your decision based on getting stuck for a long time may actually get you stuck for a long time.

I couldn't agree more. Sitting right seat in an RJ for four years or even longer is not gonna make you an impressive candidate at a career airline (major or otherwise). And the captain's seat at most of the growing carriers still pays better than any FO seat. Don't kid yourself; a regional is a regional. Some are better than others, to be certain, but if your goal is to get on with a major (or good LCC), I think the tried and true formula of going for the quickest PIC time still applies.

 

[cactuspilot]

Mesa Good ... Freedumb BAD

 

[jinxy]

I agree with cactuspilot!!!

 

[Sleepyhead]

"... PIC turbine (preferably PIC jet) is the only thing that is going to get you out of the commuters..."


I totally agree. I was a CA in the 1900 at Mesa and got hired at United. There were some guys in the right seat of the jet wondering why they didn't get called for a major when they had way more total time then some of the 1900 CAs getting hired at the majors (but no PIC time)
I talked with an interview CA after I got hired about what they look for, he said, "we are hiring future CA's, so best thing to look for is someone with CA experience."

 

[General Lee]

I don't think coming from a specific regional will hurt you in the future except coming from a couple of stand outs. I think having "Freedom Air" on your resume will bring up extra questions from the interviewer---especially if he/she is a pilot. (most are retired Capts at Delta with a HR guy there too) Another airline that might cause extra questions is one that maybe didn't help much during recent bad times. That will be interesting to watch in 3-4 years when hiring resumes. I don't think being a Mesa pilot would hurt you at all, and a lot of it is "who you know." A lot of the Delta new hires last time around were not even Capt's at Regionals---they just had the minimums. Also, age doesn't matter either. If they hire everyone at the same age, there would be massive retirements in the future at the same time. There were guys in their latter 40's in my new hire class way back when.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[P38JLightning]

what's your point?

Aw come on now General. I can't believe you're STILL going off on the potential future blackball of Comair pilots at Delta. You're mad at Comair for not hiring Delta pilots without seniority resignation, and you're mad at the senior Comair leadership for not writing a letter to even adress the issue of changing it. WE GET IT ALREADY!

I just hope you realize that
1. Many Comair pilots strongly disagree with our MEC's senior pilot, RJDC agenda driven stance on this issue
2. We came within inches of a political upheaval due to numerous issues, and yes one of which was this one
3. The ASA and ALL OTHER pilot groups who'se company either helped or remained neutral collectively DID NOTHING (i.e. ASA MEC only stood idly by while a long standing ASA policy remained in effect...this hardly ammounts to "helping")
4. every time you advocate, celebrate or prophecise your misguided blackblall in the first place you give major wood to the likes of mesa pilots who think its OK to do ANYTHING to get their turbine time as well as the Rejected Jealosy Driven Chumps who can't stand the thought of a Comair pilot getting hired at Delta the right way.

I understand your frustration at our MEC. I along with lots of others share it. We should be hiring the Delta furloughs before guys off the street. Many of us agree with you and have made our voices heard and have helped out in any way we can. We lack the power to stage the political upheaval it would take at this point, but we are doing the best we can.

But to say you would rather fly with a Mesa pilot than a Comair pilot is sickening. What will you say about Pinnacle if they continue to help NWA bust Mesaba? No harm no foul? Chautauqua intentionaly underbids us to take growth otherwise slated for us and flies for 30 different airlines and that's cool too. I guess PSA pilots really are more qualified to fly for Delta than Piedmont and Allegheney because they have experience flying "more advanced" turbo props (and of course now jets).

What about the PFT issue? Who would you recommend be hired at Delta General, if it came down to an ASA pilot who PFT and a Comair pilot who didn't?

And remember, the Delta pilot group is powerless to stop Delta interns presently at Comair now. Delta management WILL railroad those pilots through. Ditto for the fighter guys here as well. So I guess your blackball will be limited to only civilian non intern mostly non PFT line pilots who'se dad's aren't Delta captains?

Boy, that'll teach us.