mesa launches "kung pow" airlines

[WSurf]

Will the same upgrade minimums apply in China as they do here in the states? (ATP mins) Also, what's to stop Mesa from displacing newbies on the seniority list over there?

You think people are quiting now? I can see a class of new hires grabbing the stuff heading for the door after they were all told they were going to China.

 

[skyaddict]

In the latest Airways (I think, though maybe it was Airliners) there is a multi-page kool-aid story full of photos of that operation.

As an ex-ACA/Indy guy I would love to see the day this Lorenzo-clone goes down the toilet, but agree with the previous poster that this is probably a very smart business move, as China's airline industry may be growing around 30% a year for many, many years to come as it gradually becomes the world's largest economy, growing perhaps 10% a year even as we in the US go through recessions at worst, and very slow growth at best. And unlike India, China keeps rapidly building up its infrastructure.

As for living and working there, I have no clue what they will pay. But on a thread posted here some time back, the recruiter for contract flying for CRJ street captains for some other (or was it the same?) chinese regional paid fairly well when one takes into account a pay stipend more than enough to rent a multi-bedroom furnished luxury apartment in their base city, Beijing. Pollution aside, in a city like Beijing one needn't speak a word of chinese to get around and one has access to every Western good (80% of them assembled in China anyway now) and amenity. For a single person without baggage, it could be a charm. And they offered transfer to the 737NG fleet after the contract was up.

If the CA is Western and the FO Chinese, life could be interesting of course, but probably no more interesting than babysitting 250 h wonders at the regionals now. At least the talent pool there is vetted from a billion people based on merit as opposed to a rich uncle paying 'zero time to airline in 6 months.'

Like I said, I hope he fails, but suspect China will be one of his success stories, and he will undoubtedly use iit to leverage against his pilot group (threatening to transfer hulls over there).

 

[John Pennekamp]

Funny, here you make fun of a Chinese airline name, but then you run to Wal*Mart and buy anything cheap that's made in China.

Just take a deep breath and see how many things in your house are built/manufactured in China and be my guest to post an apology on this board for being a HYPOCRITE!

Hypocrite like many who replied to your post in derogatory manner!

I think you need to apologize for being a hypocrite, because apparently you played with too many Chinese made lead painted toys as a child. WTF, man?

 

[John Pennekamp]

FWIW, who said they would be hiring American pilots? This being a joint venture with Shenzhen Airlines, they probably will hire Chinese pilots, and the whole thing will be managed by Mesa with Mesa airplanes. IOW, another wholly owned sub of MAG.

 

[skyaddict]

I'm sure they (the Chinese) would prefer to hire Chinese pilots but I think they can't produce enough local pilots yet to staff at the rate they are expanding their fleets (speaking generally of Chinese airlines). Certainly for the left seats I'd think they'll need lots of contract pilots. The pay is not as good as the Japanese contract positions but the cost of living is still much more reasonable I think, even though increasing fairly fast in the big cities. But knowing Johnny O's tricks, I'm sure the Mesa pilot group will not benefit much if at all.

 

[flywest]

Looks like a documentary has already been made looking at a "day in the life" of a Kung Pow Mesa airline pilot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RixG4ypSIw0

 

[Flyingdutchman]

thats pretty d@mn funny!