N4niner206 said:
Yes, you are mistaken. I did not chose Mesa because of aircraft. I dont even fly for Mesa. I have a class date if I chose to accept it, for the CRJ. I was asking another member who he flew for, because I was interested by the turboprop aircraft he had experience in. Just wondered who he flew for and what their status was. People look way too far into things.
Also, as far as aircraft go... I dont think its so uncommon that people would make a final decision base on the equipment they'd fly. For example, maybe I think I'd learn more early on in my career by going to (hand) fly a B1900 than going straight to a CRJ. You can say thats stupid, but it seems pretty legit to me. There ARE still people in this business that want to be pilots because they like to FLY, not just because they want to work for XYZ company or because so-and-so pays a certain amount.
What I don't get is why everyone is so quick to criticize on these message boards? My comment earlier was not saying that I "LIKE" Mesa... I don't have any experience with them, so I can't make that call. But even if you don't like a company or their management, it doesnt seem necessary to write their pilots off as losers. Just my opinion.
A lot of the anger/animosity against Mesa/CHQ and to some extent Skywest is because these places (contract carriers) take flying and thus jobs away from the companies they contract for. It seems in a time when there are pilots out on the street that their own company shouldn't be outsourcing there flying to another company. Enter the jets for jobs enigma. I see a lot of captains make rude comments to Mesa pilots and such, hear a lot of bithcing about them, etc. But then you have someplace like Air Wisky where everyone seems to think is the meca of regional airline flying, but they too are a contract carrier, albeit for one airline, soon to be two, maybe.
Don't get me wrong I'm not bashing any of these companies or their pilots, everyone wants a job and I don't feel anyone should degrade or look down upon someone for making a choice. Everyone has their reasons for going somewhere and thats all it is, THEIR REASONS! It's dynamic, what may be the whipping dog today, may be top dog tomorrow, you never know.
There are pros and cons to going to every airline. Some may have higher pay scales but what kind of pay protection do you have? ASA may pay more per hour but what kind of per leg or per day pay protection do you get vs someplace like Piedmont that pays a little less but has per leg pay protection. American Eagle may have more days off and better lines but would you go there and be based somewhere like Dallas, or San Juan if you live in Richmond VA and have a chance to fly for CHQ?
It's all about perspective and what is important to the individual. I chose my current job and my next one, because of where I can live, pay and QOL where 2nd and 3rd, benefits 4th, etc. Someone elses might put pay before where they can live, etc etc.
MESA may seem like a bad choice to you, but to someone else it may be a perfect fit. Sure MESA's QOL and such are below industry standards but to some it doesn't matter. To hold those who choose MESA responsible for the dire state of the industry is unfair, thats like blaming a butterfly that flaps its wings in Japan for the hurricane in FL. It is each individual airlines MEC and rank and file to stand up and maintain there own QOL and pay standards and not use or let mgmt use other contracts as a measuring stick.
