Mesa or SkyWest????

[lawest]

I have a question for all you guys and gals. I was fortunate enough to get hired by both Mesa and SkyWest and now I am forced to decide where I want to go. I have not received a class date from either of them but here is my thought process and I want to know what you guys SERIOUSLY think. Please try to limit the $hit talking and thank you very much in advance.

SkyWest:
I want to go with them for obvious reasons. Pay, company, location, one of the best airlines. The two things that worry me are there United contract (What if United goes under? ACA Part 2??) and I just heard that they shrunk one of their April new hire classes. Does them shrinking the class size mean something bad is about to come???? I also think I would start training at Mesa before I start training at SW and I'm worried that If I pass up Mesa, SkyWest wont give me a class date for a long time.

Mesa:
I would probably get a Jet(good thing) Do mesa pilots get looked down upon in the industry??? Also, sounds like Mesa is having explosive growth an I want to be a part of that.

Sorry this is kinda long but this has been stressing me out. I am leaning more towards skywest but have not decided because I dont want to have something bad happen (like never get a class date at SW) if I pass up Mesa. Let me know your thoughts and thanks again

 

[Future SNA]

Do mesa pilots get looked down upon in the industry???

I would say, in a nutshell, and without being too big big of a bastard...........why yes........yes they do.

But to be honest with you, I've talked to different people at XJT who really aren't too happy with Skywest either? I guess they feel they took all these quality short hops away from us, at least that's what I guess? I think that, with what little I "currently" know that most of their routes we didn't want anyways.

I honestly can't tell you who I'd go to, probably Skywest, just because lets be honest, Mesa isn't high on everyone's buddy list, though I have some great friends who work for Mesa.............and subsequently want to leave worse than they want a second member.

 

[AviatorTx]

NEITHER!!!!

 

[ArcticFlier]

Lawest

With all due respect, I can't figure out why this is even a question in your mind.

Come to SKYW

AF

 

[No2Bttmfeeders]

SKYW would be my first choice. I can see your reason for wanting to go to Mesa for the quick upgrade but I agree with the above posting..

One other thing you mentioned is the attachment to UAL... Well, Mesa is attached to UsAir as well. I would rather be attached to Delta and United anyday over Us Air. I fly for one of the 3 United Express carriers prior to Chp11 and let me tell you there is alot of disliking of Mesa in the crew rooms and terminals. Not saying it is right but it is the truth!!! My dealings with SKYW pilots and stations are nothing but friendly, laid back, easy going folks!

Head to SKYW if you can!

My 2 cents.


No to the Bottomfeeders!

 

[On Your Six]

Skywest and don't look back - unless you could fly a 737-300 for MESA right off the bat for $24/hr as an FO.... Otherwise, go straight to Skywest.

 

[jayspilot]

to ask a question this naive says that you don't know $HIT about the industry... mesa is the bottom, Mesa pilots prove me wrong, but please stop walking though denver with your id's on backwards.
Sky West is the opposite end of the spectrum, not even a comparision. great company, nice equipment, cool routes.. and oh did i mention the flight attendants. SkyWest has by far the best looking chicks around.. and the turbo prop isnt bad considering you fly around gorgious california.

just my 2 cents, go to skywest pay your dues maybe a little longer in the right seat, but enjoy working for someone other then scumshuttle..

 

[daddysquared]

just my 2 cents, go to skywest pay your dues maybe a little longer in the right seat, but enjoy working for someone other then scumshuttle..

How much longer is the stay in the right seat at Skywest?

 

[ATRCA]

Seems like a real simple choice to me. SKYWEST all the way.

BTW, I dont hear much SkyWest bashing at XJT. The fact that they are doing CAL flying has nothing to do with the pilot group and anyone who thinks otherwise is an A$$HOLE.

Our pilots do on the other hand bash the MESA folks regularly, thats a function of our current contract negotiations and the role MESA's contract plays in our negotiations. Good luck.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

SKW upgrade is a lot quicker than other regionals, and QOL is much better from what little I know (have read).

 

[GogglesPisano]

The upgrade may be a lot faster at MESA but then what?

You're still at a bottom-feeder and may be stuck there a lot longer than you think.

 

[lawest]

thanks

Thanks for the replys guys. My first choice is SkyWest but I just wanted to know what everyone thought. I am just concerned about a few things like passing up a class date with Mesa and the for some weird crazy reason not getting one with SW.

Jayspilot: I do know about the industry and from what I understand Mesa pilots are bashed constantly, but like I've said a few times, I just wanted to hear what everyone else thought.....that's it. Thanks again guys and if anyone has anything else to say, please feel free to post it. I want to get as much info as possible. Thanks!!!!

BTW: The upgrade on the Brasilia from what I understand is under two years, the jet is longer. Either way not too bad.

 

[mesa rocks]

being a mesa pilot. I have interesting perspective on this.

go to Skywest.

Not gonna lie. THey do have a much better contract and are basically a much better running operation. Mesa is growimg very fast but Skywest is also providing alot of growth. Don't worry about the United thing. LIke someone said before, mesa is tied to a partner that is in worse shape than United. We are also tied to United too.

This is isn't a hard choice. I do have a comment on all the bashing. I have said this before in other threads. The only place I have ever heard bashing is on these anonymous boards. nowhere else.

and I have never, or ever seen, any mesa pilot wear their badge backwards! ever!!

 

[Future SNA]

I have friends at Mesa, they all have come to the realization that they've set the industry back a bit, they don't need myself, or anyone else reminding them of that on a day-to-day basis. They voted no, what more could they do, I guess it goes to show you even though no one's ever said anything to your face, at least you know what we're thinking deep down? And yes, during certain times at certain places, I've heard of people giving the badge the old "flip."

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

I have not had any problems with anybody. If you feel the need to say anything please do it in person. Mesa has not set the industry back, market forces have. All thse people that buy $29 around trip tickekts are hurting the industry. So get off it, please.

 

[swoopyswoop]

skywest or mesa

Just asking this question makes me think you would fit right in at Mesa.

 

[jayspilot]

It is said in person and it is seen in the faces of mesa pilots. Go to a hub like Denver or ORD or PHL. And if you are a piedmont, Wisconsin, aca, united, or skywest crew and look at a mesa crew they look away 95% and know what you think about them. (Its easy to tell who they are cause they are the ones with the id's on backwards...this is true, I couldn’t' make stuff this good up.)

You want to set the bar higher at mesa, then don't balk under the pressure of your management when your contract is up in a few years, stand strong and united and RAISE THE BAR. Comair went from almost worst to 1st by standing their ground and not taking $hit from management, and I’m sick of the talk from Mesa pilots saying they will put up with it for a few years and jump to the majors. Well a few years of your life is a long time and considering you paid your dues already hopefully instructing and flying boxes or charter you deserve better.
If you are content with what you have then it just proves my point. Step up or Shut up.

 

[Doggiepaddle]

Might as well of asked, "Microsoft or Enron?"

 

[mesa rocks]

they are the ones with the id's on backwards...this is true, I couldn’t' make stuff this good up.)

sounds made up to me..

Just how long did it take you to come up with crap like this?
and, exactly, how big and tuff does it make you feel to bash others on an anonymous chatboard?

p.s. aca, skywest, air wisconsin, psa and more did not raise the bar either. they didn't stand firm. they did what they felt they had to do to protect their flying from those that might do it for less. that is exactly what we did.

 

[crxpilot]

Take Mesa, then Skywest!

Lawest,
Why not go ahead and take the Mesa class if it is first and then if Skywest gives you a class date later on, even if you are in the middle of training with Mesa, then say bye bye to Mesa and go to Skywest. At least you can work while you wait for Skywest and at the same time can get some experience in bigger equipment I am assuming than what you are flying right now.
This is essentially what I did, I started to work for one company with a pool slot for another as a backup.