MESA Questions

[starchkr]

I just had a few questions for the mesa guys out there...

First off, when hired, how long is training?

How are the schedules for line holders generally? Is it possible to J/S home on your days off... what i am getting at here, is do you have enough "time" to get home and back before your next trip.

How do you like working there? I have seen that the QOL is good and bad by many on this board, but i would like to hear from the happy people first, then you pessimists can chime in.

Some pre hire questions...

How is the outlook for newhires this year. I see they have resumed interviews lately, so things must be looking up. How fast do they usually let you know how the interview went and if they want you on board?

Okay, that's all i can think of for now. I know some people are bashing the crud out of mesa right now, but please let me be, i am just looking for some general info.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Beavis]

Why would you aspire to work for Mesa, the cancer of the Regional Airline industry, in the first place????? That is the real question.

 

[aviatrix]

Hey Beavis

I know some people are bashing the crud out of mesa right now, but please let me be, i am just looking for some general info.

He even asked nicely! There are plenty of other threads you can jump on to bash Mesa. He was asking for some real feedback!

 

[Dash8]

It still begs the question, particularly with everything on this board.

Why mesa???

 

[SpocksBeard]

Some of us (myself included) are looking for a foot in the door. I have no chance in he11 in getting on with skywest, ACA, ASA, Comair, etc. I'm certainly hoping for a call from mesa too. Anything is better than flight instructing. I can't get a cargo job right now either. As long as I don't have to cross a picket line, pay for training, or fly for free, Mesa sounds like a pretty good deal. I'm sure starchkr understands that mesa is trying to low-ball every regional out there, but the pilot group isn't responsible for that.

 

[BoredToDeath]

Some of us (myself included) are looking for a foot in the door. I have no chance in he11 in getting on with skywest, ACA, ASA, Comair, etc. I'm certainly hoping for a call from mesa too. Anything is better than flight instructing. I can't get a cargo job right now either. As long as I don't have to cross a picket line, pay for training, or fly for free, Mesa sounds like a pretty good deal. ** I'm sure starchkr understands that mesa is trying to low-ball every regional out there, but the pilot group isn't responsible for that.

**

That last sentence bothers me, and I'll tell ya why. If you on the outside are falling all over yourself to get to Mesa knowing that they are "lowballing every regional out there", as you said, doesn't that absolutely make the pilot group responsible. Considering what you know before you go, you are telling Mgt. that its O.K. Afterall you just what to "Fly Jets" and "Buid Time". Anything thing else just can't be helped by you, right?

Take Care

 

[bobbysamd]

Insrtructing v. Mesa

Some of us (myself included) are looking for a foot in the door . . . . I'm certainly hoping for a call from mesa too. Anything is better than flight instructing . . . . As long as I don't have to cross a picket line, pay for training, or fly for free, Mesa sounds like a pretty good deal . . . .

You're wrong, Vulcan Breath.

Your use of lower case for Mesa in your first reference is certainly apropo. I worked for that company briefly several years ago. Based on my experience flight instructing compares favorably to working for Mesa. The company environment back then was oppressive under Larry R. and little has changed, apparently, under Frank O. (intentional). The Freedom venture says it all to me for the latter. From what I've gathered, new-hires could very well be assigned to the alter-ego, which would be tantamount to crossing a line.

You are in the neighborhood of 135 mins. If I were you and were still hell-bent on leaving instructing I would go that route and bide my time until hiring loosens.

Just some food for thought. Good luck with whatever works out for you.

 

[Bluestreaker]

I'm sure starchkr understands that mesa is trying to low-ball every regional out there, but the pilot group isn't responsible for that.

The pilot group isn't directly responsible, but they play a large part in lowballing everyone else by voting for such terrible contracts.

 

[Beavis]

Exactly! And as long as Mesa knows there are hungry low time flight instructors and 300 hour academy wonders "chomping at the bit" to get that jet job, then they can continue to underbid every other carrier, because there is no shortage of pilots willing to work for the necessary poor pay and work rules to make that happen!

The pilots most certainly are the problem, when they willingly accept substandard contracts, that they know are well below industry standard......just to get their growth, which they know comes at the expense of all the other pilot groups out there with superior pay and work rules. Enjoy your growth............

 

[SpocksBeard]

okay...I'll keep my mouth shut from now on. I would love to fly 135 but that seems as hard as getting on with an airline with a reputation like Mesa. Very few companies in the 135 world are hiring just like the airlines. I am not the type to just take any job that comes along, and I am not seriously entertaining the idea that I might get a call from Mesa. There are many more experienced pilots out there who Mesa would consider before a "low time flight instructor" like myself. I apoligize for pissing everybody off.

 

[rightrudder]

THe problem right now is that you are looking at Mesa as a foot in the door to build time, then go onto the majors. Problem is, It may be that most pilots will spend their career at the regional level. At the very least, you're going to spend YEARS at a regional. Believe me, quality of life and pay are going to be issues and then it is too late.

Regional airlines are no longer stepping stones. They may be your final destination, whether you like it or not. A number of pilots have figured that out (Air Wisconsin, Comair, ACA, ASA, Skywest) and demanded to be paid a liveable wage for their work.

When pilots accept wages way below industry standard, it lowers the bar for everyone else, especially in this environment where two airlines have declared bankruptcy and others are right behind them.

If the current pilots at Mesa stand up for what's right, they will get more pay and benefits, and no, Mesa won't go away, there will still be plenty of grpwth out there for you. Until that happens, i'd recommend getting your time with a cargo or other 135 operation, and get on with a higher quality company when you get the chance. Skywest does hire lower time folks, many who are cfi's get interviews with them. Be patient and you'll have your opportunity.

 

[starchkr]

Alright great... I got all the know it all guys here who really have no relevance to my original post!!!

Simple questions ask for simple answers, thats all i wanted. I don't have an interview with them, I don't even have an application in with them, and to tell you the truth i just wanted more info on them besides all of the negative things you all seem to have.

So please, just people who can answer the questions.

Thanks

 

[Dash8]

I'm curious what this 'reputation' of Mesa's is, that spocks beard is referring to.
Long before i got into the regionals, hell back when i was still doing my initial flight training, mesa had a bad rep, i've never heard otherwise in the 10+ years since. I didn't want to get into (and don't want to stay in) the airlines so it's not like i had any 'one company is better than the other' attitude. previously, but now i realize the truth

 

[azpilot]

Why would you aspire to work for Mesa, the cancer of the Regional Airline industry, in the first place????? That is the real question.

Maybe he wants to be based in Phoenix and not commute. Maybe Mesa is the only place hiring at the moment where this person meets the requirements. I have a friend who flew for Mesa and is now at America West in a short amount of time. If he hadn't gotten a job at Mesa he wouldn't be at AWA now. This industry is all about connections. There are plenty of reasons to fly for Mesa and not another regional least of which is who is hiring at the moment. We all have our dream jobs but I agree everyone has to get their foot in the door someplace. For me commuting out of the east coast is not an option so that leaves me everything on the west coast. Mesa could potentially be one of those places.

If someone asks why do you hate X airline then answer the question. If they are asking for general info quit the friggin bashing of X airline because you hate it.

Like any airline collect the information and make sure you are familiar with the pro's and con's of it prior to interviewing.

 

[cocknbull]

Be carefull what you wish for it may come true. Is it common policy for supervisors to overide ground crew personel and sign aircraft off that are overwight and way out off CG? I can tell you that of all the airlines I would expect to feel forced to fly, would be Mesa. Not only this, but you may find yourself stuck there because all of the pilots that have worked so hard to raise their standard of living would not look kindley at a Mesa pilot. Two years ago I was on a Mesa ERJ145 flight from CVG to PHL and the landing was terrible. We just dropped about 4 feet and the fresh air vents fell out of the ceiling and everyone onboard screemed. The cockpit crew was so ashamed they didn't even open up the flight deck and wish the passengers a good day. On the shuttle bus, some women passed a piece of paper around because she wanted to sue claiming her back was hurt. Many other passengers signed the paper. When it got to me I wripped it up. I did this because the wind shear was so bad that day that a + or - change in IAS could have been 20 kts. No pilot deserves to have their life ruined because abunch of parasites want to get some easy money. I can tell you Mesa would have hung those pilots out to dry and the Mesa pilot group would have let them.

Be carefull, No flying job is worth that.