Mesa training.....any input?

[sandslob]

Just for the record. I'm not in the PACE program. I'm doing the program at ASU.

Gulfstream… I knew what I was getting into before I started. If you see me on this board in a few years being a “tool” and “posting about poor QOL and $hit pay” then please feel free to say “I told you so”. Until then, don’t make assumptions about what I plan to do in the future. For now, I'm just trying to get my education and learn how to fly. I'll worry about the future when and if it happens.

 

[weekendwarrior]

I think its funny how people say the pay sucks, but it's better than what you'd make as a CFI and a lot less work at that. I'd much rather be in a jet than a light single...

~wheelsup

I have to chime in here. I make $20/hour as a CFI and fly 80-100 hours/month. All PIC, not SIC gear pulling time. Last I heard the contract was somewhere around $18/hour, with 70 hours/month. I'll head to a 135 PIC multi flying rubber dogsh!t before I put myself in an SIC position for less money at Mesa. They are in my backyard, and could get on, but I choose not to. I'm hearing upgrade times to PIC are 4-5 years. Hotels, crash pads, sh!tty pay for SIC? No thanks.

Less work, maybe. But I go home every night, and don't have to listen to a bunch of union crap all the time!

 

[350DRIVER]

I have to chime in here. I make $20/hour as a CFI and fly 80-100 hours/month. All PIC, not SIC gear pulling time. Last I heard the contract was somewhere around $18/hour, with 70 hours/month. I'll head to a 135 PIC multi flying rubber dogsh!t before I put myself in an SIC position for less money at Mesa. They are in my backyard, and could get on, but I choose not to. I'm hearing upgrade times to PIC are 4-5 years. Hotels, crash pads, sh!tty pay for SIC? No thanks.

Less work, maybe. But I go home every night, and don't have to listen to a bunch of union crap all the time!

Take it one step further.... Make absolute sure you demand atleast say $80,000+ and anything less at the 135 level would not be acceptable. Quite a few of the right coast GV operators will start the fo's out at around that figure.

Please keep us informed on the big bucks that you make during your first 135 gig flying that "rubber dogsh!t" around.

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[weekendwarrior]

I never said I would make big bucks. I'm simply saying that there is more money to make freight dogging at first than the first few years at Mesa. I'm not comparing this to any other regional.

Personally, I would rather pay my dues making low wages flying a 135 than right seat at Mesa. That's all I'm trying to say. There are many entry level 135 jobs, flying PIC that pay better than a FO at Mesa.

 

[350DRIVER]

I never said I would make big bucks. I'm simply saying that there is more money to make freight dogging at first than the first few years at Mesa. I'm not comparing this to any other regional.

Personally, I would rather pay my dues making low wages flying a 135 than right seat at Mesa. That's all I'm trying to say. There are many entry level 135 jobs, flying PIC that pay better than a FO at Mesa.

There are also quite a few 135 jobs out there that pay less, qol is worse, etc, in comparison to Mesa. I never said Mesa was a "career" airline but to get your foot in the door at 300 hours TT, fly for a few years there then move on to bigger and better things isn't nearly as bad of a move as some would tend to believe. The unique thing about the human being is that no two are the same, personal preferences at it's best.

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[weekendwarrior]

True, QOL for some is not the same as others. Personally, I like being local. Hotel rooms get old pretty quick. Plus, some of the jobs I would be looking for after the fact, would want gobs of PIC time, not so much SIC.

 

[wheelsup]

True, QOL for some is not the same as others. Personally, I like being local. Hotel rooms get old pretty quick. Plus, some of the jobs I would be looking for after the fact, would want gobs of PIC time, not so much SIC.

An old friend recently went to expressjet after flying 135 for 4 years - he had over 4000 hours and 2500 multi pic turbine in a c90, and was currently PIC in the c90 and SIC in a Lear 35. He had two (2!) days off a month at this job. At expressjet, he told me he had 14-16 days off a month, and he just started there less than 6 months ago. I guess depending on what 135 company you work for, you'd be home at night more and spend more time at home, but he certainly spent more time away in hotel rooms than at home.

Pay is less intially, however in a few years he'll be making more at his current job then he WOULD EVER OF MADE at his 135 job even PIC in the Lear. I suppose if one wanted to remain in the 135 world, going 135 after getting your shot at a 121/135 carrier would be first choice, however I'm guessing for most bigger 121 carriers they'd want to see 121 experience. I can't see a downside to ever having too much PIC however...

~wheelsup

 

[RSixer]

Most 135 jobs do pay more than a F/O position at any commuter, plus your chances for PIC time are better at 135, but if you think about it 135 requires 1200 hours, commuters much less than that, so it gives oppourtunity to lower time people.

Fly because you want to... NOT for the $$$.

sandslob
www.lifeisabeach.us

That still makes me giggle a little bit.

 

[Flyin Tony]

So with the PACE program they will take you with 250TT give you your Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine Land for 13K and give you a interview with mesa, also 20 hours of BE-58 Baron training and sim time?
Lets say you do get hired at mesa, you will be sitting right seat for a few years on a RJ or B1900 working the gear and flaps?
Would this be good to do? To build time (but its SIC) ect ect if you do get a job with Mesa?
This kinda sound fishy to me.

 

[350DRIVER]

So with the PACE program they will take you with 250TT give you your Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine Land for 13K and give you a interview with mesa, also 20 hours of BE-58 Baron training and sim time?
Lets say you do get hired at mesa, you will be sitting right seat for a few years on a RJ or B1900 working the gear and flaps?
Would this be good to do? To build time (but its SIC) ect ect if you do get a job with Mesa?
This kinda sound fishy to me.

I will bite for the last and final time just for sh!ts and giggles. Nothing is "fishy" about this program or the other programs that are offered by the MAPD program. You will start out as a first officer at any regional, major, etc, so this time is not "useless" but a mandatory step in the right direction until you have the time, experience, senority, etc, to be able to upgrade to captain and log the "golden" pic time. This whole notion of sitting there and just playing with the flaps and gear is somewhat comical, you will swap legs with the captain and be flying the aircraft 50% of the time that you occupy that right seat.

If you want a fast track to the regionals then this is a program that many consider and go through. If you are not worried about time then by all means flight instruct, fly freight, cargo, etc.

Different strokes for different folks,

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