Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Mesa Upgrade

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Register   Log in
R

Rip Vanwinkle

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 23, 2006
Posts
96
I'm not even going to waste my time entreating you to save the BS. Go ahead and flame away. I'm rubber, you're glue, Mr. Regional Airline Pilot whose "real" job still sucks. You too, Mr. Major Airline Pilot who sold the profession down the river when times got tough.

That said, the upgrade at Mesa is reported to be about 3 months on the 1900. How is this possible? Are that many of their FOs too low time to upgrade? I hear street Captain is over. How long to upgrade on the Dash?

Thanks for any real responses. To the rest of you. Yes, I know. "Your (sic) a bottomfeeding wh0re and I hope you get cancer!" Back at you.

Heh. Wrong forum. Maybe I'll at least get flamed.
 
Last edited:
Quickest upgrade at Mesa is the D8 I think. They have been hiring street Captains all summer, though I don't know if this is continuing or not through September. The B1900 is 3 - 6 months right now, and they have a B1900 class starting soon from what I have been told.

Now the important questions I wish I would have asked myself a few years ago - "Why are the upgrades going so quick if its not do to growth (and its not)? Why don't the FO's who have the time (and we have em) want to upgrade?"

Think about that and then go work somewhere else...

And why in the cargo forum?
 
Last edited:
I feel guilty continuing this thread since its in the wrong forum, and I also feel guilty for what im about to ask. Why are the FOs who have the time not wanting to upgrade?

Im still a year off from applying anywhere (2 more semisters) but wow, a 3-6 month upgrade! I hate PFJers and people who bring the industry down (GOJet) as much as the next guy...but damn thats almost tempting and mesa is almost an average (by average i mean sub-par of course) regional.

If i just wanted to use mesa to prepare for a lateral move (with PIC time) someone talk me out of it.
 
I've got a friend who works there and it sounds like they just have a lot of turnover among pilots for various reasons. Sounds like it may be a good opportunity for someone to get some quick PIC turbine and then start looking elsewhere.
 
Our attrition rate is about 20% per year...that in of itsself should tell ya something...

The recent Dash 8 flying was new and there was only about 10% of the pilot group (Dash 8 FO's) that were eligable to bid it under our "wonderful contract" and they wouldn't lift the restrictions for anybody else (Jet FO's or Beech CA or FO's) to bid it. They woudl rather use 1500TT Street CA's then spend another training event on a pilot they already have trained.

FO's that are eligable...my guess is they are trying to go somewhere else (CHQ/REP or Skywest are the most popular) or they almost have the seniority for Jet CA and they don't want to seat lock themselves for 18 months to the turboprop.

Mesa is nowhere close to average, don't ever even think about thinking that. Various reasons for attrition, nope...just one, QOL.
 
How hard is it to get the AHN base on the 1900 for Air Midwest. THats awful close to home. Are they hiring any street CPTs on the 1900. Where all does the AHN base fly to? Thanks
 
Rip Vanwinkle said:
I'm not even going to waste my time entreating you to save the BS. Go ahead and flame away. I'm rubber, you're glue, Mr. Regional Airline Pilot whose "real" job still sucks. You too, Mr. Major Airline Pilot who sold the profession down the river when times got tough.

That said, the upgrade at Mesa is reported to be about 3 months on the 1900. How is this possible? Are that many of their FOs too low time to upgrade? I hear street Captain is over. How long to upgrade on the Dash?


Thanks for any real responses. To the rest of you. Yes, I know. "Your (sic) a bottomfeeding wh0re and I hope you get cancer!" Back at you.

Heh. Wrong forum. Maybe I'll at least get flamed.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I have to say... you seem a little insecure from the get go on this one. Now, my opinion... You will be selling the career down the river if you take a job at Mesa.

The best upgrade at Mesa is LEAVING MESA.

Have you ever known someone who died from cancer? I wouldn't wish that on even a Mesa pilot.

Cheers,
Fr8r
 
As a former Mesa Pilot...seek work elsewhere !!!!!!!!!!! I empathize with all the guys trying to get out of there...Before you quit aviation.try a fractional.
 
Who said anything about being a CFI? I was a CFI...5 years ago. Now I fly cargo. I realize that you're the only person who has suffered in aviation, but not everyone you disagree with is 18 years old fresh out of riddle.
 
Mesa

"As a former Mesa Pilot...seek work elsewhere !!!!!!!!!!!"

No....dont do that . Yes Mesa sucks, but let them give you some nice 121 PIC time first then quit. Dont get down the road and then "wish" you had the PIC in turbine equipment.
 
....

B-J-J Fighter said:
How hard is it to get the AHN base on the 1900 for Air Midwest. THats awful close to home. Are they hiring any street CPTs on the 1900. Where all does the AHN base fly to? Thanks
Click to expand...

Ill take a stab at this one. I used to ride on them going down to AHN to visit the old lady on my days off. I heard (and I could be very wrong, info out of date, etc) that all they do for the most part, is fly out in the morning to CLT, sit in a day room with each other, then fly the terminating flight back to AHN (and maybe a MX ferry here and there). So two legs all day with a long day room sit.

Sounds like a sour deal to me.
 
Krapflier said:
A 4 year CA on the 1900 would still be sitting reserve on the jet for that 1.5 years. 8 days off a mounth on reserve, NO THANKS....
Click to expand...
I would take RSV Jet CA Mesa / B1900 CA Air Midwest - over being a AIR Wisky FO (especially in PHL). That 4 year CA would probably have over a 1000 PIC and be getting ready to leave Mesa. The 1900 CA would have over 2000 PIC and would be in the position to move 1.5 years ago.

With all the displacements that Air Midwest does I don't think you would need to worry about a seat lock on the 1900
 
18 month seat lock when upgrading in Turboprop equipment. Jet CA is going about 2 years right now, so the timing would be pretty good if you were hired as a street CA. You can go from B1900 CA to RJ CA without ever going right seat in the RJ (contractually required that way actually). Consider your options and your family very carefully before coming to work at a company like Mesa.

I believe we are still hiring street CA's for the Dash and the B1900 is going less then six months. You have no control over which airplane you get when hired other then putting in a "request". The higher time guys are going to the turboprops.

Other useful facts:
1900 Pilots on our seniority list, 20% annual attrition rate, section 6 contract neg start in March, and its going to be an ugly, UGLY fight. 7 new CRJ 700's are being added in the next couple of month to replace the ERJ's moving from United to Delta Service. A couple of our CRJ-200 leases are up, but not many, and they are being returned. Aircraft wise we are not growing or diminishing right now, and won't do either in the forseeable future unless a major change happens. Reserve - 8 days off 70 hour guarantee. Lineholders 10 days off (this really sucks). The rumor is that we do not have enough applicants to fill the pilot slots that we need (250 pilots short right now). Staffing levels on the CRJ are hovering around 3.2 crews per airplane, while the ERJ is at 4.8 (per Delta contract requirement). We are loosing FA's in droves (10 quit in 1 base in 1 week), and that is our biggest problem in some bases.

I'm sitting at 2 yrs/10 mo with the company, 2 Type ratings, check airman, and 1700 PIC, and just a few numbers from lineholding on the jet.

Greasy side down
 
Last edited:
How long is their reserve...for a new hire?
 
pgcfii2002 said:
How long is their reserve...for a new hire?
Click to expand...

Depends greatly on the airplane and seat, could be anywhere from 1 month (dash/beech) to 1 year (CRJ) for FO's

Street CA's can expect to be on reserve "awhile" or "indefinitly"
 
Sounds like street captains are in high demand for the Dash 8's out of JFK, and they put their high time FO's in turboprops because they can upgrade faster.
 

Share this page

Latest posts

Latest resources

Latest media

Carbon Cub FX-3 Shenandoah Valley
Carbon Cub at Kittyhawk
FX-3 in the backcountry
IFR Panel in a Carbon Cub FX-3
Cub-Provo-UT-c.jpg
Back
Top Bottom