Mesaba Online Application

[flyinhigh21]

I applied to Mesaba yesterday using the online application. After submitting it it told me that my status was "Submitted for Requisition". After just logging on, it now says status is "Approved for Review". What does this mean? Is that a good thing?

 

[Captain Morgan]

I applied yesterday for a captain's spot and I had the same thing. I just checked it and it says "approved for review." Approved isn't a bad word so that's good.. Good luck with it!

CM

 

[lookin4better]

I was called for an interview about 15 hours after applying......

 

[flyinhigh21]

Wow. Are they still hurting pretty badly for new pilots? I have a good friend who is a first officer there who is trying to help me get on. I am a low timer, and am fully expecting to have to CFI to get my hours up there, but he has been adamant that he thinks I can get an interview there now. I certainly do not feel it is entitled to me by any stretch of the imagination, but it would be awfully tempting to pass on the opportunity if it is presented. If I get on, I would probably be the most grateful and humble person you could imagine. So, I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[captain dad]

I Know...

I know for a fact that Mesaba is hiring almost anyone with a commercial ticket and a pulse. A few have washed out (no instrument skills). If you really want to work there and have a commercial, you got a good shot. If you have sf340 time or 121 experience you are nearly a shoe in. They are about to explode with a/c deliveries. It is great if you are a new hire but scary if you suck as a pilot.

I wish you and your passengers luck.

 

[EL10]

You know huh?

That's great Captain Dad...leave XJ and then start spewing untruths about your former company. Do you really know anyone one on the pilot recruitment team? XJ is hardly to the point of desperation whereby anyone with a pulse is the only candidate getting hired. They turn people down everyday there are interviews and are having no problems filling classes. Yes, many are lower time, but not all and BTW, that is the sign of the times. It just isn't a Mesaba thing. Don't talk about stuff you really don't KNOW anything about.

 

[captain dad]

That's great Captain Dad...leave XJ and then start spewing untruths about your former company. Do you really know anyone one on the pilot recruitment team? XJ is hardly to the point of desperation whereby anyone with a pulse is the only candidate getting hired. They turn people down everyday there are interviews and are having no problems filling classes. Yes, many are lower time, but not all and BTW, that is the sign of the times. It just isn't a Mesaba thing. Don't talk about stuff you really don't KNOW anything about.

Thanks for the rude suggestion. I really do know what I am talking about. The "pulse" comment was just a little joke to excite the applicants. Sorry if you took offense.

I spoke to two friends in the training department yesturday. I asked about the hiring situation and they both rolled their eyes. Yes, there are plenty of applicants, but when they hire guys with 250-400 hrs...well that speaks for itself. It is the sign of the times, unfortunately, but it also speaks about the company. If Mesaba fails to attract higher time, more qualified people; that tells you something.

I am not slamming anyone. We've all been there. For the guys with low time, good luck and god bless. For the rest, may you be free to enjoy a life of physical and spiritual fulfillment.

PS watch for slush in the bird catcher.

 

[prtyprtyprncss]

Thanks for the rude suggestion. I really do know what I am talking about. The "pulse" comment was just a little joke to excite the applicants. Sorry if you took offense.

I spoke to two friends in the training department yesturday. I asked about the hiring situation and they both rolled their eyes. Yes, there are plenty of applicants, but when they hire guys with 250-400 hrs...well that speaks for itself. It is the sign of the times, unfortunately, but it also speaks about the company. If Mesaba fails to attract higher time, more qualified people; that tells you something.

I am not slamming anyone. We've all been there. For the guys with low time, good luck and god bless. For the rest, may you be free to enjoy a life of physical and spiritual fulfillment.

PS watch for slush in the bird catcher.

I know most of the pilot recruitment team at Mesaba well, and I've been at the training center alot lately...the fact is that unless you have a felony background or a large flap of skin hanging from your forehead down over your eyes which is surgically impossible to remove, you're hired...now, that isn't a negative reflection on Mesaba...they're just trying to fill the seats like every other regional...they have a great training dept. and great experienced crews out on line to see the new guys and girls through...all will be fine...the ones who aren't ready, don't get to the line, the ones that are...do. As the saying goes, "DAD" knows best!

 

[Mesabi Miner]

Does anybody know what Mesaba is looking for in terms of recent experience? My buddy has 700 TT and about 50 multi but has not flown since February. I told him he needs to get his skills back up before giving it a go because the Saab sim will kill him.

MM

 

[flap operator]

I am on the pilot recruitment team. We have not sunk to the point of hiring anyone with a pulse. It hasn't become that bad... YET. We are told by upper mgmt that they don't want us to hire JUST to fill a class.

Uh... Captain Dad, how do you attract high time pilots WHEN THERE AREN'T ANY? As long as we maintain high hiring standards (we are) and have high standards in training (we do) we'll be ok with hiring lower time pilots. One doesn't even have to flight instruct anymore!

You and party prncss must be getting bad juice from the pilot recruitment team. Either that or you really don't know anyone involved in the pilot recruiting and are going off line based rumor.

FO

 

[captain dad]

I am on the pilot recruitment team. We have not sunk to the point of hiring anyone with a pulse. It hasn't become that bad... YET. We are told by upper mgmt that they don't want us to hire JUST to fill a class.

Uh... Captain Dad, how do you attract high time pilots WHEN THERE AREN'T ANY? As long as we maintain high hiring standards (we are) and have high standards in training (we do) we'll be ok with hiring lower time pilots. One doesn't even have to flight instruct anymore!

You and party prncss must be getting bad juice from the pilot recruitment team. Either that or you really don't know anyone involved in the pilot recruiting and are going off line based rumor.

FO

There are plenty of higher time pilots out there, but they don't apply to airlines like Mesaba. Why would they? $25,000+/- first year.I won't bother either. Even $40,000 for first year street captain is bottom of the barrel. You gotta take what you can get.

I never said I knew anyone in the recruitment team. I have been talking to your instructors. I suggest you do the same. From what I have been told, they are less than impressed with some of your choices. "We'll be ok with hiring lower time pilots", PLEASE!

It is kind of embarassing to have my former company compared to Mesa and Great Lakes. Actually, Mesa has a better chance for advancement and Lakes has higher hiring minimums. However, with the "clicky" middle management, the denial of individual departments and incompetent upper management, it is easy to see the similarities. The "We hire quality people..." crap just doesn't fly. Try rejecting a high percentage of interviewees and you will have a memo within a day screaming "JUST FILL THE SEATS!" You are lucky to get applicants at all from what I have heard.

If you are high on the list and planning to go to NWA, good for you. If you are building time to move on, great idea. If you are telling yourself Mesaba is a good place to be as a line pilot and plan to stay, you are either lazy or stupid. Sorry, the truth hurts. I feel for all the guys who are stuck there. Hopefully, your wait, to get out, will be a short one.

Keep swinging. There are a lot of much better jobs out there. Keep them applications and log books up to date.

If my post upsets you, just tell yourself it's outsider BS or flame bait. Whatever makes you feel better.

 

[flyinhigh21]

flap operator, just letting you know that I sent you a PM a little bit ago.

 

[fly4ever]

Dad is correct. There is currently a newhire in the saab sim now that has 250 hrs. They have some kind of screening but they are accepting extremely low time in the hopes that they make it through the sim then they count on the line captains to pick up the slack.

The scary thing is that XJ is now a nearly full clone of Pinnacle during their fast growing days. 1500 hr ATPs about to be paired with newhire FOs.

I guess it's XJ's turn to be made fun of on the radio. good luck guys/gals.

 

[flap operator]

Dad,

Thanks for your advice. Good thing you got out when you did! What you HEAR is not always what is the truth. The realities of what occur in interviews and in training are far different than the stories on the line. There is nothing different the pilot recruiters can do. The training department has to evolve into a new kind of training department that is prepared and equipped to deal with todays regional new hire. The training department has been proactive and sucessful in keeping the washout rate low. A testament to those in the training side of the building.

My question to you is this: what kind of applicant do you think is being drawn to ExpressJet, Republic etc... All the regional airlines have roughly the same starting pay. There are far worse places to start out at than Mesaba. Gone are the days of regional airline attracting resumes with 1 to 2 thousand hour instructors! The ones that want to be airline pilots are getting hired at far less times than in the past. Again, the sign of the times.

XJ and every other regional out there is dealing with the situation the best they can. Some are probably just filling classes to fill classes. We, thankfully are not. Even if our starting pay was $50/hr we'd still be attracting the same people. Not everyone can start at NetJets, Southwest or FedEx.

Thanks for the discussion. Enjoy your new career and keep thinking of us little people at Mesaba. Oh, by the way, I think you'd be surprised to know what level of experience the few that have washed out had. Here's a hint... it wasn't the low time guys.



FO

 

[flap operator]

Fly4ever -

Why don't you get involved with the recruiting team? Then you'd really know what that "some kind of screening process" really is. If any of the line pilots have such a problem with the quality of the new hires, get involved. At the least, voice your opinion and get involved in the pilot mentoring program. Only we can continue to keep XJ safe and at the level of professionalism we've been known to have.


FO

 

[captain dad]

Dad,

Thanks for your advice. Good thing you got out when you did! What you HEAR is not always what is the truth. The realities of what occur in interviews and in training are far different than the stories on the line. There is nothing different the pilot recruiters can do. The training department has to evolve into a new kind of training department that is prepared and equipped to deal with todays regional new hire. The training department has been proactive and sucessful in keeping the washout rate low. A testament to those in the training side of the building.

My question to you is this: what kind of applicant do you think is being drawn to ExpressJet, Republic etc... All the regional airlines have roughly the same starting pay. There are far worse places to start out at than Mesaba. Gone are the days of regional airline attracting resumes with 1 to 2 thousand hour instructors! The ones that want to be airline pilots are getting hired at far less times than in the past. Again, the sign of the times.

XJ and every other regional out there is dealing with the situation the best they can. Some are probably just filling classes to fill classes. We, thankfully are not. Even if our starting pay was $50/hr we'd still be attracting the same people. Not everyone can start at NetJets, Southwest or FedEx.

Thanks for the discussion. Enjoy your new career and keep thinking of us little people at Mesaba. Oh, by the way, I think you'd be surprised to know what level of experience the few that have washed out had. Here's a hint... it wasn't the low time guys.



FO

Like I said, whatever makes you feel better.

Tell Tom and the union monkeys to grow a pair and make a stand next time (when the clock strikes 12 it is time to walk, not talk some more) then maybe you won't feel the need to refer to yourself as "little people" in the future.

 

[MEL'ed]

Flap operator,
How long does it typically take to review an application once submitted, and get an interview date or get denied? How many applications has Mesaba been receiving in the past 2 weeks?

 

[flap operator]

My reference to us "little people" was not from self deprication. It was a reference to the fact that apprently we're not somehow as worthy as you are, since you obviously don't work for a regional airline. I can see you looking down upon us with contempt Dad. But if bringing up old stuff like the contract of 2004 makes you feel bette...

 

[flap operator]

MEL'd -

Amazingly... for such a bottom feeding boil on the backside of aviation airline like Mesaba (sarcasm), HR is actually really busy. They have stacks of resumes that are going through the pre screening process before they ever make it to the HR desk to schedule interviews. I don't have an estimation of how long it takes, but if you submitted a resume and have competitive time, you'll get called. Have patience as they work through the pile.

Not bad for a place nobody wants to work huh?

FO

 

[prtyprtyprncss]

Flap, you may have misread my post or been taken aback by the point on which I was in agreement with "dad"...you should read it again...you and I are in agreement on the key things...and as I said, those who make it to the line are qualified...they did all the same work the rest of us did and they get there...those who aren't qualified...don't and either way the "low time" crap is a moot point isn't it? I have put in thousands of hours of OE time with new hires in my time at Mesaba, and I can tell you that total time isn't nearly the factor that some make it out to be...in fact, the particular places they came from often is more telling...and you can be sure that when I said I talked to some of the recruitment team...I did just that! I don't post here often, only if I have something relevant to say...and I only say what I know firsthand...I don't expect everyone to agree every time, but I don't waste time with bs and rumor...there are other forums for that kind of thing if that's what folks want..."dad" has a right to hold a grudge with Mesaba if he wants and we have a right to stay and defend Mesaba...we need to keep the main thing the main thing through all this growth and forget about "flame" threads and wasting energy! Peace