motivate us! tell us your success!!

[ERJpusher]

I interviewed with Great Lakes last summer with 900 hours. I got a job offer for an August class, but I turned it down.

Got a job a couple of months later with Chautauqua (1050 TT, 100 ME).

I just applied online for GLA--- no LORs or walk ins. I had a little help at CHQ.

Good Luck to all

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Helo guys!

Sure is interesting to read the replies! I am a new guy in training, so can you tell me a bit about MAPD - what is this?

That sure sounds enticing! 300TT and a few years down the road into a 737............

 

[EternalOptimist]

MAPD is the Mesa Airlines Pilot Development program in Farmington, NM. It's a two-year program (flying Barons and Bonanzas) and, at least when my husband went through the program, 90% or more of the pilots got an interview with preferential hiring at Mesa Airlines. A lot of negative things have been posted on this board about Mesa Airlines and I will not defend the Mesa Airlines environment (I'm sorry but first year F/O's should NOT qualify for food stamps!). That said, my husband really benefited from his experiences flying for Mesa. He started in the right seat of the BE1900 flying on the East Coast (where he got a lot of great instrument time and experience in high-density airports), upgraded to Captain at his first opportunity (approx 1600 hours) and then moved up to Captain on the DHC-8 which he flew for 2 years before getting the call from Alaska. The whole process felt like it took forever - especially when working for a company like Mesa Airlines - but looking back on it now, we both recognize that he was really on the fast track. Now, you are only 17 years old. I think you still have to be 21 before you can upgrade to Captain so even if you were hired by Mesa at age 19 - you'd have longer to wait to upgrade and get the PIC time that an airline like Alaska requires. But you are fortunate that you are getting an early start. My husband had his degree in business before he went to flight school. He also worked for a couple of years while he was saving money for flight school. One thing about the MAPD program - they will not accept a payment plan - it's pay as you go so you either save up the money or take out a loan. My husband began flight training at age 26 and got hired by Alaska at age 34 so it was about an 8 year process for him and he didn't have to flight instruct. It was a pretty good deal for him and I think he hit everything at just the right time. I don't know what hiring at Mesa is like now or what percentage of MAPD grads get an interview. Mesa Airlines is one of those nightmares you try to block from your memory when you are finally free from their grip.

I hope this helps. There are others on this board who probably have more recent information on the MAPD program. The program started to go downhill after John Greene left but I think they are still doing a pretty good job. John ran a tight ship.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Thanks for the nice report!

I am training at a flight school in Anchorage - and I might have the chance to start flying for a 121 carrier up here maybe with-in a year or so......just praying for things to work out.

 

[embdrvr]

hey alaska!

I'm sure things will work out fine. You're taking a time tested honorable route by working the ramp and working on your ratings while attending college. Keep at it and keep networking.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Hey Emb!

Hey there!

I sure hope I make it down this path w/out taking a wrong exit...

Hopefully I'll have my ME/INST/COMM in 6 motnhs - then I might be able to get a job shortly after and college goes along at the same time..........

THANKS for all the help EMB and others! It really helps and encourages guys like me!

 

[bobbysamd]

MAPD

I'm a former MAPD instructor from ten years ago. I worked for John Greene. I second most of Eternal Optimist's comments about the place, and especially those about Mesa, the company.

A few additional caveats about MAPD. When I was there students did get "the interview" but really had to watch their Ps and Qs. In other words, no matter how stupid or inane things seemed, don't raise your voice or complain because it might torpedo your chance for "the interview." Of course, getting "the interview" was the students' prime motivation at MAPD.

Some students do not get "the interview." I had one such student. He was an AF veteran who suffered some sort of foot injury and got out on a disability. He felt he was owed. He was not owed.

Greene had posted a long piece of butcher paper on the wall which set forth deadlines for completing flights, lest students be hauled into his office for a reprimand. Students thus felt more under pressure to complete flights and, in my 2¢ opinion, less concerned about learning. As a more or less dedicated and conscientious flight instructor, that bothered me, as did other things about Mesa.

MAPD offers students a great opportunity, as Eternal Optimist said. But there are no guarantees. There's no guarantee that you'll be hired by Mesa, although the company pretty much knows who you are from MAPD. Eternal's husband clearly had the stuff Alaska Airlines wanted and his timing was good. But not everyone has such qualities, luck or timing. Mesa Airlines, and all that it implies, may be the only 121 stop for other MAPD grads. In other words, take off the rose colored glasses and view the place realistically.

Finally, you have to be 23 to be a Captain. You have to hold an ATP certificate to be a 121 captain, and 23 years of age is the minimum age to be eligible for an ATP. 14 CFR 61.153(a).

Good luck with your plans.

 

[BoDEAN]

Still in search of a CFI or some job, hehe.
Been over a month since I got my CFI ticket, now my boarders expand outside of Michigan, in search.......


Trying to stay positive

 

[Timebuilder]

When I was looking for a new flight school, I spread out my net in areas where we don't normally think the best conditions exist, such as UND, which is not bad before the fall, or Maine/ New England if you want to head east. Fortunately, I didn't have to make the move.

Have you considered working line service while you wait for an opening at the school where you'd like to work as an instructor?