Offered captain on Dash8 @ Mesa

[AWACoff]

Additionally, I remember flying at Lakes in the E-120. Between the captain and myself, our total flight time did not add up to 2000 hours. This was in the late 90's. At AWAC, I flew with brand new FOs with less than 1000TT in the CL65 when I was a new captain in an aircraft I had never flown until upgrade. It is a bit more work (normally... although some low timers are very good sticks and situationally aware) but not as unsafe as flightinfo.com would have you believe. Welcome to the new reality in the U.S. Overseas, they have had 300 hour F.O.s in widebodies for years.

 

[MesabaDriver]

The word from MESA recruiting dept. is you are qualified if you meet ATP minimuims, that is their minuim requirement to hold the left seat. Pending available seat slots, training outcomes etc. Its not gaurenteed, it's do they need you at the particular time you are in training is what she told me. That was what I was told directly from the mouth of a MESA pilot recruiter. You are actually hired as an F.O. with the option for Capt. bid if needed. But we all know recruiter's dont lie either.

 

[rickair7777]

Additionally, I remember flying at Lakes in the E-120. Between the captain and myself, our total flight time did not add up to 2000 hours. This was in the late 90's. At AWAC, I flew with brand new FOs with less than 1000TT in the CL65 when I was a new captain in an aircraft I had never flown until upgrade. It is a bit more work (normally... although some low timers are very good sticks and situationally aware) but not as unsafe as flightinfo.com would have you believe. Welcome to the new reality in the U.S. Overseas, they have had 300 hour F.O.s in widebodies for years.

Widebody flying is pretty easy actually, nice long runways and nice ILS approaches with few exceptions. My memories of New England regional flying involve blizzards, icing, non-precision to low mins, icied runways and high crosswinds. I'm glad I had good babysitters then. Throw in an engine-out in a t-prop (like that could never happen on a mesa-maintained bird) and the fun would really begin...

 

[rickair7777]

The word from MESA recruiting dept. is you are qualified if you meet ATP minimuims, that is their minuim requirement to hold the left seat. Pending available seat slots, training outcomes etc. Its not gaurenteed, it's do they need you at the particular time you are in training is what she told me. That was what I was told directly from the mouth of a MESA pilot recruiter. You are actually hired as an F.O. with the option for Capt. bid if needed. But we all know recruiter's dont lie either.

that sounds correct.

 

[turbinej]

I was hired off the street as a captain with Pinnacle Airlines back in 2001. You may want to consider this, if you don't have any prior 121 experience I would not do it. We had a lot of guys that were washed out from no 121 experience. They just had part 91 and 135 experience. You have to study your butt off knowing the flight operation manual in and out and aircraft systems. Any body can fly an airplane it the ability to apply yourself as a captain. Also consider you age, do you want to take the risk of a good paying job to not having one at all. I had previous 121 experence at regional and I though it was very stressful to learn everything that you needed to know in 6 weeks compared to learning things as an FO first. As an FO you can learn the system first and build up, then go to a Captain position.

 

[buyagoat]

i hope you dont plan on commuting, because you wont be getting on my airplane, have fun in base in jamaca, ny

 

[Cloudroller]

Buyagoat - I did not know FOs could dictate the JS.

 

[cq43vt17t]

Widebody flying is pretty easy actually, nice long runways and nice ILS approaches with few exceptions. My memories of New England regional flying involve blizzards, icing, non-precision to low mins, icied runways and high crosswinds. I'm glad I had good babysitters then. Throw in an engine-out in a t-prop (like that could never happen on a mesa-maintained bird) and the fun would really begin...

All of the airports up in the NE that freedom is flying to have ILS approaches to multiple runways. They are also all controlled fields. From the bids I see they are flying to ALB, BTV, MHT, SYR, PHL, PWM, ORF all out of JFK.

 

[cq43vt17t]

i hope you dont plan on commuting, because you wont be getting on my airplane, have fun in base in jamaca, ny

where the f&#$ is Jamacia NY?

 

[The Drizzle]

where the f&#$ is Jamacia NY?

he means JFK

 

[rickair7777]

All of the airports up in the NE that freedom is flying to have ILS approaches to multiple runways. They are also all controlled fields. From the bids I see they are flying to ALB, BTV, MHT, SYR, PHL, PWM, ORF all out of JFK.

Been a while, but I seem to recall several of those fields have towers that close late in the day.

 

[rickair7777]

Since when do FO's approve jumpseat requests?

A captain who takes a jumpseater or any other pax against the FO's (or FA's) wishes is a moron. Several years back I actually had a captain who insisted on taking a pax who was drunk and had behaved in a derogatory manner to the FA and then was threatening to me...I just called in sick on the spot (must have been that clam chowder).

 

[AWACoff]

Rick, that is a bit different than an FO pulling rank on a captain over a personal vendetta the FO has with a jumpseater. I love it when FOs state so and so isn't going to ride on "their" jumpseat. If buyagoat ever upgrades, he/she will have the priviledge of deciding who sits in their jumpseat.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

Anybody that uses the jumpseat as a political tool is an uneducated moron!

 

[PCL_128]

A captain who takes a jumpseater or any other pax against the FO's (or FA's) wishes is a moron.

So, just to be clear, I now have to ask not only the FO's, but also the FA's permission before I allow a jumpseater on my airplane?!? Check the ego, buddy. You can certainly give your opinion, but the Captain owns the jumpseat and decides who rides on it.

 

[rickair7777]

So, just to be clear, I now have to ask not only the FO's, but also the FA's permission before I allow a jumpseater on my airplane?!? Check the ego, buddy. You can certainly give your opinion, but the Captain owns the jumpseat and decides who rides on it.

My ego? You've got to be kidding me...read your own post...

Anyway, this is not indentured servitude. If I don't want to fly under certain circumstances, then I won't, and I have demonstrated this the hard way. Since you need the entire crew, if you piss me off your only options are to find a replacement, or take the next van back to the hotel at the outstation.

But to answer your question, no you don't have to ASK either of them, but if they have reason to venture an opinion, maybe you'd better think real hard about what's going on...

 

[Flyingdutchman]

of course they are hiring street captains... CRJ f/o's don't want the f*cking spot (pay cut), and most people do not wanna fly on the freedom side anyway.

 

[buyagoat]

every captian i have ever flown has had respect for thier crew, and if any member of the crew is not cool with somthing, then they will use their privlage of denying the jumpseat. We denyed amr corp. j/s while they were redoing there computer system and then would not allow us on their a/c, so they were not welcome on ours, they fixed the problem and we let them on agian. If your a captian and you dont care about your crew and how they feel about somting then I sure feel sorry for the people that go flying with you.

 

[mynameisjim]

Wow that sucks that some pilot had to pay the price for his company's computer problem. The poor guy missed some time at home or missed the pay for his trip because of you?

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Nobody wins in a jumpseat war.
We've had guys denied a jumpseat over computer issues. I've run across that problem myself.
While I might mention the issue to a jumpseater the thought of denying someone a ride for some political purpose would never cross my mind.

 

[DashCojones]

every captian i have ever flown has had respect for thier crew, and if any member of the crew is not cool with somthing, then they will use their privlage of denying the jumpseat. We denyed amr corp. j/s while they were redoing there computer system and then would not allow us on their a/c, so they were not welcome on ours, they fixed the problem and we let them on agian. If your a captian and you dont care about your crew and how they feel about somting then I sure feel sorry for the people that go flying with you.

There's a difference between caring about your crew and going along with some dip$hit who's trying to deny jumpseats from the right seat. Someday you'll upgrade, get a clue, and see what I'm talking about. Until that day, I suggest you check your attitude, grammar, and spelling.

 

[Palerider957]

There's a difference between caring about your crew and going along with some dip$hit who's trying to deny jumpseats from the right seat. Someday you'll upgrade, get a clue, and see what I'm talking about. Until that day, I suggest you check your attitude, grammar, and spelling.

Now that's funny, and accurate!

The JS belongs to the company, and is loaned to the Captain....(period).

 

[fried chickens]

Widebody flying is pretty easy actually, nice long runways and nice ILS approaches with few exceptions. My memories of New England regional flying involve blizzards, icing, non-precision to low mins, icied runways and high crosswinds. I'm glad I had good babysitters then. Throw in an engine-out in a t-prop (like that could never happen on a mesa-maintained bird) and the fun would really begin...

Hangout at JFK when they're using 13L. Pretty cool seeing 747s yanking and banking at 600ft and a mile out.

 

[fried chickens]

of course they are hiring street captains... CRJ f/o's don't want the f*cking spot (pay cut), and most people do not wanna fly on the freedom side anyway.

Where are you getting you info? Dash CA makes more than CRJ FO, 1st yr, 2nd yr, any year. Company initially was going to allow CRJ FOs to go DASH CA and I heard at least 30 people wanted but then mesa being mesa changed their mind. No sure if ALPA had anything to do with that since jet to prop is not in the contract. No one cares if they're Freedom or not anymore. They're not Freedom A so doesn't matter.