Skywest/Pinnacle/GLakes/MESA

[Flyingdutchman]

Which one would you go work for and why? (I don't care where I'm based)

Thanks in advance.

FD

 

[Irish Pilot]

You may not care about your location...but you must have some priorities....pay?....equipment?....upgrade?

Without any more information than what you have given I think that Skywest is a decent choice. They are growing and just announced (a few weeks ago) an order for more CRJs. Seems like movement in the right direction to me.

 

[Rook]

Go to Lakes. Probably your best bet for the fastest upgrade.

Rook

 

[BoilerUP]

What happened to the King Air/CJ job?

 

[Flyingdutchman]

charter is loosing custmers. They only fly me about 4/5 times a month now.. I'm running out of money !!

 

[BlackPilot628]

MESA"cite"! Go get that Delta flying!!
Their spreading!

 

[Dodge]

Mesaba is hiring. Full pay starting on day 1, full travel benefits, single occupancy lodging paid for while in training, new aircraft on the way. Good thing you don't care where you're based. We have 3 pretty lousy ones if you want to live in base.

 

[RampTower]

I second Dodge.

However, among the 4 you listed, flying dutchman, Skywest is the best pick BY FAR.

But consider others like Mesaba, especially if you don't care where you're based. (And Mesaba has 4 bases DTW CVG MEM and MSP.) We're getting 15 CRJs starting this September, with options on 20... and most likely plenty more to come. We have a very solid well rounded contract.

A friend at Skywest says they're getting 3-4 RJs a month, running 2 classes per month.

Pinnacle is receiving their last RJ this Fall, and all insta-upgrade and movement will come to a screeching halt.

Mesa, well.... this message board is in the process of conducting a witchhunt on all Mesa pilots so be careful.

 

[Flyingdutchman]

Thanks folks

I would love to interview at Mesaba.. However, they never called me.. (maybe because I don't know anyone at Mesaba?..)

I had friends walking in my stuff at Lakes, Mesa, PCL and Skywest.


Ya'll have a great night.
FD

(so, how much is go jets paying? -- kidding kidding)

 

[DDpaysoff]

If you want to get treated like a human being I would go behind ponchos' at around 8a.m. and try to get a cash paying lawnmowing job for the day. That's your best bet. If not, pinnacle.

 

[RampTower]

I'm not bashing Pinnacle for the sake of bashing, but going to an airline when they're receiving their last aircraft and entering NWA style negotiations is NOT recommended.

Not only will you have to deal with stagnation, but you get to endure a lengthy contract negotiation which will probably last a couple of years if not more. But if pinnacle is the only place to offer you a job, then go because opportunities can vanish in a heartbeat.

 

[Tank Commander]

9E and XJ will grow in the next few year years. XJ taking delivery of new crjs(well over due). 9E with a second ticket. If NWA management wants 9E to have another ticket, it will happen. NWA is still looking for away around the 70 seat scope. If 9E gets the second ticket, NWA will finance the planes and bring them on property through a lease with a second major carrier. I really dont want to see this happen. If the NWA mec doesn't watch its back NWA management will screw us all!

 

[skydrvr]

Advice

Which one would you go work for and why? (I don't care where I'm based)

Thanks in advance.

FD

Are you kidding??? Do your research. Most will agree...saying you don't care about one thing will have you saying you don't care about another. Do you really have to ask the question about MESA???? In the order of choice pay, domiciles and mgmt. Skywest, Pinnacle, Great Lakes. If you have the choice between Flight Instructing and MESA stick with the Flight Instructing. Don't let "flying a jet" cloud your view on the reality of being a pilot. Do ...your...research.

Good Luck
PS Stay away from GOJETS.

 

[John_W_Thompson]

I have Bi Polar responses to this question.

First one is: GO WHERE YOU CAN UPGRADE ON A 1900 OR WHATEVER AS SOON AS YOU CAN AND STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH AIRLINE TO WORK FOR AND WHICH BASE IS BEST AND WHAT'S THE PAY LIKE BLAH BLAH BLAH!! Go where you can upgrade young padewan.

Second, Tank Commando could be on the money - Pinnacle management really wants a second certificate to do other codeshare outside NWA. The problem with it for career planning is: IS THIS A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING FOR THE PILOT GROUP? I do not know. Maybe someone else does. I defer to solution one, go where you can upgrade quickest 12,500 lbs or > (GLakes? , Colgan, Gulfstream, Island Air.)

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Consider this:

SkyWest does not pay you during training (8 weeks for the CRJ).

SkyWest will put you up in a hotel room IF you care to share with another new hire. If not, they will only pay for half of your hotel.

First year pay is $19.02/hr. Your first year guarantee will be $14,265.00. Will you be able to pay all your bills?

I have no idea what the other airlines are like for new hires.

After your first year at SkyWest life does get better. Second year pay on the jet goes to something like $34 and change/hour.

Good luck,

GP

 

[FlyChicaga]

Is Horizon hiring? Why not try there. Seems like a good fit for ya Dutchman.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Mesaba is hiring. Full pay starting on day 1, full travel benefits, single occupancy lodging paid for while in training, new aircraft on the way. Good thing you don't care where you're based. We have 3 pretty lousy ones if you want to live in base.

Not as bad as Express Jet.

 

[avrodriver]

Don't put any weight in 9E possibly getting another ticket. All because you have a "ticket" doesn't mean there is going to be airlines throwing new business at you. It's fierce right now and there isn't a whole lot of dance partners left in need. Even then they will be in competition with Mesa/Freedom, GoJet, and whatever else rises from the Phoenix in the next few years. There are already plenty of airlines out there that are free to sell flying to whoever; Skywest, Mesa, Big Sky, Air Willy, CHQ & Friends,Horizon, TransStates....etc. All I see happening when Expressjet, Comair, Mesaba, 9E get this freedom is more carrots being dangled in front of pilots noses and the industry going more into the sh.itter. "If you guys take concessions or pay freezes, or this or that......so and so airlines will let us fly for them".

Attempted thread jack.....I know...getting back to scheduled program out of what you listed I say Skywest or Lakes.

Skywest=not my first choice, but out of the options....sure why not.
Lakes=could be a good place to maybe get some PIC and wait out the shake out....right now I think it's pretty risky time to be picking a new carrier to start out at...things maybe clearer in a year.

Pinnacle=growth stopping/ in negotiations
Mesa= writing on the wall that things may be ending with USAir sure there's a home for the CRJS, but what about the EMB-145's.

If you haven't been hired by any of these my first picks would probably be CoEx and then maybe possibly Mesaba. Keep harassing them all, not just the ones you have in's at. Good Luck. AD

 

[QCappy]

Is Horizon hiring?

No. Although with our "expertese in turboprop flying", as our esteemed CEO says, we are in negotiations with three carriers that would add more Q400s to our fleet.

 

[ShadowFlight]

Is Horizon hiring?

No

Well, looks like I just wasted 60 cents on postage...

Peace

SF

 

[DDpaysoff]

I have Bi Polar responses to this question.

First one is: GO WHERE YOU CAN UPGRADE ON A 1900 OR WHATEVER AS SOON AS YOU CAN AND STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH AIRLINE TO WORK FOR AND WHICH BASE IS BEST AND WHAT'S THE PAY LIKE BLAH BLAH BLAH!! Go where you can upgrade young padewan.

QUOTE]

Why, so you can go to xpress jet or some other decent 'regional', with all that 1900PIC time. Is Southwest/UPS hiring beach 1900 people?

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

deleted because I'm retarded

 

[Rook]

deleted

 

[Rook]

I have Bi Polar responses to this question.

First one is: GO WHERE YOU CAN UPGRADE ON A 1900 OR WHATEVER AS SOON AS YOU CAN AND STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH AIRLINE TO WORK FOR AND WHICH BASE IS BEST AND WHAT'S THE PAY LIKE BLAH BLAH BLAH!! Go where you can upgrade young padewan.

QUOTE]

Why, so you can go to xpress jet or some other decent 'regional', with all that 1900PIC time. Is Southwest/UPS hiring beach 1900 people?

From what I've heard...Yes

Rook

 

[RampTower]

SWA has scooped a handful of Mesaba SAAB fellas lately. Don't let the GE Jetpowered CT7s fool ya.

 

[BossHogg]

Hey Dutchman if you are broke, why did you pick Lakes, Mesa, PCL and Skywest? Looking for the quick upgrade possibly?

BTW: My vote is for Skywest.

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

Why, so you can go to xpress jet or some other decent 'regional', with all that 1900PIC time. Is Southwest/UPS hiring beach 1900 people?

Don't be so negative about Lakes untill you know the facts.

Here is a short list in the last year or so:
Alaska (2 left in the pool)
Southwest (2 or 3)
America West (A bunch)
Airtran (A bunch)
FedEx (2 so far)
Frontier (A bunch) (When they were hiring)
ATA (Several) (When they were hiring)
as well as some other carriers flying 747's and A300's

That makes up about 10-15% of our pilot group. Upgrades are around 1 year. If you upgrade prior to 1.5 years you will probably be sitting reserve a little or flying standups. Upgrades may reach 6 months soon.

Pretty much every carrier except JetBlue. To get on there you will have to hang out for 4 years here so that you can get a second type in the EMB-120.

Lakes is a great deal and a good time if you come with a positive attitude and you know what your here for. PIC time!!!

PS. One of our recent FedEx newhires asked his high up connections a while back if he should stay here or if he should go to another carrier and get some Boeing or Bus right seat time. He was told to stay where he was and keep logging PIC time in the Beech. It was more valuable then the right seat jet time.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Pretty much every carrier except JetBlue. To get on there you will have to hang out for 4 years here so that you can get a second type in the EMB-120.

Lakes is a great deal and a good time if you come with a positive attitude and you know what your here for. PIC time!!!

Lakes - a great deal? Whatever you say dude.

Does anyone know of someone getting hired at JBlu with only 1900 and E-120 time? Last I heard they stick to hiring folks with glass experience. E-120 EFIS does not equate to a glass cockpit. No FMC. No EICAS. Very little integration. I'm not knocking the airplane but I don't think E-120 time is going to get anyone an interview at JBlu.

 

[Flyingdutchman]

bumpppp

 

[skydrvr]

Consider this:

SkyWest does not pay you during training (8 weeks for the CRJ).

SkyWest will put you up in a hotel room IF you care to share with another new hire. If not, they will only pay for half of your hotel.

First year pay is $19.02/hr. Your first year guarantee will be $14,265.00. Will you be able to pay all your bills?

I have no idea what the other airlines are like for new hires.

After your first year at SkyWest life does get better. Second year pay on the jet goes to something like $34 and change/hour.

Good luck.

Skywest picks up the tab on housing period. Single/dual occupancey (sp). makes no difference.

Hiring for 2005 400-500 pilots.

Regardless, we are at the mercy of UAL and DAL.