What would you do?

[suswims]

I am at 750tt and 50 multi, with the ultimate goal of going to skywest in a year. Right now I have two options, first, I have an offer to go to Mesa right now, I would prob just stay a year to get 121 and turbine....or I can continue to flight instruct, get my CFII, and was just offered the position of assistant chief until I get the mins for skywest, where the pay is better ( I am making about 30k flight instructing). I am in a bit of a money bind, so that is the only reason I am considering sticking it out flight instructing. With which experience is skywest more likely to hire me? Regardless of money, I would really like to make the best career decision. THanks for any advice anyone can give!!!!

 

[siucavflight]

Do not go to Mesa, do not go to Mesa. Instruct get your II and get the mins and apply anywhere other than Ho-Jets, or Mesa.

 

[suswims]

Why do you say that? I mean, I know they arent great to work for but many people go there as a means to get to skywest after a year, I understand why it may not be a great company long term though.

 

[siucavflight]

You can get to Skywest right out of instructing, if you are worred about money, you will be a lot more worried when you dont get paid during training and you have to foot your own hotel bill, and the 1900's that they would put you on would only pay you 18.55 per hour, along with crappy bases. Get your 1000/100 and go to one of Skywests open interviews, and you will get an interview out of that.

 

[suswims]

I guess, I just get the impression its pretty easy to get in with Skywest if you already have 121 experience, so I am thinking if I go to Mesa for a year, I have a better shot at getting hired with them, I like to hear other thoughts on the subject, its a tough decision.

 

[SuperKooter]

Why do you say that? I mean, I know they arent great to work for but many people go there as a means to get to skywest after a year, I understand why it may not be a great company long term though.

Get on with any 121 airline asap, upgrade asap you should have your eye on a captain spot at a 121 airline flying something that is about 26,500 asap.

 

[Hoodabundy]

if money is a problem now, stay with the instruction unitl you can get to Skywest. The pay here first year isnt great but until that time you will at least be making a little while instructing. Dont go to Mesa.

 

[Lazy8]

If you're going to go to Mesa it would make more sense to just stay with them, upgrade to captain, get the turbine PIC time, then move onto a major. Making a lateral move to another regional where you'll be starting from the bottom again doesn't make much sense.

I have to agree with siuvcavflight though. I don't think the majority of people that go fly for Mesa go in with the mindset that they'll get a years worth of 121 experience just to move on to another regional. I think they probably get tired of being treated bad and paid poorly so they move on before they had planned.

You can't expect things to be so cut and dry in this industry either. Don't expect to be handed an interview anywhere just for getting some turbine time at Mesa. You never know when the economy might lose steam and/or the airlines slow hiring. SkyWest has been on a hiring frenzy for a while, but it won't last forever. You might just be stuck at an airline you didn't want to work at for very long.

Long story short... Work and build experience at a place that you will enjoy. If you think Mesa is the right thing for you then go for it. Just keep in mind instructing isn't the worst thing in the world and SkyWest hires plenty of folks right at 1000TT & 100multi with no 121 or 135 experience.

g

 

[Apache 5]

Like others have said, regional to regional is a LATERAL move, although maybe a DIAGONAL one if you go from Mesa to Skywest. But why would you want to move? Do you really want to go through 2 interviews, 2 training programs, 2 IOE, etc etc....? 2 x first yr pay- which at Mesa is pretty low???

Its not worth it...build your time if you need more and go to Skywest if thats where you're sold on or get 500/100 multi and you can probably get on with any other regional.......

 

[siucavflight]

I guess, I just get the impression its pretty easy to get in with Skywest if you already have 121 experience, so I am thinking if I go to Mesa for a year, I have a better shot at getting hired with them, I like to hear other thoughts on the subject, its a tough decision.

I dont know if it is true or not but I have heard that the pilots with previous 121 time have a hard time getting into Skywest, I dont know if it is true, but I guess that anything is possible.

 

[Lazy8]

I dont know if it is true or not but I have heard that the pilots with previous 121 time have a hard time getting into Skywest, I dont know if it is true, but I guess that anything is possible.

Over the past two years I've worked with 9 guy/gals that have all got on with SKYW shortly after reaching 1000TT & 100Multi... right out of instructing.

 

[Ralgha]

I dont know if it is true or not but I have heard that the pilots with previous 121 time have a hard time getting into Skywest, I dont know if it is true, but I guess that anything is possible.

Not true at all.

 

[bertengineer]

Stay at instructing until you have the hours. Your quality of life will be much better and you will not loose out on the money by going to a lower paying regional for a FO position. If you have the chance as a Asst Chief...get more multi time and go from there. You will be home and not sitting on reserve at the mercy of crew scheduling.

 

[suswims]

Thanks for the input, anyone else working with skywest right now have an opinion on this?

 

[amcnd]

Go to Mesa and get back to SkyWest ASAP!! SkyWest loves to hire Mesa pilots. You better you chance to get on with SkyWest if you have 121 time.

 

[suswims]

yeah, that is what I have heard, so it would be a bit out of my way and convenience, but if thats what it takes to get to skywest then thats what i will do.

 

[viper548]

I'd go to mesa then immediatly update my app with skywest.

 

[AWACO]

If you are in a bind at 30K year how in the world do you plan on living on 19hr at SKW?

 

[indianboy7]

If you are in a bind at 30K year how in the world do you plan on living on 19hr at SKW?

exactly......if you're in a money bind, then sticking with your 30k a year job would be the best way to go. If you go to mesa, I think you have to sign a 1 year training contract (don't hold me on that though). Depending on how much you're flying right now, you can have the mins to apply at skywest in 4 months. Going to mesa first would only extend the time you're making 19-20 bucks an hour.......

 

[Hootie9750]

Don't go to Mesa. You will feel the humiliation of paying $50 just to interview there and will likely have to give up your butt virginity.

 

[crxpilot]

do whatever you have to do to get to your goal.....plain and simple.

 

[siucavflight]

do whatever you have to do to get to your goal.....plain and simple.

Unless it involves going to Mesa.

 

[SnowBoardBum]

Go back to school and get you MBA.
Thats your best career decision.

 

[JustaNumber]

Has anyone considered why the pay and working conditions at Mesa suck? It's because so many pilots agree to work for those crappy conditions, telling themselves it's just temporary until they can move up to something better.

Meanwhile, Mesa grows exponentially because it has rock bottom compensation that everyone agrees to work for, and contracts around the regional industry, and even now around the majors, are dragged down just so others have a chance at competing. So when you do get to that "real" job, it's not so good anymore.

If all pilots took the high road, and only agreed to work for industry standard wages or better, then maybe bottom feeders like Mesa would be forced to raise their compensation levels a bit to find pilots, and the whole industry would benefit.

It's not like you don't have other options. Do what's both good for you now and what's good for your industry later. You won't regret it.

 

[ASApuppy]

As it has been said many times, Mesa is not the dream job. But, never disregard a bird in the hand. I have to ask you, are you major material right now minus your flight experience? Do you have a 4 yr degree or better? If not, a quick upgrade will not do you any good. Things change all the time in this industry. I was hired per 9/11 and upgrades were a little less than 2 years. I figured 5 years and I'm off to the majors. Well, entering year 7 next month and still in the right seat and have been domicile displaced twice now. We are now up to Eagle upgrade times. I think things will change for them rapidly. If AA starts recalling, they will take all the flowback guys and leave Eagle a couple hundred capt's short.

Be flexible. I think most will agree that flying 121 (even if its Mesa) is more valuable to your career than bouncing around the pattern in a 172 or pulling engines on a Seneca. Not many get the chance with that little time. If your goal is to be happy at a regional, then get the mesa job and keep trying. Don't give up trying. At the same note, if you go to Mesa, your goal needs to be to leave as soon as your ready for your next step. It is not a career place. Good Luck!

 

[wxman]

Stay with the CFI job until you get the 1000/100. If your goal is SkyWest, don't waste your time and money and sanity going to Mesa. It shouldn't take long until you have the time.

SkyWest hires plenty of people without 121 time (I am one of them). While you are building your time, clean up your resume and logbook, get everything ready for the interview, and brush up on your regs, IFR knowledge, systems, etc. If you can, learn a little about basic turbine aircraft systems.

Good Luck.

 

[Bushhatesyou]

Mesa hires guys with 50 multi? Geez..

 

[khsgt]

50 Multi, HA, all ya need is a pulse and a commercial multi right now. We don't have enough applications to fill our needed pilot slots... Think about this and consider why there are not more people applying. They are the smart ones.

No offense to the guys getting called for interview, but it really dosen't take much right now.

Greasy Side Down

 

[Bushhatesyou]

50 Multi, HA, all ya need is a pulse and a commercial multi right now. We don't have enough applications to fill our needed pilot slots... Think about this and consider why there are not more people applying. They are the smart ones.

No offense to the guys getting called for interview, but it really dosen't take much right now.

Greasy Side Down

How many guys do you lose a month?

 

[khsgt]

How many guys do you lose a month?

I'm mid level seniority (top half, barely) and picked up 11 numbers last month. Historically (since this contract was signed) we have a 20% annual attrition rate. That equals about 360 - 400 pilots a year or 30 - 33 pilots a month. I would say that's accurate as we loose more FO's then CA's. Coming up on my 3rd annivesary next month, and I have moved up 550 numbers sice I was hired.

God, how have I put with 3 years of this abuse...