why not Mesa?

[utahpilot]

not trying to incite the flames here, believe me.

I'd like some genuine insight into this.

in a nutshell, flying for me has boiled down to a few critical items, all that have to do with lifestyle (no surprise there). they are:

1-where I live (I want it to be in the west)

2-how much I'm gone (taking it as a given that by flying for a regional, I'm going to be gone a certain amount of time)

3-how much I make

not necessarily in any order, mind you. if Mesa is hiring hundreds of pilots this year (so I've heard), what would be a reason not to go there? I have always discounted them, but I'm looking for specifics. I fly for a regional now, but it provides none of the 3 things I'm looking for above.

If growth is strong at Mesa, seems one could get hired now, move up rather quickly, make more, etc. that for me would satisfy the where I live and how much I make.

now, I'm not that informed on pay and work rules at Mesa. I understand 2nd year pay on the jet is around 27, 28? how many days off do jr. lineholders get?

mesa is slammed all over this board, but how do their pilots feel?

I don't think it would be the best choice for me to pursue, but I've started to settle into this life and have found that the things listed above are what I'm in it for.

for now, I'm staying where I'm at and holding out for an 'ideal' situation, which would be my top 1 or 2 choices for a regional.

anyone with sincere insight into this, please respond. I've read all the flames on Mesa. just looking for some real QOL answers here.

peace

 

[328dude]

JohnnyUtah:

I don't work for MESA, but most of the Measa flaming is in regards to the company and not directed as much to the pilots.

Only a Mesa pilot can answer your questions regarding days off and pay, but as you said, you would like to stay in the west, but what if you fly on the Airways side of it and are based in PHL or CLT. Would that be too big a risk to even apply? I also live in the Midwest, but am based on the east coast. The commute stinks to say the least.

Ask yourself what is the future of your 1 and 2 regionals by asking some of the pilots that are there. Maybe things are looking up at these carriers and it might suit you to stick it out a bit. Along with Mesa, other regionals are starting to hire pilots. Ex. Coex. If your goals are those 2 regionals that you really want to work at, why settle for Mesa since you obviously have reservations about it and it's not your first choice.

 

[utahpilot]

If your goals are those 2 regionals that you really want to work at, why settle for Mesa since you obviously have reservations about it and it's not your first choice.

great point. it is because if I end up stuck somewhere BESIDES my first (or second) choice, I'd like it to be somewhere that satisfies my 3 listed req: location, time off, pay. mesa actually satisfies those, since I believe I could get DEN or PHX after not too long. where I'm at provides none of those things, since we only fly 1900s (pay is limited), only in the East and CLE.

I meant to point that out.

 

[av8tor02]

Utah, what regional do you fly for now that you don't have the three things you are looking for?

 

[skootertrash]

JohnnyUtah:

I don't work for MESA, but most of the Measa flaming is in regards to the company and not directed as much to the pilots.

Not true. The pilots are the ones who let JO do what he did. Just listen to his voice mail. He states over and over how "this is all possible due to the labor agreements"

If the MESA pilots had half a brain they would have stood up to JO and secured a place out of the welfare line. The whole threat about Freedom taking over was BS. If you spinless useless cokcsuckers had struck he wouldn't have had any way to finance Freedom.

Mesa pilots are just fukcing morons.

 

[328dude]

Skooter:

Ok, I'll play along. Then the pilots that voted NO.

Hows that? Feeling better

 

[WSurf]

And that was only 13%... Good Day

 

[climbhappy]

SKOOTER,

ALPA SIGNED OFF ON THE DEAL...you're the frickin Moron,

and where I come from, we'd also call you a peckerwood!

 

[eddie]

1. Mesa is no longer a West Coast airline. You could be based on the east coast or the midwest.

2. With all the commuting you'll have to do from your home in the West, you will be gone a lot.

3. There's nothing I can say about the $.

 

[Otto Coarsen]

Hey Skooter

I don't know why I'm even going to nitpick your post, as it's tone alone demonstrates you're total lack of intellect, but here goes:

Do you really think that pilots.... hell any union worker...... can just strike whenever they want? hmmmm...... New Usair nonrev policy....STRIKE...... Lousy health insurance......STRIKE..... What we have to wear hats?.....STRIKE!

Gimme a break buddy.... A strike is a last resort when negociations fail... It is a resort that can only be used LEGALLY when a collective bargaining agreement can not be reached between parties and employees are operating WITHOUT a contract.. Even then the process is long and requires filing and approval with the federal government... They have to approve the walk out and then a deadline must be established legally... Otherwise it is an illegal strike and that would completely damage the credibility of any union..

90+ percent of the Mesa bashing on this board is made in complete ignorance...

 

[Otto Coarsen]

Whoops

I should have proofread.... I guess my use of you're as opposed to your also demonstrates MY complete lack of intellect....


open mouth insert foot.....


Maybe it's just my complete lack of sleep...

 

[WileE]

Hate to burst your bubble.

Back to the topic of the original post and not to argue about the various debates on mesa bashing, But you will NOT be based out of PHX or DEN until you've been with the company probably 4 or 5 years or more, and thats if you start as an FO on the jet. If you start out in the 1900 fleet you won't be able to get to either of those bases until you are senior enough to hold either as a Jet Captain. Yes they are hiring a lot of pilots, but the eastern bases are going to be growing just as fast if not faster than the western bases. Both of those are probably the two most senior bases in the company. All the junior bases are on the East coast and seniority tends to work its way west.

You'd be much better off looking at Skywest (I have a friend there about a year in seniority who is based in Tucson) or some of the others whose primary flying is all west of the Mississippi instead of spread across most of the country.

 

[CitationLover]

WileE,

I've heard the new CRJ hires are getting Denver as a junior base. Phoenix is senior. Philly is senior over Denver.

If you get the Dash you will be west coast also.

 

[stillaboo2]

I've heard the new CRJ hires are getting Denver as a junior base. Phoenix is senior. Philly is senior over Denver.

If you get the Dash you will be west coast also.

Currently (and since Aug 2003) ALL (Did I say ALL, b/c I meant every single one of them) newhire Mesa CRJ FO's and Dash FO's are assigned Denver (or Grand Junction, in the case of some Dash FO's). No CRJ newhires are going to Philly - that's where all the US Air J4J guys go.

PHX is too senior for any newhire to hold.

Mesa newhire ERJ FO's go to either DCA or CLT.

 

[moabmic]

Mesa is not that bad of a place. I was hired in August and have managed to stay out west this entire time. Typical 1900 lines are 10-12 days off with 70-100 hrs of flying. With all the growth there is a lot of TDY available which makes for a nicer paycheck. ERJ newhires are being told to expect to be able to upgrade within 2 years. Dash and 1900 guys are probably looking at 12-18 months. CRJ guys 4 years at the long end of it. However a lot of guys here have their apps in across the board and once hiring starts next year at SWA, AWA, FedEx, etc. there is going to be a tremendous amount of movement. Yeah nothing is perfect here but that's not why we start at the bottom. If you want to be out west and get the Dash expect Grand Junction or Denver. The 1900 will get you Kansas or Texas flying quickly with NM flying being a six month wait. Good luck.

 

[WileE]

Big changes then.

When I left there in Aug, (not a moment too soon) PHL was the junior base for FO's and the FO's I had talked to in DEN averaged about 4 years seniority. But that was still with Frontier as the primary codeshare so things have swung a bit.

If you do go there, just hope you get the CRJ and I guess you'll be fine. If they give you the ERJ or 1900 I guess you are still screwed.

 

[utahpilot]

There's a pretty good airline located in Utah, named SkyWest.

umm, yes, I know. That is my #1 choice and where I have always been trying to get to. I have 4 LORs there, but it does me no good until they hire again. Got an email from Camielle the other day, saying MAYBE this summer things will pick up. This is the source of my dilema. I can continue to wait for them, but they may a)not call for a really long time or b)I could get the interview and not get hired.

if either of those things happen, I'd like to be at a decent 2nd choice, where I could live somewhere in the West, make decent $, and maybe have a chance to upgrade in not too long.

Comair is my 2nd choice. I've had a friend take in my stuff there. Yes, it's not in the West, but I have family in Cincy that would make it a good option for me, since they pay well. I realize upgrade is long there.

thanks for the help, all

UP