Use MESA as a time-building tool?

av8sean

av8sean

New Member
Does anyone have thoughts on using/working at Mesa to do some time building and get CRJ training? I've heard some people actually refer to Mesa as Skywest Pilot Development ( a play on the Mesa pilot dev school in NM), and the pay/lifestyle us about the same as working as a CFI... I realize they have a training contract, but it's still about the same price or cheaper than taking the CRJ or CFI course at ATP. FWIW, I have enough time to get on with Mesa but not enough for SkyW.
 
I heard they have a high washout rate. You have to be careful and not washout in training and have the record follow you around the rest of your career, especially if Mesa is your first "airline" job.
 
Hmm... you'd figure they must be used to training low-time pilots considering the MPD people and other types they hire. Good to know.
 
I don't think the decision is as much about washout rates and time building as it is, do you want to live with 8 days off on reserve doing standup overnights constantly when there are quality companies hiring at 500 to 1000TT?
 
Nick said:
I don't think the decision is as much about washout rates and time building as it is, do you want to live with 8 days off on reserve doing standup overnights constantly when there are quality companies hiring at 500 to 1000TT?
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No such thing as a "quality" regional. Only regionals that suck less than other regionals.
 
Except that...

-Express Jet and Air Wisconsin have better contracts than some major airlines
-Horizon pilots don't leave for greener pastures for a reason

I wouldn't lump all regionals together. Skywest, Express Jet, Air Wisky and Horizon are in a completely different league when it comes to work rules. You can't lump them in with Mesa, Colgan, GoJets, TSA, etc. etc.
 
jtrain609 said:
Except that...

-Express Jet and Air Wisconsin have better contracts than some major airlines
-Horizon pilots don't leave for greener pastures for a reason

I wouldn't lump all regionals together. Skywest, Express Jet, Air Wisky and Horizon are in a completely different league when it comes to work rules. You can't lump them in with Mesa, Colgan, GoJets, TSA, etc. etc.
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Your point being the first group of regionals suck less than the second group.
 
Nick said:
I don't think the decision is as much about washout rates and time building as it is, do you want to live with 8 days off on reserve doing standup overnights constantly when there are quality companies hiring at 500 to 1000TT?
Click to expand...

Except the pay and days off working as as CFI are about the same. And the cost/time that it would take becoming a CFI and then getting enough time (especially multi-time) is the same or more than working at Mesa. I realize Mesa is a crap airline but I don't see the problem with using them to get paid CRJ training and then move on when the TT becomes good enough to get with SkyW or Horizon. Thoughts?
 
Flying an RJ is a JOB (and should be treated as such) not a time building experience. (except for TPIC to go to a major.)
 
jtrain609 said:
I wouldn't lump all regionals together. Skywest, Express Jet, Air Wisky and Horizon are in a completely different league when it comes to work rules. You can't lump them in with Mesa, Colgan, GoJets, TSA, etc. etc.
Click to expand...
So you do lump Colgan in with Mesa, GoJets, TSA, etc. etc.....
Wait till Seggy sees this!
 
ComplexHiAv8r said:
So you do lump Colgan in with Mesa, GoJets, TSA, etc. etc.....
Wait till Seggy sees this!
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I would group Colgan with the rest of the lowest tier of regionals. They just happen to suck more than the other regionals do. The bottom line is ALL regionals suck and are not/never where meant to be a career destination. Use them for what they are, an experience enhancing JOB and go on to some place that is a real career.
 
Brand X said:
I would group Colgan with the rest of the lowest tier of regionals. They just happen to suck more than the other regionals do. The bottom line is ALL regionals suck and are not/never where meant to be a career destination. Use them for what they are, an experience enhancing JOB and go on to some place that is a real career.
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I wouldnt mind making Horizon my career. ;)
 
So you do lump Colgan in with Mesa, GoJets, TSA, etc. etc.....
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The crews are great and the experience was fantastic, but Colgan is definately what I would call a "second-tier" company.
 
jtrain609 said:
So what mainline do you work for? Or freight company? Or regional? How many months have YOU had where you had 4 hard days off a month?
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I fly for UPS and since I started flying professionally 21 years ago, I've always had way more than 4 days off a month. In a 28 day pay period, I fly on average 12 days and I'm off 16 days.
 
jtrain609 said:
Except that...

-Express Jet and Air Wisconsin have better contracts than some major airlines
-Horizon pilots don't leave for greener pastures for a reason

I wouldn't lump all regionals together. Skywest, Express Jet, Air Wisky and Horizon are in a completely different league when it comes to work rules. You can't lump them in with Mesa, Colgan, GoJets, TSA, etc. etc.
Click to expand...


John I do have to agree. ALL Regionals suck some less than others.

Remember what regionals are, OUTSOURCED companies.
 
Brand X said:
The bottom line is ALL regionals suck and are not/never where meant to be a career destination. Use them for what they are, an experience enhancing JOB and go on to some place that is a real career.
Click to expand...


:yeahthat:

Couldn't agree more...


Brand X said:
I fly for UPS and since I started flying professionally 21 years ago, I've always had way more than 4 days off a month. In a 28 day pay period, I fly on average 12 days and I'm off 16 days.
Click to expand...

John just got owned!


:)
 
Brand X said:
I fly for UPS and since I started flying professionally 21 years ago, I've always had way more than 4 days off a month. In a 28 day pay period, I fly on average 12 days and I'm off 16 days.
Click to expand...

Can't say I've been in it nearly as long as you, and I can't really disagree with your position from where you're looking at it.

The one thing I will say, is that depending on the situation, there ARE worse places to be than the regionals. I'm working at Ameriflight right now and I'm seeing 4 days off a month. It sucks. I'm getting away from it ASAP and even if I only had 10 days off a month at Express Jet, then it's going to beat what I'm dealing with right now.

Where are you based out of? I might well have taxied past you in the not too distant past.
 
So are we saying that being a CFI isn't a JOB and should be treated as such? I mean, a lot of pilots take that route to build time, and still treat it as a serious job and it is a very rewarding experience.

If you are able to pass the Mesa interview, training, IOE, etc, does this not make you "qualified" for the job? Even if you are using it for time building, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, or that it's wrong to do so.

I say if you can get the job, it's a great way to build time. Just be prepared to enter the suck.
 
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