MESA Airlines

pilotdc

pilotdc

New Member
I have been doing some serious research as of lately into the PACE program in NM. It seems to me like a great program for someone who wants an airline career without the years of instructing. The question I have is as a mesa pilot, how do other airlines look at it. I am being told that its like you are paying for a job which people at 300 hrs dont deserve. I have been told that alot of other airlines look down on pilots that have flown at Mesa. I am just wanting to know how other airlines look at it. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

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"I am being told that its like you are paying for a job which people at 300 hrs dont deserve"

Who told you that.....oh, wait, it was me....

PACE mins are 250 total. A guy just got hired at XJT with 650 total and 350 multi from ATP. Years of instructing? Who told you that?

To be fair, that guy did an RJ transition course. Might have saved him six months of instructing. Whether it's worth it is in the eyes of the beholder.

Instructing is a great way to build confidence and mature as a pilot. It's good "seasoning". At the same time, you do it for a while and you move on. That's the way it is. Your "years of instructing" to get qualified for the regionals is probably more like six months to a year. Heck, Mesa's mins are 1000/100 without any special programs. MAPD/PACE is just another way for JO to make a buck.

To answer your question, though, I don't believe Mesa pilots are looked down upon, in general. You'll hear some pretty strong rhetoric at this site but I don't see it playing out in real life. I helped a buddy of mine who was a Mesa checkairman get on a UPS a couple of years ago. Not sure what the deal was but he got a class date right away while many guys were swimming in the pool.

I don't like MAPD/PACE cause it puts super low time guys in the right seat of an RJ, where they don't belong. Beyond that, working for Mesa won't hurt you with your next job. Working for JO isn't pretty, though.
 
pilotdc said:
I have been doing some serious research as of lately into the PACE program in NM. It seems to me like a great program for someone who wants an airline career without the years of instructing. The question I have is as a mesa pilot, how do other airlines look at it. I am being told that its like you are paying for a job which people at 300 hrs dont deserve. I have been told that alot of other airlines look down on pilots that have flown at Mesa. I am just wanting to know how other airlines look at it. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

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The success rate for PACE is much lower than the ab-initio course. It does work for people though. Mesa will be around for a long time, IMO. Look for them to grab a bunch (like 69) more ERJ's in the coming future. I'm not sure what their Hawaiian thing is about though. JO has something up his sleeve...
 
wheelsup said:
The success rate for PACE is much lower than the ab-initio course. It does work for people though. Mesa will be around for a long time, IMO. Look for them to grab a bunch (like 69) more ERJ's in the coming future. I'm not sure what their Hawaiian thing is about though. JO has something up his sleeve...
Click to expand...

CAL's CEO said at one of their "exchanges" that they would not be accepting a bid from Mesa. Remember that JO did not exactly leave COEX on good terms with Bethune at CAL. Granted Bethune is no longer CEO as he was forced out by the board but he is still very powerful at CAL with a ceremonial position and an office down the hall from Kellner. I've seen him on several occassions in recent weeks at the hubs talking with employees. My point being, Bethune doesn't like JO and Bethune is still, although not officially, very involved in the affairs at CAL. I would say that it is far more likely that XJT's competition is Skywest. Somehow I doubt XJT will be giving up the flying that easily.
 
For the love of god, don't go to PACE/MAPD. Take what you are going to spend at PACE, get your CFI's and instruct. Get your 1000/100 and be eligible for more airlines that being locked into Mesa. The pilot group at Mesa is a great bunch of guys that got 1). trapped by management and 2). trapped by their previous negotiation comittee into a terrible contract the slaves them.

What they don't tell you about the Pace program:

1). The recruiters blab about a hire rate of 95%....more like 70% for the pace people

2). That $5000 you spend to 'fly' the CRJ sim in Farmington is only good at Mesa. They don't mention that the sim is not FAA Legal as it has never been inspected by FAA/ ABQ FSDO, so you can log it but it doesn't/can't count for anything other than MESA.

RS and RC have a great money maker there in FMN, but word is getting out. For the first time in the history of the program last year they opened the Privat Pilot Ground School to the general population at the college. Seems numbers have gone down and JO has a number that must be maintained for SJC to keep the school.....
 
pilotdc said:
I have been doing some serious research as of lately into the PACE program in NM. It seems to me like a great program for someone who wants an airline career without the years of instructing. The question I have is as a mesa pilot, how do other airlines look at it. I am being told that its like you are paying for a job which people at 300 hrs dont deserve. I have been told that alot of other airlines look down on pilots that have flown at Mesa. I am just wanting to know how other airlines look at it. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Click to expand...
It's not worth the money just to "save yourself some time." Get your CFI and instruct for a little while.
 
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