I am currently at Mesa Pilot Development in Farmington, NM. I’m posting to clear up a lot of things that I’ve seen on this board and to offer an insight to my experience here for the benefit of those considering this program. First let me say that if you are looking into pursuing this career and taking the next step by enrolling in a commercial flight school you’re in the right place. This is no small step both in time or money so it’s important that one do as much research as possible before signing up. I’m amazed at how many people will plunk down $75,000 in cash or loans without really doing their homework. When I started to look around for a flight school I combed these discussion boards and absorbed as much as I could. Obviously there is a lot of bad scuttlebutt here about both the program and the airline, had I solely relied on these posts I would have never made the decision that I did. So while its important to weigh the negative posts here please keep an open mind and do not close any doors on yourself before getting the straight facts.
I started flying 172s in the Northeast a few years ago and like just about everybody reading this was bitten badly by the flying bug. It was obvious that I couldn’t afford in time or money to do the amount of flying that I really wanted and when it comes to equipment, Cessna’s were already too expensive let alone something more powerful for down the road (like a CRJ or 777
). It was then that I began my search for a training program. My CFI at home was hired as most CFI’s are and went to work for Mesa Airlines. He strongly recommended that I look at the Pilot Development (MPD) website and had glowing things to say about the airline and his experiences as an FO. None of the things that he told me even rang remotely close to the things that individuals have posted on this board. He sounded so happy and content that I put my application package together and sent it to San Juan College. Once the application was received I was given an interview date and a free ticket to get to Farmington. My only expenses were my hotel (which was discounted through MPD) and my incidentals like food. I was absolutely floored by everything here, the campus is immaculate (in fact I went to a large and expensive private university for my undergraduate degree and the facilities here are in most cases better than what I had as an undergrad) our classes are done with PowerPoint presentations, streaming videos, and clear overhead projections. The section of the airport where we fly out of was incredible plenty of space and well organized. It’s not cramped like the small FBOs that we all know and love. The equipment here is the Beech Bonanza and is considerably more fun to fly than classic 172s. During my two days here students on two different occasions dropped everything that they were doing to spend an hour with me showing me around and answering my questions. I knew that this program would work well for me and so I sent my deposit in as soon as I was accepted. Of the four prospective students who interviewed while I was here all four of us enrolled and are in Farmington at present. My guess is that for those that take the time to come and see what it’s like here a very high percentage wind up enrolling.
Look, the training here is first rate, I have great instructors at the college and my flight instructor is first rate. Farmington is a fantastic place to live, I’ve seen people say otherwise but if a guy from Boston enjoys it here anybody can adjust. Besides aviation is an adventure and if Farmington is outside of your comfort zone you may do well to consider another line of work. All of the students and instructors are motivated and enjoy being here, if you don’t like it you are free to leave at any time. In fact on the first day of orientation if you feel you’ve made a mistake you’re free to walk out of the door. Nobody is here to “take your money” as is so often repeated and if you screw up they let you go straight away, nobody is going to string you along. The management at the program has been at this for years and they really know what they are doing. Every now and again Mesa pilots come through and I have yet to come across one who is miserable including my former CFI who freely speaks to me as a friend and not an employee.
I know that this is getting long but I wanted to address two other things. First there are plenty of people at MPD whose family members are pilots and their relatives thought that this would be the best. If a captain at the majors would prefer their child come here over becoming a CFI that says a lot. Second bashing J.O. and the pay scale is not a help to anyone. I’ve heard that he “runs the airline at the expense of his employees” so many times that it’s become a cliché. The pay here is what it is and still there are plenty of qualified individuals applying. Upgrade time is much faster than at some other airlines and captain pay is good. Besides, what would you prefer management do? Run the airline at the expense of its investors? If you were J.O. what would you do (answer as an officer of a company not as a pilot)? I know that it may not make me popular to side with management on this issue but the fact is that middle class pay (in real terms) has been declining for several years in most every profession in our country and not just for pilots (even if you make the same amount that you did in 2000 your dollar is now worth 30% less as I found out when I spent a small fortune having a latte in Italy recently
). The issue is much bigger than Mesa Airlines and taking your frustrations out on J.O. is narrow and counterproductive. If money is that big of an issue for you may do well to consider another line of work, get rich, and then you can buy a CRJ and fly it all over the country. Besides, if you are looking into flight schools don’t get too far ahead of yourself, the next 15 or so months will be training so leave the pay to the unions all over the industry and choose a training program based on how good it is. I wish that I could wave a magic wand and make up a nice salary for first year FOs but the economics are what they are. Hopefully pay will come back one day. Posts complaining that those of us getting into the industry and willing to work for peanuts are responsible for the decline in pay and hastening the “race to the bottom” ignore the fact that as long as there are airplanes there will be guys willing to fly them for free.
All that being said I highly recommend that you at least take MPD up on its offer to fly out here for an interview. You really have nothing to lose by taking the tour. Weigh what people are saying and then take a look for yourself and feel free to contact me with any questions that you have.
One final thing. It may be helpful if the most ardent Mesa detractors would identify their experience with the company and their flying background. I’m not sure but I have a feeling that some of these posts are coming from people who are literally making up bad gouge.
I started flying 172s in the Northeast a few years ago and like just about everybody reading this was bitten badly by the flying bug. It was obvious that I couldn’t afford in time or money to do the amount of flying that I really wanted and when it comes to equipment, Cessna’s were already too expensive let alone something more powerful for down the road (like a CRJ or 777
). It was then that I began my search for a training program. My CFI at home was hired as most CFI’s are and went to work for Mesa Airlines. He strongly recommended that I look at the Pilot Development (MPD) website and had glowing things to say about the airline and his experiences as an FO. None of the things that he told me even rang remotely close to the things that individuals have posted on this board. He sounded so happy and content that I put my application package together and sent it to San Juan College. Once the application was received I was given an interview date and a free ticket to get to Farmington. My only expenses were my hotel (which was discounted through MPD) and my incidentals like food. I was absolutely floored by everything here, the campus is immaculate (in fact I went to a large and expensive private university for my undergraduate degree and the facilities here are in most cases better than what I had as an undergrad) our classes are done with PowerPoint presentations, streaming videos, and clear overhead projections. The section of the airport where we fly out of was incredible plenty of space and well organized. It’s not cramped like the small FBOs that we all know and love. The equipment here is the Beech Bonanza and is considerably more fun to fly than classic 172s. During my two days here students on two different occasions dropped everything that they were doing to spend an hour with me showing me around and answering my questions. I knew that this program would work well for me and so I sent my deposit in as soon as I was accepted. Of the four prospective students who interviewed while I was here all four of us enrolled and are in Farmington at present. My guess is that for those that take the time to come and see what it’s like here a very high percentage wind up enrolling. Look, the training here is first rate, I have great instructors at the college and my flight instructor is first rate. Farmington is a fantastic place to live, I’ve seen people say otherwise but if a guy from Boston enjoys it here anybody can adjust. Besides aviation is an adventure and if Farmington is outside of your comfort zone you may do well to consider another line of work. All of the students and instructors are motivated and enjoy being here, if you don’t like it you are free to leave at any time. In fact on the first day of orientation if you feel you’ve made a mistake you’re free to walk out of the door. Nobody is here to “take your money” as is so often repeated and if you screw up they let you go straight away, nobody is going to string you along. The management at the program has been at this for years and they really know what they are doing. Every now and again Mesa pilots come through and I have yet to come across one who is miserable including my former CFI who freely speaks to me as a friend and not an employee.
I know that this is getting long but I wanted to address two other things. First there are plenty of people at MPD whose family members are pilots and their relatives thought that this would be the best. If a captain at the majors would prefer their child come here over becoming a CFI that says a lot. Second bashing J.O. and the pay scale is not a help to anyone. I’ve heard that he “runs the airline at the expense of his employees” so many times that it’s become a cliché. The pay here is what it is and still there are plenty of qualified individuals applying. Upgrade time is much faster than at some other airlines and captain pay is good. Besides, what would you prefer management do? Run the airline at the expense of its investors? If you were J.O. what would you do (answer as an officer of a company not as a pilot)? I know that it may not make me popular to side with management on this issue but the fact is that middle class pay (in real terms) has been declining for several years in most every profession in our country and not just for pilots (even if you make the same amount that you did in 2000 your dollar is now worth 30% less as I found out when I spent a small fortune having a latte in Italy recently
). The issue is much bigger than Mesa Airlines and taking your frustrations out on J.O. is narrow and counterproductive. If money is that big of an issue for you may do well to consider another line of work, get rich, and then you can buy a CRJ and fly it all over the country. Besides, if you are looking into flight schools don’t get too far ahead of yourself, the next 15 or so months will be training so leave the pay to the unions all over the industry and choose a training program based on how good it is. I wish that I could wave a magic wand and make up a nice salary for first year FOs but the economics are what they are. Hopefully pay will come back one day. Posts complaining that those of us getting into the industry and willing to work for peanuts are responsible for the decline in pay and hastening the “race to the bottom” ignore the fact that as long as there are airplanes there will be guys willing to fly them for free.All that being said I highly recommend that you at least take MPD up on its offer to fly out here for an interview. You really have nothing to lose by taking the tour. Weigh what people are saying and then take a look for yourself and feel free to contact me with any questions that you have.
One final thing. It may be helpful if the most ardent Mesa detractors would identify their experience with the company and their flying background. I’m not sure but I have a feeling that some of these posts are coming from people who are literally making up bad gouge.
