What could a potential Mesa New hire expect?
05-21-2015, 07:58 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,191
Several carriers (most?) give you zero credit for your helo time. IMO you need to compare your resume as a civilian resume with prior military service.
Getting back into the saddle and cranking out hours(recent experience) with hopefully a quick upgrade is a good plan. The first road block you're facing is the lack of a four year degree. Out of all the guys hired I just saw the second or third announcement of a non four year degree guy hired. That's a really small pool and I'd assume that their resumes were impressive in other areas.
I recommend guys look at multi year plans. What's your resume look like in 1,2,3,4,5 years if you do plan A? Or plan B? If you're not competitive now work on a plan that makes you competitive when all the squares are filled at some year in the future.
Good luck.
Getting back into the saddle and cranking out hours(recent experience) with hopefully a quick upgrade is a good plan. The first road block you're facing is the lack of a four year degree. Out of all the guys hired I just saw the second or third announcement of a non four year degree guy hired. That's a really small pool and I'd assume that their resumes were impressive in other areas.
I recommend guys look at multi year plans. What's your resume look like in 1,2,3,4,5 years if you do plan A? Or plan B? If you're not competitive now work on a plan that makes you competitive when all the squares are filled at some year in the future.
Good luck.
05-21-2015, 07:59 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 489
How set are you on non-commuting from PHX? (are you not willing to commute from PHX to work at UAL/DAL for example if you are not then you're looking at AA as your only future major airline destination.) you said you were willing to commute short term to get current, but wanted to live in domicile PHX long term - so also for UAL/DAL?
How set are you with working for AA to get PHX?
How much longer are you looking at for an airline career? mid-40's, mid-30's, mid-50's?
I think you'd be competitive for JetBlue/Virgin/Southwest/Frontier/Spirit/Allegiant with 4000 FW once you get current with any regional (and get a degree).... Have you written off these carriers and only the big 3 is your goal?
So if staying with AA to get PHX, in the future 50% of AA newhires will be coming from Envoy. Problem is that going to any of the AAG regional means that your only way to get into AA is through their flow programs. The likelihood of circumventing the flow through program and trying to get hired off the street is not very likely (though it has been done.)
With a non-AAG regional, like Mesa, Republic, Skywest, Endeavor, Compass, Transstates, you'll be able to apply to AA like every other normal person would and just wait to see if you get picked up for an interview.
Depending on your age, you might have a lot of time to keep starting over - get current at a regional, move to a LCC, then try your shot at AA. If you go to UAL or DAL, will you'll be commuting from PHX for the rest of your career.
As far as CA recommendations for upgrade, Mesa has always required 2 CA letter of recommendations in order to bid for upgrade, it's to prevent those who really aren't captain material from upgrading (i.e do you have common sense.) If you're a normal person, it's pretty easy to get. I only know of 1 person who works/worked at Mesa who couldn't get a CA recommendation letter.
How set are you with working for AA to get PHX?
How much longer are you looking at for an airline career? mid-40's, mid-30's, mid-50's?
I think you'd be competitive for JetBlue/Virgin/Southwest/Frontier/Spirit/Allegiant with 4000 FW once you get current with any regional (and get a degree).... Have you written off these carriers and only the big 3 is your goal?
So if staying with AA to get PHX, in the future 50% of AA newhires will be coming from Envoy. Problem is that going to any of the AAG regional means that your only way to get into AA is through their flow programs. The likelihood of circumventing the flow through program and trying to get hired off the street is not very likely (though it has been done.)
With a non-AAG regional, like Mesa, Republic, Skywest, Endeavor, Compass, Transstates, you'll be able to apply to AA like every other normal person would and just wait to see if you get picked up for an interview.
Depending on your age, you might have a lot of time to keep starting over - get current at a regional, move to a LCC, then try your shot at AA. If you go to UAL or DAL, will you'll be commuting from PHX for the rest of your career.
As far as CA recommendations for upgrade, Mesa has always required 2 CA letter of recommendations in order to bid for upgrade, it's to prevent those who really aren't captain material from upgrading (i.e do you have common sense.) If you're a normal person, it's pretty easy to get. I only know of 1 person who works/worked at Mesa who couldn't get a CA recommendation letter.
Last edited by bruhaha; 05-21-2015 at 08:17 AM.
05-21-2015, 09:18 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2014
Posts: 310
Originally Posted by Sliceback
Several carriers (most?) give you zero credit for your helo time. IMO you need to compare your resume as a civilian resume with prior military service.
Getting back into the saddle and cranking out hours(recent experience) with hopefully a quick upgrade is a good plan. The first road block you're facing is the lack of a four year degree. Out of all the guys hired I just saw the second or third announcement of a non four year degree guy hired. That's a really small pool and I'd assume that their resumes were impressive in other areas.
I recommend guys look at multi year plans. What's your resume look like in 1,2,3,4,5 years if you do plan A? Or plan B? If you're not competitive now work on a plan that makes you competitive when all the squares are filled at some year in the future.
Good luck.
Getting back into the saddle and cranking out hours(recent experience) with hopefully a quick upgrade is a good plan. The first road block you're facing is the lack of a four year degree. Out of all the guys hired I just saw the second or third announcement of a non four year degree guy hired. That's a really small pool and I'd assume that their resumes were impressive in other areas.
I recommend guys look at multi year plans. What's your resume look like in 1,2,3,4,5 years if you do plan A? Or plan B? If you're not competitive now work on a plan that makes you competitive when all the squares are filled at some year in the future.
Good luck.
Your opinion about comparing his resume with a civilian's is inaccurate according to most mainline recruiters I've talked to. Mil flight training and experience checks a separate box, and they don't exclude army.
People go straight from Great Lakes flying nothing larger than a big kingair (1900) to majors. Not sure why people keep thinking c12 time is insignificant.
Degree is the biggest hurdle IMO. And recency if you haven't flown much lately. I wouldn't be too worried about an upgrade with your 121 pic time and mil PIC time.
05-22-2015, 06:33 PM
#26
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2015
Position: C-12U
Posts: 27
Originally Posted by bruhaha
How set are you on non-commuting from PHX? (are you not willing to commute from PHX to work at UAL/DAL for example if you are not then you're looking at AA as your only future major airline destination.) you said you were willing to commute short term to get current, but wanted to live in domicile PHX long term - so also for UAL/DAL?
How set are you with working for AA to get PHX?
How much longer are you looking at for an airline career? mid-40's, mid-30's, mid-50's?
I think you'd be competitive for JetBlue/Virgin/Southwest/Frontier/Spirit/Allegiant with 4000 FW once you get current with any regional (and get a degree).... Have you written off these carriers and only the big 3 is your goal?
So if staying with AA to get PHX, in the future 50% of AA newhires will be coming from Envoy. Problem is that going to any of the AAG regional means that your only way to get into AA is through their flow programs. The likelihood of circumventing the flow through program and trying to get hired off the street is not very likely (though it has been done.)
With a non-AAG regional, like Mesa, Republic, Skywest, Endeavor, Compass, Transstates, you'll be able to apply to AA like every other normal person would and just wait to see if you get picked up for an interview.
Depending on your age, you might have a lot of time to keep starting over - get current at a regional, move to a LCC, then try your shot at AA. If you go to UAL or DAL, will you'll be commuting from PHX for the rest of your career.
As far as CA recommendations for upgrade, Mesa has always required 2 CA letter of recommendations in order to bid for upgrade, it's to prevent those who really aren't captain material from upgrading (i.e do you have common sense.) If you're a normal person, it's pretty easy to get. I only know of 1 person who works/worked at Mesa who couldn't get a CA recommendation letter.
How set are you with working for AA to get PHX?
How much longer are you looking at for an airline career? mid-40's, mid-30's, mid-50's?
I think you'd be competitive for JetBlue/Virgin/Southwest/Frontier/Spirit/Allegiant with 4000 FW once you get current with any regional (and get a degree).... Have you written off these carriers and only the big 3 is your goal?
So if staying with AA to get PHX, in the future 50% of AA newhires will be coming from Envoy. Problem is that going to any of the AAG regional means that your only way to get into AA is through their flow programs. The likelihood of circumventing the flow through program and trying to get hired off the street is not very likely (though it has been done.)
With a non-AAG regional, like Mesa, Republic, Skywest, Endeavor, Compass, Transstates, you'll be able to apply to AA like every other normal person would and just wait to see if you get picked up for an interview.
Depending on your age, you might have a lot of time to keep starting over - get current at a regional, move to a LCC, then try your shot at AA. If you go to UAL or DAL, will you'll be commuting from PHX for the rest of your career.
As far as CA recommendations for upgrade, Mesa has always required 2 CA letter of recommendations in order to bid for upgrade, it's to prevent those who really aren't captain material from upgrading (i.e do you have common sense.) If you're a normal person, it's pretty easy to get. I only know of 1 person who works/worked at Mesa who couldn't get a CA recommendation letter.
Good questions,
I'm currently just focusing on the regional slice of the pie, but would I move from PHX, oh yeah. What I really didn't explain was that for the 1st. year on FO pay a move would be financially impossible, also if moving on to a major/LCC were in the cards say 2-3-4 years for me, I would commute for the regional piece then move to domicile once on at the majors/LCC. Why spend $$ on a move when you might be faced with it again in a relatively short amount of time.
No haven't written off any potential larger carriers at all...I do feel as though I'm close to being competitive for them but not quite there yet.
I'm just over 50 so this will be my last go-around for the airlines, good or bad....
Good news on the CA recommends, I feel I have just as sound judgement as the next guy...best scenario is to get a fast upgrade, knock out school, life might be good then....
Thx
05-22-2015, 10:36 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 489
Originally Posted by Benwhaa
Good questions,
I'm currently just focusing on the regional slice of the pie, but would I move from PHX, oh yeah. What I really didn't explain was that for the 1st. year on FO pay a move would be financially impossible, also if moving on to a major/LCC were in the cards say 2-3-4 years for me, I would commute for the regional piece then move to domicile once on at the majors/LCC. Why spend $$ on a move when you might be faced with it again in a relatively short amount of time.
No haven't written off any potential larger carriers at all...I do feel as though I'm close to being competitive for them but not quite there yet.
I'm just over 50 so this will be my last go-around for the airlines, good or bad....
Good news on the CA recommends, I feel I have just as sound judgement as the next guy...best scenario is to get a fast upgrade, knock out school, life might be good then....
Thx
I'm currently just focusing on the regional slice of the pie, but would I move from PHX, oh yeah. What I really didn't explain was that for the 1st. year on FO pay a move would be financially impossible, also if moving on to a major/LCC were in the cards say 2-3-4 years for me, I would commute for the regional piece then move to domicile once on at the majors/LCC. Why spend $$ on a move when you might be faced with it again in a relatively short amount of time.
No haven't written off any potential larger carriers at all...I do feel as though I'm close to being competitive for them but not quite there yet.
I'm just over 50 so this will be my last go-around for the airlines, good or bad....
Good news on the CA recommends, I feel I have just as sound judgement as the next guy...best scenario is to get a fast upgrade, knock out school, life might be good then....
Thx
If I were in your shoes, I'd apply to all the regionals and LCCs and get the degree. don't want for the upgrade to apply to the LCCs, just get them out there. The regionals will definitely call first, but if you get on with a LCC without having to go to a regional, all the better for you. I really don't think it will take much more for you to be competitive with the LCC after you get current. Once you get the degree you can add the apps for DAL/UAL/AAG to rotation of applications you need to keep updating to get out of the regionals.
05-23-2015, 04:46 AM
#28
China Visa Applicant
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Midfield downwind
Posts: 1,919
To the OP, there's lots of good advice in this thread. Your resume currently, given your lack of currency, probably isn't going to get you a call at a major yet -- maybe for 6+ months or a year, who knows.
Good plan to get back to a regional that is convenient to work at from your home in PHX. You have to balance, though, the ease in commuting/basing with the realistic possibility that whatever regional you are with may be your home for a year or three. So, don't pick somewhere that might appear to offer the possibility of a less-bad commute but isn't somewhere you want to work for the next three years.
If you want to stay out west/south, look at all of the west coast basing options, including SkyWest and Compass. According to SkyWest, here are recent times to hold various west bases (some of which would be extremely easy commutes from PHX):
FO in SFO 4 months
FO in IAH 5 months
FO in DEN 5 months
FO in COS 5 months
FO in LAX 7 months
FO in SEA 9 Months
FO in SLC 10 months
FO in PHX 1 year 3 months
Compass, also, has LAX as its junior base (would be a short, but somewhat crowded, commute from PHX according to the Compass thread), and is opening Seattle soon.
As has been said, apply everywhere (including all the majors and LCCs) but take a path that will advance your professional resume while you are waiting. Take an easy-commute job at a 121 regional, and hope that the call from somewhere "better" comes sooner rather than later.
Good plan to get back to a regional that is convenient to work at from your home in PHX. You have to balance, though, the ease in commuting/basing with the realistic possibility that whatever regional you are with may be your home for a year or three. So, don't pick somewhere that might appear to offer the possibility of a less-bad commute but isn't somewhere you want to work for the next three years.
If you want to stay out west/south, look at all of the west coast basing options, including SkyWest and Compass. According to SkyWest, here are recent times to hold various west bases (some of which would be extremely easy commutes from PHX):
FO in SFO 4 months
FO in IAH 5 months
FO in DEN 5 months
FO in COS 5 months
FO in LAX 7 months
FO in SEA 9 Months
FO in SLC 10 months
FO in PHX 1 year 3 months
Compass, also, has LAX as its junior base (would be a short, but somewhat crowded, commute from PHX according to the Compass thread), and is opening Seattle soon.
As has been said, apply everywhere (including all the majors and LCCs) but take a path that will advance your professional resume while you are waiting. Take an easy-commute job at a 121 regional, and hope that the call from somewhere "better" comes sooner rather than later.
05-23-2015, 09:16 AM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,459
Originally Posted by Benwhaa
{snip} if moving on to a major/LCC were in the cards say 2-3-4 years for me, I would commute for the regional piece then move to domicile once on at the majors/LCC. {snip}
No reason to Mesa yourself
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