I may, or may not, be able to add any insight to this question, but being a Mesa pilot, I'll at least take a stab at it. I won't try to change anyone's views on Mesa because I'm the last one to be waving a Mesa flag.

I'm not sure about Mesa being the first airline to PFT. It may very well be, but I've never heard that one. I guess I'm not very saavy on the history of the regionals, so if that's the case, I'd like to hear about it. Maybe that's confusing PFT with the Mesa ab-initio program (which, at least in my view, is more pay-for-interview, and I wouldn't recommend it). And about being non-union, that's only correct when speaking to the (former) Freedom fiasco...at least as far as I know.

I've heard just about all of the reasons as to why Mesa sucks, and a lot of them I can't argue with. Our contract leaves much to be desired, to say the least. Having not been here during those contract negotiations, I've asked practically everyone I've flown with who WAS here "why did you guys agree to that garbage?". The conclusion I got were that their hands were tied with having to kill the Freedom virus, and that concessions were the only way to gain scope, and keep that flying within the Mesa pilot group. Freedom was a cancer that needed to be stopped, no doubt.

And many said that ALPA and the MEC simply didn't communicate well with the pilots on what the contract actually entailed while promoting their "roadshows". I still don't know what to believe. There's more to the story, but that's pretty much the guts. I know everyone around here is foaming at the mouth to improve every facet of the contract in 2007, but we'll see if action speak louder than words.

Then, of course, there's management...and that's where the problem lies in the views of many. JO gets credit for striking deals to keep Mesa profitable (which, by business analysts' views, he's been a genius). However, he's done so at the expense of his employees, and the industry. Indeed, getting more business means more jobs (or job security at the very least) yet there's a price involved to pay. We're the cheapest out there...bar none. And JO uses that to his advantage in trying to win new business (or keep existing business). What does that mean? Lower wages for employees, minimal staffing in corporate (scheduling, tracking, etc) and doing "just enough" to keep the airplanes in service.

The problem is that Mesa continues to set the bar low, and agree to fly for less than the competition. That's great for Mesa (the company, not the employees!) yet doesn't win Mesa any friends amongst others (nor should it!). The likes of Comair, ExpressJet, etc have worked so hard in the past to not take concessions, improve their contracts, and essentially try to raise the bar in this industry. And at the first opportunity, JO comes to the table and says "well, we can do the same flying for less!". And given the shape of the legacy carriers we all fly for, money talks (unfortunately).

I've got friends at practically every regional out there, and try to talk to others to gain insight as to the differences between Mesa and their companies. There's certainly a trade-off. For instance, I've been able to be a lineholder since my second month online, versus some friends who've sat reserve for over a year elsewhere. Personally, I would rather be a lineholder and have 12-14 days off, versus being on reserve. I wouldn't wish reserve at Mesa (8-days off, constantly being abused by crew tracking, etc) to my worst enemy.

Mesa doesn't have PBS (although it's currently in the process of being tested) so the carriers that do have an advantage in scheduling. Regarding pay, in my view at least, an additional few bucks an hour elsewhere is just that...a few bucks an hour. I didn't come to the regionals to be rich, and planned ahead financially to get through the "lean years". Not saying that more pay wouldn't be nice!

Anyhow, I guess I'm rambling here...I apologize. Mesa is what it is...another regional. Everyone tries to seperate carriers as "apples to oranges" but I tend to disagree (somewhat!). We all fly the same equipment (give or take), the same routes, have to deal with managments s@&*, and have to deal with the same issues. Having worked in the business world, and made roughly 4X the salary I'm currently making, I still enjoy this MUCH more than the stresses involved in that career. So, I just appreciate what I've got (or maybe don't have

That's my 2 cents at least