Originally Posted by
Bzzt
Like I said you've got it all figured out, nothing but rainbows and unicorns for you.
I don't have anything against Mesa per se. If I lived in Phoenix I may consider them a viable option. The problem I have is with your backwards views and disingenuous advice you give perspective new hires.
So, what exactly has been said that is disingenuous? Everyone that seems to be arguing against the prospect of a sub 2-year upgrade at mesa keeps using the example of 'the last decade'. NEWSFLASH: right before the beginning of the last decade was 9/11. After that was the change in retirement age which
SIGNIFICANTLY reduced mainline hiring due to lack of mandated retirements. Then the industry shrank due to the 2008 recession and subsequent slow growth. I think it's fair to say that the last 13 years has been riddled with 'extenuating circumstances' that have nothing to do with individual company management.
Fast forward to this year: the industry is growing again, companies are recalling furloughs, FAR 117 is coming, and people are starting to turn 65. As you can tell, the current times are not respective of the last 13 years; so anyone that pays very much attention wouldn't use that as a valid reference to say that regional flying can't be used to get to the mainline.
In respect to Mesa: the company is projected to nearly double in size, adding ~20 crj 900's this year, 30 e175s with the possibility of more. No aircraft are being retired as is the case with other outfits, and Mesa continues to outperform others on an operational cost basis.
So why exactly is everyone so butthurt? I just don't see the confusion. Hating on someone for accepting a job is stupid. If you lost your job, I'm sure that you would be likely to accept the first do-able position you could find. The truth is that to a new hire, most regionals are the same. The pay is crap, the work is hard. People are going to choose the company the provides whatever is important to them (QOL, bases, aircraft, prospective upgrade time); that's all there is to it. Crying about how we aren't compensated in line with our skill level isn't going to scare away CFI's that beg/borrow/steal to even make $16,000 per year flying a beat 172 in a lot of cases.
The fact is that Mesa obviously isn't having much trouble filling classes. I'm not sure where people get the idea that there's a shortage of people with ATP mins and SJS. When is the last time you visited a flight school? Sure, working for ANY regional isn't putting 6 figures in your pocket right away, but we're living the dream guys. If you don't think so, then why didn't you take a desk job?